Our travels – Our travel blog

By Roger on Japan, trains, Travel - Leave a comment

WL Japan Train Experience 2020

Late January and early February I was in Japan. Here are the trains I took.

1st Night:

Narita Airport to Tokyo station (Narita Express)
Tokyo station to Kanda station (Chuo line)
Kanda station to Asakusa station (Ginza line) (and reverse)

2nd Day

Kanda station to Tokyo station (Keihin-Tohoku line)
Yurakucho station to Tokyo station (Yamanote line)
Tokyo station to Oyama station (Shinkansen)
Oyama station to Sano station (Ryomo line)

4th day

Sano station to Oyama (Ryomo line)
Oyama station to Tokyo station (Shinkansen)
Tokyo station to Kanda station (Chuo line)
Kanda station to Shinagawa station (Yamanote line)
Shinagawa station to Yokohama station (Ueno-Tokyo line)
Yokohama station to Bandobashi station (Blue line)

Bandobashi station to Shin Yokohama (Blue line)
Shin Yokohama to Shinagawa station (Shinkansen)
Shinagawa station to Ikebukuro station (Yamanote line)
Ikebukuro station to Kawagoe station (Tobu Tojo line)
Kawagoe station to Musashi Takahagi station (Kawagoe line)
*reverse Musashi Takahagi to Shin Yokohama station.
Shin Yokohama station to Higashi Kanagawa station (Yokohama line)
Higashi Kanagawa station to Yokohama station (Keihin Tohoku line)
Yokohama station to Bandobashi station (Blue line)

Bandobashi to Shin Yokohama station (Blue line)
Shin Yokohama station to Nagoya station (Shinkansen)
Nagoya station to Marunochi station (Sakuradori line)
Marunouchi station to Shondaidori station (Tsurumai line)
Nagoya station to Tajimi station (Chuo line)
Tajimi station to Nagoya station (Shinano)

Nagoya to Shin Osaka station (Shinkansen)
Shin Osaka station to Namba station (Midosuji line) and reverse
Shin Osaka station to Kyoto station (Shinkansen)
Kyoto station to Saga Arashiyama station (San In line) and reverse
Kyoto station to Shin Osaka station (Shinkansen)
Shin Osaka station to Namba station (Midosuji line)

Namba station to Shin Osaka station (Midosuji line)
Shin Osaka to Okayama station (Shinkansen)
Okayama station to Takamatsu station ( Seto-Ohashi Line Rapid Rapid Marine Liner )
Reverse
Okayama station to Hakata station (Shinkansen)

Hakata station to Ohori Park (Kuko line)
Ropponmatsu station to Hakata station (Nanakuma line)

Hakata station to Minami Fukuoka station (Kagoshima line) (reverse)
Hakata station to Fukko Daime station (Kagoshima line) (reverse)
Hakata station to Chikuzen Maebaru station (Kuko line)
Chikuzen Maebaru station to Shikaka station (Chikuhi line)

Sasebo station to Hakata station (Midori Express)
Hakata station to Kyoto station (Shinkansen)
Kyoto station to Tokyo station (Shinkansen)
Tokyo station to Shinjuku station (Chuo line)
Shinjuku station to Nakano station (Chuo rapid line) (reverse)
Shinjuku station to Narita Airport (Narita Express)

By Roger on Canada tagged toy traders, toys- Leave a comment

Toy Traders in Langley BC

I heard about Toy Traders from my friend Victor W. He took pictures when he visited and since I had some time on my hands, I decided to go check it out.

Got my wife and kids, and my nephew to go check it out.

Now I’ve seen Japanese toy stores similar to this display wise.. but the Toy Traders is unique!

As a toy person, it was awesome. As a nostalgic toy person, it was awesome. As someone into “toy art” freaking blown away!!!

Above and on all sides of the store were some toy art.. like epic battle scenes… It was pretty intense.

I’ll let the pictures don the talking.

By Roger on Bay area, museum tagged de young, museum- Leave a comment

de Young Museum

I would check out local museums when they had “free admission”. Many museums double as a “night club” in the evenings.

I was glad to see that de Young was gonna do this with the event of a drag queen runway show. LOL.

I didn’t even know until I arrived. I tried to get some free soda.

After a few minutes, I went straight to the exhibitions as I had a couple hours to do so. I couldn’t go into the special or exclusive exhibits, but I did check out the regular collections and I definitely enjoyed it.

I took many pictures, my phone died…

By Roger on Japan tagged dejimamachi, nagasaki- Leave a comment

Nagasaki Nights

After that all day driving that Noguchi-san did, I still wanted to explore Nagasaki.

I did want to explore a bit. Again, Wandering Leopard trips are about experiencing things.

So I wanted to check out their tram system!

I took the tram down the street and walked towards the shopping are near the water.

This is the Dejimamachi area

I did some shopping and exploring.. but it was gorgeous!!!

By Roger on Japan, nagasaki tagged japan, sasebo, travel- Leave a comment

WL Day 9 – The drive through Nagasaki and Sasebo

The drive to “stage 2” was going to be 2 hours long. It was in the mountains and a nice drive.

We didn’t stop anywhere because Noguchi-san had to get some work done in the evening.

While we couldn’t stop, I did love taking pictures while he was driving, the weather and landscape was gorgeous!

By Roger on Japan, Travel - Leave a comment

WL Day 9 pt 1 – Nagasaki arrival

In 2018, I met with Noguchi-san and he said the Red Kaido Leopard was 2 hours away. I didn’t have that much time, so we didn’t go to see it.

This time, I wanted to see it and also Nagasaki, so we planned to go this time.

I left Hakata station via Kamome Express line to Nagasaki.

Soon, Noguchi-san picked me up and he said he would take me to Secret base.

By Roger on Japan, Travel tagged fukuoka- Leave a comment

Fukuoka Nights

After I left Takamatsu, I headed straight to Fukuoka. I was excited as I was hoping to meet with my friends from last time.

Unfortunately, everyone was busy. Even my friends in Kumamoto were busy (one of them was in the hospital for being sick).

Even though I was crushed, I took the time to explore Fukuoka on foot. I walked to Canal City and checked out Kawabata Shopping arcade.

I walked a few blocks to JR Hakata station. In all honesty, I was blown away how huge Hakata station. I’ve only seen it from the inside mainly, but coming from the outside.. how it is huge. I was talking with Mitch (Showa Elite) and I trying to see if we can schedule something with Misaki-san and others… but it didn’t work out.

So I continued exploring.

Having missed a religious site in Kyoto, I did visit a Shinto Shrine here in Fukuoka.

Reisen Crane Shrine and Kushida Shrine Shinmon

It was night time, but it was a Friday night, people were out having a good time and the food stalls were packed!

I walked around til about 230am. I really loved exploring Fukuoka. I just love this place!

By Roger on Japan, trains, Travel tagged hiace, sunport, takamatsu, vankulture- Leave a comment

Takamatsu Nights and VANKulture.

The last couple of times I came to Takamatsu, they were in the evening because I would arrive late.

This time, it was late, but I had just gotten done spending time with my brothers.

I decided to go walk around Takamatsu Sunport.

I started walking towards the Sunport area. It was a good night, not windy or cold. It was perfect. I remember one of the spots I wanted to go to was the Red lighthouse.

I cut through Takamatsu station.

I went across the street where Sunport Hall Takamatsu was located.

Cut through headed to the port.

Now at the “pier” section.

As I was walking back to my rental, I saw a couple of cars drive by. I was kinda excited as taking some car pictures is a good night cap.

Once I saw it was an older Toyota Hiace van and Toyota Crown, I had to ask if I could take pictures! I love these older cars.

I talked to the owner and showed them Vankulture. They were not on any SNS (Social network service aka social media). After showing them, he jumped on Instagram.

The older Hiace vans with that VIP style… that is the style I fell in love with in 2002.

After that small meeting, I walked to the local train station to check out the local train line.

Having a calming night walk and just enjoying it was pretty cool. I loved it.

By Roger on Japan tagged meiji jingu, meiji shrine, shinto shrine, shintoismwith 1 Comment

Meiji Jingu Shrine

One of the popular shrines in Tokyo, is the Meiji Jingu. It is surrounded by forest and also near the Harajuku area (Takeshita street/shopping area).

I have always wanted to visit this shrine and so I had to make time for it.

I’m always taken back by how Japan keeps many of it’s historic places clean and welcoming. The place is amazing and so much history!!!

By Roger on Uncategorized with 1 Comment

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building observation room

Pretty massive is the Tokyo Metro building.

panoramic view attempt

I crossed an elevated bridge and walked inside.

The staff told me the observation room doesn’t open until 9:30am. So I had 45 minutes to look around. I found the promotional spots for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and took pictures with the mascots.