Trains and More Trains at the Railway Museum

The family visited the Railway Museum in Onari, Saitama last week. Although it was very cold, we enjoyed seeing all the exhibits even the ones outside! We will have to visit again in the new year.

There was plenty to see. However, it would be wise to review the English museum guide before charging in to see the exhibits. Reserved tickets for the miniature train are offered at the front when the museums opens, there are several tours offered during the day, and probably other things that we missed out on.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 16-35mm f/4G ED VR II AF-S IF SWM @ 29 mm, f4.0, ISO 400, 1/100 sec.

The ticket machine and the entrance wicket takes Suica Cards!

Nikon D600 with Nikon 16-35mm f/4G ED VR II AF-S IF SWM @ 25 mm, f4.0, ISO 400, 1/40 sec.

The card we purchased at the entrance is only good to enter the museum. I even scanned it on my Nexus 7, but it read as having "no value".

Nikon D600 with Nikon 16-35mm f/4G ED VR II AF-S IF SWM @ 31 mm, f4.0, ISO 400, 1/40 sec.

The main hall of the museum has a railway turntable with a steam engine. It is a Class C57 Steam Locomotive and was JNR's last steam locomotive (1975) used to haul regular passenger trains on Muroran Main Line between Iwamizawa and Muroran in Hokkaido. It was manufactured in 1940. The turntable is activated several times a day and the train blows it's whistle.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 16-35mm f/4G ED VR II AF-S IF SWM @ 16 mm, f5.6, ISO 400, 1/10 sec.

Roppongi Hills 2014 Christmas Market

My wife and I took a walk over to the Roppongi Hills Christmas Market to check out the festivities. Just as in previous years this market was busy, full of Christmas decorations and ornaments for sale, and beer and German treats to eat and drink.

Before we arrived at the market we were greeted by this enormous upside-down Christmas tree. The market itself is not that large with a few shops selling handmade German decorations and the remaining space taken by the seating. These shots were taken by my positively ancient but well performing 24 mm f2.0 AI Nikkor.

Nikon 24mm f/2.0 Nikkor AI @ f5.6, ISO 400, 1/100 sec.

Nikon 24mm f/2.0 Nikkor AI @ f4.0, ISO 400, 1/20 sec.

Matsumoto's Shave Ice in Yoyogi 2013

I was going through some old shots and thinking about summer the other day when I came upon these taken in August 2013 near Yoyogi National Gymnasium and NHK Hall across the street from Yoyogi Park. Although I didn't take the opportunity to buy a cone of shave ice for a taste from Matsumoto's, it sure looked delicious! They are a famous shave ice shop that started on the Oahu's North Shore in Haleʻiwa. Their neighbor and competitor, Aoki, isn't as famous but is quite delicious and usually has a shorter line. When my family lived in Honolulu, our trips to the north shore usually included a stop for shave ice, and we were never patient enough to wait in line for shave ice from Matsumoto's.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f2.8, ISO 100, 1/250 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f5.6, ISO 100, 1/100 sec.

Midtown Maple Leaf Illumination

The Christmas Illuminations are up at Tokyo Midtown. Not sure if I fully understand the theme this year, but according to the Midtown event website the theme is "Midtown Cruise," allowing you to journey away from Earth and out into Space!

Although the contrast and sharpness are good considering the challenging conditions, the colors tend to blend a little and the maple leaf takes a back seat to the bokeh from the Christmas lights. The performance by the 24 mm f2.0 AI Nikkor is amazing considering this glass is about 35-years old.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 24mm f/2.0 Nikkor AI @ f2.8, ISO 1600,1/80 sec.

Even more from the Invader!

Here are two more of the street artist known as the Invader. The first was taken the same day that time I took photos of his Atom Boy piece in Shibuya and the second one was taken on Thanksgiving Day near Nishi-Azabu crossing.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens f5.6, ISO 100, 1/400 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens f5.6, ISO 100, 1/50 sec.

Prince Arisugawa Taruhito at Arisugawa Miya Kinen Kōen

Not much to say about this photo, but this is the statue of Prince Arisugawa Taruhito in the plaza at Arisugawa Miya Kinen Kōen. I took a photo of him early in spring surrounded by bare trees, soon this scene will look very similar.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens f.0, ISO 400, 1/250 sec.

Thanksgiving Walk and Autumn Maple Leaves

Although I live in Japan, my office follows the US holiday calendar. "American" Thanksgiving Day on the fourth Thursday of November is off, vice "Japanese" Labor Thanksgiving Day which was on Monday. My wife and kids get neither holiday and have to go to work and school, so I get a free autumn day to enjoy.

Although it has been wet the last few days, Thanksgiving morning was beautiful. After dropping of the family at school visited Arisugawa Park to enjoy the fall colors. There are many ginkgo and maple trees showing their beautiful autumn golden yellows and iridescent reds.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens f4.0, ISO 800, 1/250 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens f4.0, ISO 100, 1/80 sec.

Red and Green Points on One Japanese Maple Leaf

While enjoying a fall afternoon with my daughter in Arisugawa Park, I happened across a Japanese Maples withe leaves that were just starting to turn from green to shades of orange and red. However, there were several leaves on this tree that appeared to be changing colors one point at a time. Very curious and very unusual. I had never seen a leaf do this before.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens f5.6, ISO 100, 1/40 sec.

It was strange, since I had never seen one like this before; however, there were several more on this tree. Here's another one...

Nikon D600 with Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens f4.0, ISO 100, 1/80 sec.

More Invaders in Shibuya!

I was walking around north of Shibuya Station on a beautiful Saturday morning waiting for my son to finish his Aikido lesson, and came across more work from the street artist known as the Invader. This wasn't the first time I had see this particular work, but it was the first time I had my Nikon with me.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens f8.0, ISO 100, 1/30 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens f4.5, ISO 100, 1/250 sec.

Concert for three

In September, my family visited Inokashira Park (井の頭恩賜公園 Inokashira Onshi Kōen) located in western Tokyo, Japan. It's famous for it's cherry blossoms in the spring and a large pond with row boats and paddle boats. We were there in late September, so no cherry blossoms. The paddle boats, a small zoo and assorted musicians, artists and street performers were the primary attractions for us and our children.

We encountered this gentleman performer really working it even for such a small audience! He had great spirit and had great character. I should have taken more photographs, but had to move along.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF @ 200 mm, f3.2, ISO 200, 1/12500 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF @ 200 mm, f3.2, ISO 200, 1/3200 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF @ 120 mm, f3.2, ISO 200, 1/600 sec.