Tokyo Tower from Roppongi Hills

Just a quick snap from the pedestrian walkway that passes over the tunnel from Roppongi Dori through Roppongi Hills to Azabu Juban and Akabanebashi. The sky was clear and the sparkling lights from Tokyo Tower caught my eye. Too bad and perhaps a little lucky that I didn't set the “Non-CPU Lens Data” feature of my Nikon correctly. The slightly longer than normal exposure turned darkness practically into daylight. However, my slightly obsessive nature is upset that the EXIF data is incorrect and states that I used my 85-mm f1.4 AIS instead of my 24-mm f2.0 AI.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 24mm f/2.0 Nikkor AI @ f4.0, ISO 400, 1.6 sec. UNCROPPED

Nikon D600 with Nikon 24mm f/2.0 Nikkor AI @ f4.0, ISO 400, 1.6 sec. CROPPED

Period of Increased Security

Obama was in Tokyo last week for an official state visit. There was massive additional security and in some places it seemed that you couldn't walk a hundred meters without seeing a policeman. Various news agencies including Yomiuri Shimbun and USA Today, were reported that an additional 16,000 police were on patrol the city for Obama's 36-hour visit.

These signs were posted in the subways and train stations all over the city. This one was spotted in Nogizaka last week.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f2.8, ISO 100, 1/50 sec.

Mejiro (not the station)

Late March the family was visiting the Heiwa no Mori Koen Field Athletic Course (平和の森公園 フィールドアスレチックコース). Before we entered, I spotted a very quick Mejiro (or Japanese White-eye) in a cherry tree enjoying the new blossoms and perhaps finding something to eat.

Luckily, I packed my 80-200 mm lens with me or I wouldn't have been able to get these shots. Even with the extra length, these images were cropped for impact.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF @ 200 mm, f4.0, ISO 800, 1/4000 sec. CROPPED

Nikon D600 with Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF @ 200 mm, f4.0, ISO 800, 1/4000 sec. UNCROPPED

Nikon D600 with Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF @ 200 mm, f4.0, ISO 800, 1/3200 sec. CROPPED

Nikon D600 with Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF @ 200 mm, f4.0, ISO 800, 1/3200 sec. UNCROPPED

Nostalgic in Yutenji

Late March I had my camera while returning to Yutenji Station from a friend's house. I don't spend much time in this area but Yutenji has quite a few interesting shops and restaurants .

We stopped for dinner at Niagra Curry which had relocated several hundred meters away from their previous location. It seemed a little smaller but retained much of the feeling and decor from the previous location.

Many of them stores and restaurants in this neighborhood seem to share a similar passion for the good old days and are styled to evoke an old-fashioned sensibility. Perhaps that warm feeling from the 1950's or 1960's Japan along with that "natsukashii" feeling or glow when you think about the good times.

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

Nikon D600 with Nikon 16-35mm f/4G ED VR II AF-S IF SWM @ 29 mm, f4.0, ISO 400, 1/20 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 16-35mm f/4G ED VR II AF-S IF SWM @ 16 mm, f4.0, ISO 400, 1/15 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 16-35mm f/4G ED VR II AF-S IF SWM @ 22 mm, f4.0, ISO 400, 1/8 sec.

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

Small Car and Small Parking Space

You often find very small cars and small parking spaces in Japan, especially Tokyo. The new house had a notch in the entry space that could be used to park a kei-car, in this case a Honda N-One. It doesn't seem that there was much space left to get into the house, but I have seen tighter parking spaces in Tokyo.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 16-35mm f/4G ED VR II AF-S IF SWM @ 19 mm, f5.6, ISO 400, 1/15 sec.

Tama Hills Sakura

The family spent some time at Tama Hills in late March. The sakura were just starting to bloom and I couldn't resist taking this quick snap of a sprig in front of Inagi City Hospital.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f4.0, ISO 800, 1/800 sec.

Street Art and a Strange Sign

I was wandering between Shibuya and Meijijingumae Station along Meiji Dori and found this unusual skull stuck on a pedestrian overpass. The overpass was covered mostly with graffiti but this little guy was the most interesting thing. I don't know if whether this is graffiti, a 3-D sticker, or something else, but it definitely is a form of street art or sculpture.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens f4.0, ISO 200, 1/250 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens f4.0, ISO 200, 1/250 sec.

I also wandered by this store with an unusual name, 'Guerilla The Incubation Period'. It's the flagship store of the Tokyo fashion brand, WTAPS, but the name seems out of place just like a skull stuck on an overpass. Anyway, the WTAPS website says that their concept is "placing things where they should be." Hmmm... I liked the design of the exterior of the shop, but couldn't see their merchandise. So perhaps their clothes did not belong on me?

Nikon D600 with Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens f4.0, ISO 200, 1/15 sec.

Catching up on New Year's Hatsumode 2014 (Part 3)

As promised, we followed the trail to the top of the Mt. Takao and was rewarded with a good view of the surrounding countryside.

After stopping for a picnic lunch, some refreshments and snacks from the vendors at the top, we hiked over to Takao-san or as it is formally known, Takao-san Yakuo-in Yuki-ji (or 高尾山薬王院).

We didn't spend too much time here because of the crowds and the limited attention span of our kids. I was only able to take a few quick shots as we made our way through the grounds, before working our way back to the cable car and down the mountain.

There are a few more photos that I would like to share, so there will most likely be a part four!

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f4.0, ISO 100, 1/400 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f4.0, ISO 100, 1/1600 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f5.6, ISO 100, 1/60 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f5.6, ISO 100, 1/50 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f5.6, ISO 100, 1/60 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f2.8, ISO 100, 1/60 sec.