Tarō Okamoto's L'Homme Végétal at the Hakone Open Air Museum

At the end of July, my sister came to Tokyo for several weeks to enjoy the end of her summer holidays before returning to Syracuse (and spend quality time with her nephew and niece). One of the first things we together was spend the day in Hakone. After summer vacation visits to some amazing museums in New York and Cleveland, you may have thought incorrectly that I must be tired of visiting museums. The fact is a visit Hakone without a visit to the Hakone Open Air Museum would be incomplete.

It's hard for any attraction in the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park (富士箱根伊豆国立公園) area to compete with the natural beauty of the area. However, the amazing surroundings combined with amazing art is always a winning combination. There is plenty to see in the museum, and the gardens don't hold back with the amazing world class sculptures. After passing through the entrance, L'Homme Végétal by Tarō Okamoto is one of the first of many amazing sculptures you will encounter. I'll post a more of my photos from this visit, perhaps a sculpture from Henry Moore, Picasso, Alexander Calder, or Giuliano Vangi.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 24mm f/2.0 Nikkor AI @ f8, ISO 100, 1/250 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 24mm f/2.0 Nikkor AI @ f8, ISO 100, 1/320 sec.

Summer Break in New York

The family had a busy summer break. We visited relatives in Cleveland, had a quick escape to Orlando and several more days in New York City. Our children especially enjoined the American Museum of Natural History and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The elephants on display in the Akeley Hall of African Mammals were particularly amazing!

Nikon D600 with Nikon 16-35mm f/4G ED VR II AF-S IF SWM @ 17 mm, f5.6, ISO 400, 1/2 sec.

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.

Warhol and Soup Dress

On 1 February, the "Andy Warhol: 15 Minutes Eternal" exhibition opened at the Mori Art Museum and will continue until 6 May 2014. It looks to be quite the comprehensive exhibition with nearly 700 pieces and is being touted as the largest ever Warhol exhibition presented in Japan.

I am not sure if this Campbell Soup dress in the Paul Smith Shibuya store window was just a coincidence. Although this dress is not what I would call beautiful, the woman that has the confidence to wear this piece of pop art would definitely be interesting and make quite an impression.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens f4.0, ISO 200, 1/125 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens f4.0, ISO 200, 1/60 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens f4.0, ISO 200, 1/40 sec.

History Garage

In Odaiba, there is a car museum run by Toyota called the History Garage. I visited recently with my kids, who were not as interested in looking at a bunch of old cars, especially if you couldn't sit in them or ride in them.

One of the more interesting vehicles was the Toyota Sports 800. The prototype for this car, the Toyota Publica Sports is on prominent display at the entrance to the museum (or perhaps it is near the exit, I may have gone the wrong way around). According to Wikipedia, the car's engine output was 21 kW (or 28 hp)! I'm sure this sounded more impressive in 1962 (although a 1962 Corvette was rated between 250 hp (190 kW) and 360 hp (270 kW) from an 327 cu in (5.4 L) small-block V8). At least the car sold for significantly less, about $1,652 USD in 1965 according to the Yotahachi North American Resource Page.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 16-35mm f/4G ED VR II AF-S IF SWM @ 16 mm, f5.6, ISO 125, 1/30 sec.

This is the 1965 production version, sometimes affectionately called the Yota-Hachi (ヨタハチ). The kanji on the license plate is a little unusual too. It actually has Tokyo (東京）. I'm not sure if this is how plates were issued back in the 1960's. Current, Tokyo plates are now issued with the local municipality, Adachi (足立), Hachiōji (八王子), Tama (多摩), Nerima (練馬) or Shinagawa (品川).

Nikon D600 with Nikon 16-35mm f/4G ED VR II AF-S IF SWM @ 20 mm, f4.0, ISO 400, 1/6 sec.

Aurora Science at the Science Museum, Tokyo

The recent solar flare activity has generated a lot of interest regarding auroras. Those lucky enough to live relatively near the poles can view these amazing natural light shows just by going outside and looking up. In Tokyo you can view artificial auroras generated in the mini simulator located in the Science Museum, Tokyo.

Big wheel at the Science Museum, Tokyo

There's a giant gear (or Mega Wheel) at the Science Museum, Tokyo. This museum guest is doing his part to complete a revolution.

I'm not sure if he knows that it will take about 10 years or 25.2-million cranks, to turn the big gear just once!

Sample capsule

On Roppongi Dori in front of Roppongi Hills is a restored example of the Metabolism Movement.  This sample is from the Nakagin Capsule Tower (completed in 1972) designed by architect Kisho Kurokawa.  According to the information posted on the side of this specimen, one of these capsules could be built for the cost of a compact car.

If you are interested in learning more, the Mori Art Museum at Roppongi Hills is holding an exhibit, METABOLISM: The City of the Future, until 15 January 2012.

There are efforts in progress to tear this unique structure down, so if I am in Shimbashi I'll make an extra effort to visit. You can still see it on Google Street View...

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Modern Animals and Ancient Dinosaurs at the National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo

Last Saturday was a typical Tokyo rainy spring day so the family had to chose to spend time indoors rather than get wet. We chose to visit the National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo.  It's quite the bargain, only ¥600 entry for adults and free for High-school students and younger.  We even had a reasonable if not tasty lunch in the museum restaurant for less than ¥1,000 each.  Parking outside Ueno Station cost more ¥2,000 for the day, which actually isn't too bad for Tokyo.

My children are typical for most everywhere in the world and are fascinated by dinosaurs.  We also took some time looking at the ocean exhibits and their large display of mammals.

I shot with my Nikon 16-35mm f/4G Wide Angle Zoom.  The VR performs exceptionally well in low light and little sharpness is lost wide open at f4.