Akebono-bashi Kushiyaki Restaurant Store Front

Back in the spring walking with the family through an interesting shopping street in Akebono-bashi-dori, this yakitori (or kushiyaki) restaurant storefront caught my eye. It's not anything fancy, overtly flashy or nostalgic, just typical of what can be found in many neighborhoods throughout Tokyo and Japan. One look and you'll want to pass through the blue & white noren and sliding wooden slat doors, sit and have a drink and several sticks of grilled chicken and veggies.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens f4.0, ISO 160, 1/40 sec.

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.

Kyushu... One night in Beppu (Part 2)

Here are more photos of restaurants from my evening walk in Beppu.  The first is a garlic restaurant.  The smell attracted my attention before the lanterns and the norin with the garlic headed character.

One of the signs on the side of this ramen restaurant indicated that their specialty was Yokohama style noodles.

Kyushu... One night in Beppu (Part 1)

I was in Oita-ken on Kyushu over the weekend to attend friend's wedding.  I was asked to take photos and even though I was working the event I had a blast. 

I stayed Saturday night in Beppu and took some photos of their quiet central shopping and nightlife area.  It seemed very quaint, natsukashii or forgotten Japan feel.  The shops and restaurant facades look as if they were taken from 1950's or 60's movies in Japan.  It was like stepping onto a movie set or stepping back in time...