Scenes from around town

Most homes do not have a clothing dryer. Laundry is hung out to dry inside or outside, depending on the weather.


You don't see many dirty cars on the streets.


Have Hair and Make Kids at the same time!


Parking for Kids!


Honda Cars Japan


Honda Cars Japan

Japanese Vending Machine

I often marvel how well the Japanese maintain their vending machines. You never see one with graffiti or vandalized. Who would mess with a bolt like that?

Japanese License Plates

Japanese license plates come in three main types (there are sub-types). The white is for what is considered a 'regular' size car (which would be a compact car in America), the yellow is for a compact car (a sub-compact car in the USA) and the green license plate (not shown) is for a commercial vehicle such as a taxi. The classification means that the cars are taxed differently. The smaller the car, the less tax is applied to it across the board, including toll fees for bridge and highway use. The Japanese will even get out of their cars at the toll collection points to debate their tax fee, all done politely.


Vehicle Registration Plates of Japan Wikipedia Entry

Japanese Driving Ranges

The Japanese love golf. Who wouldn't?

Itami (Osaka) Airport

Entrance to the restroom.

In Japan you will never find a dirty toilet.

Kuro-Inari - Black Bag Sushi

Hokuto Restaurant - Korean Style Dinner

Can't forget dessert!

Welcome to Matsuyama!

The Tokyo Dai-ichi Hotel in Matsuyama, it is getting to be very popular.

Bizzare Japanese TV Commercial

Japanese TV has some of the most elegant and bizarre commercials around. This one was for a hair replacement service. It was essentially nylon thread patched onto a persons head. The model is showing how versatile this can be. It was pretty weird.

Japanese Baggage Handling

Typical to Japanese baggage handling is to wrap up some baggage in plastic to keep it clean.

Mount Fuji

The plane flew close to the summit of Mount Fuji, close enough to see inside and observe the steam still rising out of this active volcano. An impressive site from any point of view.

Haneda Airport

Japanese Public Phone (Domestic Calls Only)

Having a bad day? Try JAL Smile Support!

Shuttle Bus to Haneda Airport

In order to complete our trip, we needed to take the shuttle bus to Haneda Airport.





Japanese Toll Booths

Narita Airport

Delayed in Narita

After stopping over in Sendai Airport for 5 hours it was back to Narita. Needless to say everyone missed their connecting flight. So, the poor onions were left to be shuffled off to the local hotel for some short shut-eye before attempting to complete their ventures the next day.

Lobby of the ultra-luxurious Airport Rest Hotel.

Welcome to Japan, Christmas style

Airport Rest House looks worse than it actually is. The rooms are clean and small but over all it was not bad.

No frills vending machine

Evening entertainment

Room with a view!

Side-tracked in Sendai

After making the trans-pacific flight to Japan, our plane was side-tracked to Sendai airport for minor repairs and refueling. Needless to say that the pilot is a good PR person. He thanked us for our patience and kept us informed that the repair crew was coming as soon as they can from Nagasaki airport. To keep the passengers amused while waiting, the crew put on "Mami-mia," the musical. The movie is so bad that it is amusing.