Uploaded May 2020 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
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Twitter: twitter.com/kj_planet_tokyo
Japan's government has lifted a state of emergency on COVID-19 in 39 out of its 47 prefectures. However, Saitama Prefecture where I live was not included. It makes sense because it is located next to Tokyo Prefecture which has the largest number of patients in Japan. I needed to get through the center of my city so I took some footage of what the district is like after lifting a state of emergency in other prefectures. Have a look.
Music:
F.F. Chopin - Nocturne in D flat major, Op. 27 No.2 by Paul Pitman (BG)
J.S. Bach - Suite No.4 in E flat - II. Allemande by European Archive (ED)
#tokyo #japan #cycling
Instagram: instagram.com/koji_planet_tokyo
Twitter: twitter.com/kj_planet_tokyo
Japan's government has lifted a state of emergency on COVID-19 in 39 out of its 47 prefectures. However, Saitama Prefecture where I live was not included. It makes sense because it is located next to Tokyo Prefecture which has the largest number of patients in Japan. I needed to get through the center of my city so I took some footage of what the district is like after lifting a state of emergency in other prefectures. Have a look.
Music:
F.F. Chopin - Nocturne in D flat major, Op. 27 No.2 by Paul Pitman (BG)
J.S. Bach - Suite No.4 in E flat - II. Allemande by European Archive (ED)
#tokyo #japan #cycling
![[2012] Tokyos Fashion Center : Takeshita Street, Harajuku [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cF1_988H2HE/mqdefault.jpg "[2012] Tokyos Fashion Center : Takeshita Street, Harajuku [iPhone 4S/HD]
Harajuku, located next to the Shibuya area, has two faces. One is the face of a worship place, the other is the face of a fashion center. Takeshita Street is a narrow but busy street where you can see what is hot now among the young here in Japan. To experience the peak of the bustle of the street, you should visit there in a weekend afternoon, but this video was taken in a weekday afternoon. I wanted to avoid the crazy bustle to be honest. Sorry for my laziness. However, you can at least see what the street is like in this video.
Here is the video about another face of Harajuku, the face of a worship place.
http://youtu.be/1Y4oJF54jUY
And here is the video of the place called Grandmas Harajuku. Check also this!
http://youtu.be/PeIyRYMcN-g
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Jun. 11th, 2012")
![Abandoned Factory Reused as Parking, Kawaguchi, Japan [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cTInri7lWpU/mqdefault.jpg "Abandoned Factory Reused as Parking, Kawaguchi, Japan [iPhone 4S/HD]
Kawaguchi City, my hometown, located in the north of Tokyo Metropolis, was once known as the center of casting industry, however the industry has been declining for several decades and the city is now serving as one of bedroom suburbs of Tokyo. Nowadays you can see the city filled with residences instead of foundries. A few factories are still operating, but hundreds of them were torn down, and some were abandoned. It probably costs a lot to tear down buildings.
I found this abandoned factory being reused as a monthly parking when strolling around my neighborhood. Going into the parking, I felt the atmosphere of my childhood there. It seemed that the parkings largest account was the post office. Some red post cars were parked there.
- Shot with an iPhone 4S on May 25th, 2012")
![Sakura, Cherry Blossoms, in Tokyo [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dFV7PvD2DdM/mqdefault.jpg "Sakura, Cherry Blossoms, in Tokyo [iPhone 4S/HD]
This is why I recommend tourists to visit Japan during spring. You can see glorious sakura, or cherry blossoms, here and there. Under the trees, people stroll, sing, eat, drink, lie down, and get intoxicated by their beauty. The flowers lives are short, but that could make them more beautiful.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Apr. 8th to 10th, 2012")
![Horse Making Okonomiyaki [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dYcSaBz-7N4/mqdefault.jpg "Horse Making Okonomiyaki [iPhone 4S/HD]
Visit to learn more about this festival:
Tatara Festival 2012, Kawaguchi, Japan [iPhone 4S/HD]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdggFCriNWM
Bumped into this horse guy making okonomiyaki at the largest annual festival in my city. The okonomiyaki tasted good.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Aug. 2nd, 2014")
![Sakura, Cherry Blossoms, in Tokyo 2015 [iPhone 6 Plus]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/eKJ3WHkNtZs/mqdefault.jpg "Sakura, Cherry Blossoms, in Tokyo 2015 [iPhone 6 Plus]
This is why I recommend tourists to visit Japan during spring. You can see glorious sakura, or cherry blossoms, here and there. Under the trees, people stroll, sing, eat, drink, lie down, and get intoxicated by their beauty. The flowers lives are short, but that could make them more beautiful.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 6 Plus on Apr. 2nd and 3rd, 2015")
![Glow of Sunset on My Way Home [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/eQs717moEH4/mqdefault.jpg "Glow of Sunset on My Way Home [iPhone 4S/HD]
Crossing the Arakawa River and leaving Tokyo Metropolis, the train entered into Kawaguchi City where I live. From its window, I saw the evening sky glowing after a typhoon had passed.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Jun. 20th, 2012")
![Itabashi/Todabashi Fireworks Festival 2012, Tokyo-Saitama [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/eSsUm1Nxbhw/mqdefault.jpg "Itabashi/Todabashi Fireworks Festival 2012, Tokyo-Saitama [iPhone 4S/HD]
Itabashi Fireworks Festival and Todabashi Fireworks Festival take place across the Arakawa River, which divides Tokyo Metropolis and Saitama Prefecture, at the same time every summer. They are often treated as one festival and called Itabashi/Todabashi Fireworks Festival. Over 10,000 colorful fireworks light up the summer night sky and about a half million people enjoy the spectacle every year. The scene of fireworks being set off from two sites across the river like a competition is truly a remarkable sight.
I used to go see this festival when I was a kid with my family and my aunts family whose house was near the festival sites. Although I went to three fireworks festivals this summer and this one was not as large as Sumida River Fireworks Festival, out of the three, I liked this one the best. It is the one I am most familiar with since my childhood.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Aug. 4th, 2012")
![Tokyo Station City ~Shopping Streets at Tokyo Station~ [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/elqIJ_ctZRw/mqdefault.jpg "Tokyo Station City ~Shopping Streets at Tokyo Station~ [iPhone 4S/HD]
Large train stations in Japan often have a lot of shops and restaurants inside. Tokyo Station, the terminal of Shinkansen or bullet trains, has 120 shops inside ticket gates and 80 outside. They make up a massive shopping and gourmet district named Tokyo Station City. Their main staples are bento or lunch boxes which you can enjoy on a long-distance train. A good bento would make your trip more enjoyable.
You might wander in the city like a huge labyrinth(*) when you go into there without a map. But at least you dont have to worry about starving or freezing to death as long as you have enough Japanese yen. They serve and sell various things you could be in need for while wandering. Of course you can also use them on a train, or after getting off the train.
*Note: The challenge level of Tokyo Station as a station labyrinth is beginner level. The most challenging station in Tokyo is Shinjuku Station. Here is the video about the station. Check also this!
http://youtu.be/7AKQzxl1Ick
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Jun. 20th, 2012")
