Uploaded February 2021 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Instagram: instagram.com/koji_planet_tokyo
Twitter: twitter.com/kj_planet_tokyo
0:00 My Uncle's Place
1:34 Kiyose, Tokyo
2:16 Higashiyamato, Tokyo
2:41 Tokorozawa, Saitama
3:47 Into Forest
4:42 Hill Climb Failure
5:58 Huge Cemetery
6:28 Totoro's Forest
8:42 Shrine on Hill
11:22 Into Gravel
12:24 Coffee Break
13:01 Gravel Downhill
14:43 Tarmac Downhill
15:50 Lake Sayama
16:48 7-Eleven Refuel
18:59 Johnnie Walker Red Label
19:32 Ending
Hayao Miyazaki, the movie director of Studio Ghibli, says that he was inspired a lot by the nature of Tokorozawa, Saitama when he created one of his greatest movies My Neighbor Totoro. He has been living there for a half century.
The movie portrays the ‘50s but there are still many forests like the one in the movie even today. Some of them are called Totoro’s Forest. I pedaled to the area and ended up in Totoro’s Forest #2. It looks like there are dozens of forests named Totoro’s Forest and their nature is protected by donations through the Foundation of Totoro’s Hometown. I respect their efforts.
I really enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere over there. I hope you guys feel it through my video.
Music: 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
0:00 My Uncle's Place
1:34 Kiyose, Tokyo
2:16 Higashiyamato, Tokyo
2:41 Tokorozawa, Saitama
3:47 Into Forest
4:42 Hill Climb Failure
5:58 Huge Cemetery
6:28 Totoro's Forest
8:42 Shrine on Hill
11:22 Into Gravel
12:24 Coffee Break
13:01 Gravel Downhill
14:43 Tarmac Downhill
15:50 Lake Sayama
16:48 7-Eleven Refuel
18:59 Johnnie Walker Red Label
19:32 Ending
Hayao Miyazaki, the movie director of Studio Ghibli, says that he was inspired a lot by the nature of Tokorozawa, Saitama when he created one of his greatest movies My Neighbor Totoro. He has been living there for a half century.
The movie portrays the ‘50s but there are still many forests like the one in the movie even today. Some of them are called Totoro’s Forest. I pedaled to the area and ended up in Totoro’s Forest #2. It looks like there are dozens of forests named Totoro’s Forest and their nature is protected by donations through the Foundation of Totoro’s Hometown. I respect their efforts.
I really enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere over there. I hope you guys feel it through my video.
Music: J.S. Bach - Suite No.4 in E flat - II. Allemande by European Archive (ED)
#tokyo #japan #cycling
![Shrine on Rooftop of Building in Tokyo [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/thYwp_EXwK8/mqdefault.jpg "Shrine on Rooftop of Building in Tokyo [iPhone 4S/HD]
Here in Japan, there are small shrines here and there. You can see them in mountains, on seashores, beside rice fields, in residential areas, and even in developed city areas.
Ginza, Tokyo is one of the most luxurious shopping and gourmet districts in the world, but it is not so difficult to find a shrine there once you go down back streets.
Asahi Inari Shrine, one of the largest small shrines in Ginza, settles beside a back street three blocks away from the main street. This Shinto shrine appears as a common small shrine among buildings at a glance, but is a bit different. The shrine you can see at the street is not a main shrine. When a building was built where once the shrine was, the main shrine was moved to the rooftop of the building. They also built the vice-shrine beside the street for people to make it accessible to worship. This is a kind of an urban-type shrine.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Jun. 14th, 2012")
![Kochikame Statues at Kameari, Tokyo [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tlOt263hQcc/mqdefault.jpg "Kochikame Statues at Kameari, Tokyo [iPhone 4S/HD]
Kochikame(*) is a long-running popular comedy manga and anime in Japan. The manga has been serialized since 1976 with over 1700 chapters. It is the longest-running manga series in history.
The story is set in Kameari, Katsushika Ward, Tokyo. Around Kameari Station, you can find several bronze statues of Kankichi Ryotsu, or Ryo-san, the main character of the story, and a few other supporting characters.
*The formal title of Kochikame is Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Koen Mae Hashutsujo which literally means This is the police box in front of Kameari Park in Katsushika Ward, but it is usually called by the shortened name.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Jul. 24th, 2012")
![Small Festival at Local Shopping Street, Kawaguchi, Japan [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/uYQ13OICYhw/mqdefault.jpg "Small Festival at Local Shopping Street, Kawaguchi, Japan [iPhone 4S/HD]
Sometimes you might come across a small festival held at a local shopping street on a weekend if you live in Japan. You can see there stalls serving fast foods and drinks, the shops beside the street selling things at reasonable prices, a flea market where local people are selling things, and some tiny shows presented.
I came across this local festival when I was going to central Tokyo to find something fun for a Sunday afternoon, but I changed my plan and ended up enjoying the festival.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on May 27th, 2012")
![Rainbow Colored Rainbow Bridge, Tokyo [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/u_WttwErMrs/mqdefault.jpg "Rainbow Colored Rainbow Bridge, Tokyo [iPhone 4S/HD]
If you would like a great view of the Rainbow Bridge during winter, visit Harumi Pier at dusk. Around the winter solstice, you can watch the sun setting on right side of the bridge across the Tokyo Bay from east to west.
The bridge, connecting central Tokyo and the massive artificial island Odaiba, is illuminated in rainbow colors in December and the first few days of new year. It is literally the Rainbow Bridge.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Dec. 12th, 2012")
![Onsen Theme Park, or Hot Spring Theme Park, in Tokyo [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vXtYI48fPVw/mqdefault.jpg "Onsen Theme Park, or Hot Spring Theme Park, in Tokyo [iPhone 4S/HD]
Ooedo Onsen Monogatari, located in Odaiba, Tokyos waterfront entertainment area, is an onsen theme park, or a hot spring theme park, with various baths using natural hot spring water pumped from 1,400 meters below ground. The theme park houses not only baths, but also restaurants, bars, souvenir shops and an accommodation facility. You can relax your body there after you fully enjoyed the area.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Jun. 2nd, 2012")
![Stroll Around My Place #2 [iPhone 4S / Honda RoadMovies]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vwB9N3-rcuA/mqdefault.jpg "Stroll Around My Place #2 [iPhone 4S / Honda RoadMovies]
The car company Honda often provides cool iPhone apps that you can enjoy even if you dont have a car. This movie was made with Honda RoadMovies, their brand new work.
http://www.honda.co.jp/internavi-dots/roadmovies/
- Shot with an iPhone 4S on Nov. 21st, 2012")
![Adorable Dog Growling Quietly [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/w-EnXpDD_T0/mqdefault.jpg "Adorable Dog Growling Quietly [iPhone 4S/HD]
I came across these adorable dogs while strolling around my neighborhood. I was trying to play the staring game with one of them, but he kept growling at me quietly without barking. I realized he was seriously preparing to pounce on me, quit shooting the video, and got away. :P
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Jun. 7th, 2012")
![Yabusame at Meiji Shrine, Tokyo ~Japanese Mounted Archery~ [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wHykCupvWa0/mqdefault.jpg "Yabusame at Meiji Shrine, Tokyo ~Japanese Mounted Archery~ [iPhone 4S/HD]
Yabusame, or traditional Japanese mounted archery, is the ritual dating back to 9th century. It is performed to entertain the gods. An archer dressed in a noble costume rides a horse and shoots three arrows successively at three targets. Even today, you can see Yabusame at many places.
Also at Meiji Shrine, the shrine surrounded by 170 thousand trees in central Tokyo, Yabusame ceremony is held as an act of the shrines annual festival. This year again, the archers wowed not only the gods but also the crowd with their brilliant skills.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Nov. 3rd, 2012")
