Uploaded March 2021 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Instagram: instagram.com/koji_planet_tokyo
Twitter: twitter.com/kj_planet_tokyo
Sakura season has come. There is no reason not to go see those beautiful flowers.
I pedaled from Oji, my dad's birth place, to Naka-Itabashi, my mom's birth place, along Shakujii River. It's lined by more than 1000 sakura trees. It's not recommended to throw a hanami party under COVID but people were still strolling around and enjoying the stunning scenery. So did I. Yes, we need it for a change.
I also visited my uncle living in the area and had a chat with him. I was glad to see him doing well.
Let's hope we will have a "usual" spring next year.
0:00 Opening
0:03 Otonashi Riverside
0:56 Asukayama Park
2:22 Best Wishes
2:54 Old Brewing Laboratory Site Park
3:28 Shakujii Riverside
6:11 My Uncle's Place
8:11 Back to Shakujii Riverside
8:32 Kaga Park
9:00 Banana and Mandarin
10:02 Train Nerd
10:38 Elevator
11:05 Shingashi Riverside & Arakawa Riverside
11:31 Shibakawa Park
12:00 Famichiki (Fried Chicken at Convenience Store)
13:06 Ending
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
Sakura season has come. There is no reason not to go see those beautiful flowers.
I pedaled from Oji, my dad's birth place, to Naka-Itabashi, my mom's birth place, along Shakujii River. It's lined by more than 1000 sakura trees. It's not recommended to throw a hanami party under COVID but people were still strolling around and enjoying the stunning scenery. So did I. Yes, we need it for a change.
I also visited my uncle living in the area and had a chat with him. I was glad to see him doing well.
Let's hope we will have a "usual" spring next year.
0:00 Opening
0:03 Otonashi Riverside
0:56 Asukayama Park
2:22 Best Wishes
2:54 Old Brewing Laboratory Site Park
3:28 Shakujii Riverside
6:11 My Uncle's Place
8:11 Back to Shakujii Riverside
8:32 Kaga Park
9:00 Banana and Mandarin
10:02 Train Nerd
10:38 Elevator
11:05 Shingashi Riverside & Arakawa Riverside
11:31 Shibakawa Park
12:00 Famichiki (Fried Chicken at Convenience Store)
13:06 Ending
Music: J.S. Bach - Suite No.4 in E flat - II. Allemande by European Archive (ED)
#tokyo #japan #cycling
![Restored Tokyo Station Building Unveiled [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/UNYdlHUfE0A/mqdefault.jpg "Restored Tokyo Station Building Unveiled [iPhone 4S/HD]
By the end of 19th century, there were already three train terminals in Tokyo. The capital, however, didnt have one in its busiest area. It was daunting to build a massive station and rail tracks in the high traffic area filled with buildings, although the government knew they needed to build it urgently.
In 1914, Tokyo Station finally opened in the bustling area. The raised rail tracks connecting to the station were designed not to interfere with road traffic. They were made of red bricks although concrete structures were becoming more popular for a massive building at that time. The main building of the station, which was three-storied and had two domes on both sides of 335 meters width, was also built with bricks and a steel skeleton.
Nine years after the completion of the station, the red brick building withstood the Great Kanto Earthquake, which caused catastrophic damage to Tokyo. However, it was not able to escape war damage. It was almost burned down by air raids in the end of World War II. Only the skeleton and the wall remained. The station building was repaired when the war was over, however, the two domes and the third story were removed, they were badly damaged.
A plan to restore the building to how it looked before the war damage was proposed in the end of 20th century. Numerous people agreed with the plan and it was put into action in 2007. After 5 years of work, not only was the building restored, it also had seismic countermeasures installed. The old foundation made of pine trees was replaced with concrete boxes, and cutting-edge quake absorbers were installed between the building and the foundation. These operations were completed without moving or disassembling the building.
On October 1st, 2012, the oldest building of Tokyo Station unveiled its restored look. The Station Manager said that he hopes people will be familiar with it for the next 100 years.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Oct. 1st, 2012")
![Marunouchi Illumination 2012, Tokyo [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Uxv0NhKhs4c/mqdefault.jpg "Marunouchi Illumination 2012, Tokyo [iPhone 4S/HD]
Marunouchi Nakadori Avenue, passing between the Imperial Palace and Tokyo Station, is outlined by beautiful trees. Trees along a street usually consist of only one kind of tree, however, the trees along this avenue are different. You can see various kinds of trees.
The trees are decorated with light bulbs from mid-November to mid-February every year. But this year, the illumination event started on October 1st. It was to commemorate the restoration of the main building of Tokyo Station which was unveiled on the same day. 230 trees along the 1.2 km avenue were lit by one million LEDs and are enjoyed by delighted people walking by.
Here is a video of Tokyo Station, Restored Tokyo Station Building Unveiled. Check this out as well!
http://youtu.be/UNYdlHUfE0A
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Oct. 1st, 2012")
![The Tokyo Skytree Christmas Special Illumination [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VANzyKDbigQ/mqdefault.jpg "The Tokyo Skytree Christmas Special Illumination [iPhone 4S/HD]
From December 23rd to 25th, the Tokyo Skytree was illuminated in special colors for Christmas. People enjoyed the red illumination inspired by a candle and the green illumination which reminds you of a Christmas tree, on the first Christmas since the worlds tallest TV tower completed.
The massive Christmas tree soaring in the huge capital brought people peace, calmness and happiness on the holy night.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Dec. 25th, 2012")
![Free Hugs Campaign at Harajuku, Tokyo [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VTMUuRzQ-3A/mqdefault.jpg "Free Hugs Campaign at Harajuku, Tokyo [iPhone 4S/HD]
I found they were doing this Free Hugs Campaign in front of Harajuku Station on a Sunday afternoon. People who joined it looked so happy with touching their warm hearts.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Jun. 24th, 2012")
![Meerkat in the Middle of Tokyo [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Vg3UIGmFa7Q/mqdefault.jpg "Meerkat in the Middle of Tokyo [iPhone 4S/HD]
I came across a woman walking her meerkat at Harajuku, Tokyo. People who did not expected to meet this beastie in the middle of the capital were stopping by to look at it and took pictures of the adorable superstar.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Jun. 24th, 2012")
![Tommi Makinens Subaru Impreza at a McDonalds? [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VnUQch4Y2Kw/mqdefault.jpg "Tommi Makinens Subaru Impreza at a McDonalds? [iPhone 4S/HD]
Sometimes in Japan, you come across some flashy car like this one.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Jun. 25th, 2012")
![Rilakkuma at Shopping Mall [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VrKiLliszJo/mqdefault.jpg "Rilakkuma at Shopping Mall [iPhone 4S/HD]
I bumped into Rilakkuma, one of the most popular characters in Japan, at a shopping mall near my place on a Sunday afternoon. Rilakkuma is a combination of two words: relax in Japanese pronunciation and kuma, the Japanese word for bear. He (or she?) was surrounded by many shoppers offering them fun and relaxation.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Sep. 9th, 2012")
