I’ve spent around 33 days in Japan, and I’ve enjoyed every bit of it. Sure, it wasn’t all positives, nor was it all negatives, it was however highly memorable, and a very long time coming. I’ve had classmates, friends, and even internet friends (half of those turn into stupid enemies) make their way to Japan and back (all prior to my own trip) finally having my own turn in Japan after 20+ years of having desired to venture there. My first 20-year-long desire has finally been achieved. No more looking through a figurative shop window (window shopping) trying to make my way into Japan. I finally traveled to Japan documenting my travels in every which way, including via my android smartphone, 360 camera, and even my trusty aging Lumix GF-1 camera. I’ve even noted my travels in a travel log. It may have been a long while, it however was finally done!
I sometimes even regrettably realized I failed to capture content with my handy Lumix GF-1 because of how much I rushed around from one place to another, even being taken up by the surprise and shock of the moment. For those moments that I had captured on my Lumix GF-1 were glorious. All of it was glorious.
Related Blog Posting (Japan Travel):
[Day 1] – [Day 2] – [Day 3] – [Day 4] – [Day 5] – [Day 6] – [Day 7] – [Day 8] – [Day 9] – [Day 10] – [Day 11] – [Day 12] – [Day 13] – [Day 14] – [Day 15] – [Day 16] – [Day 17] – [Day 18] – [Day 19] – [Day 20] – [Day 21] – [Day 22] – [Day 23] – [Day 24] – [Day 25] – [Day 26] – [Day 27 & 28] – [Day 29] – [Day 30] – [Day 31] – [Day 32] – [Day 33]
Fujikawaguchiko:
I came to Fujikawaguchiko to see Mount Fuji in all her magical splendor. Sadly, it was overly cloudy. Highly cloudy, to which I had to seek an alternate route of enjoyment. I decided to hike up a mini-mountain to see what I could manage to capture, experience, etc. I decided to also try live-streaming, something which failed me at times. While up here I also heard funky noises, train level-crossing alarms, and possible amusement park noises echoing into the mountain. Was a neat experience. I came to Fujikawaguchiko mainly for Mount Fuji. Shame she ways hiding that day.
Yokohama:
Came here for the moving Gundam Statue, though mostly captured nightly Yokohama scenery with my Lumix. You’ll also notice some Cherry Blossoms peaking out in some images, that’s also another reason why I came to Japan. A festive Cherry Blossom happy birthday for me on March 29th. Happy Birthday to me.
Main ‘P.O.I’ is the general area of ‘Yokohama Landmark Tower’, and the surrounding area. Highlight being Yokohama Landmark Tower, Sailing Training Ship Nippon Maru, Yokohama Cosmo World, and InterContinental Yokohama Grand, an IHG Hotel. All for the lovely scenic vibes.
Yokosuka – Mikasa Museum:
I mainly came to Yokosuka to visit Mikasa herself, a lovely warship idol of her own natural historical status, and for the additional Azur Lane charms that she has. Both Yokosuka and Mikasa were awesome. All for the awesome Azur Lane & Kantai Collection hype! I admire both, yet Japan only admires the latter, not the former.
(Side-note: I’m not Anti-American, though the things I’ve seen Americans note about how they abused Japanese girls in the area was highly off-putting. Little, or no modesty was to be had/seen on social media comments spawning notes in a previous blog post in reaction to that when having visited Mikasa. Americans always boasting and noting how they always obtained blowjobs from Japanese female locals making me dislike such crude topics and slight exploitation of the locals, even if the Japanese females tend to be somewhat interested in such behaviours. Thankfully other comments have noted how much Yokosuka has allegedly been cleaned up since then, and hopefully even in “present” tense. It’s just messed up. I’m well aware of the fact Japan isn’t a “saintly Holy Place”, though boasting about blowjobs in overly crude fashions simply feels “out of place”. Jarring. Granted, Yokosuka is a naval military base with both Japan and USA. At least try to be respectfully classy, modest, or something along those lines.)
(Side-note #2: I’ve also tried making a Vlog for Twitter/X noting how Japan makes better parks than Ottawa, Canada. Even tried noting how I prefer Japan over Ottawa, and how I felt more at peace in Japan. Video may have failed to upload, it is what it is and I was annoyed seeing some foreigners in Yokosuka. Some agitation was there. I don’t mind speaking to proper foreigners, I however didn’t come to Japan to see more foreigners in Japan. It’s just weird.)
(I’ve failed to capture images from Tokyo (Tennozu Isle, Akihabara, Asakusa, & etc), Hiroshima, Kure, and other places because of how hasty, rushing, and mentally pre-occupied I was. I was constantly absorbed into the moment failing to use my Lumix GF-1 when I simply used my smartphone to capture both videos and pictures, sometimes to the dismay of the locals.)
Kyoto:
Next stop, Kyoto! After having traveled to Kure, Hiroshima, Osaka, Nara, and into Kyoto I finally had more opportunities to capture more scenic beauty with my Lumix GF-1. I had more planned in Kyoto than I had in Osaka, and other areas. Kyoto gave me more peace of mind by admiring all the more beauties in surrounding areas, funnily enough. I had more time to think to myself allowing me to pull out my Lumix GF-1 more often.
Toji Temple was one of my main lovable attraction points, sadly during a rainy night. Still awesome.
I came to visit Naganami’s memorial area thanks to the guidance of a fellow Kantai Collection Admiral. He highly suggested and recommended I visit this area, so I had, even to the confusion of the staff at the area unable to guide me to this area. I trusted my KanColle Admiral’s guidance, taking a “leap-of-faith” by entering this area to find this memorial area. After a round-about way of reaching this area I sadly was far too worked up I began talking to myself out-loud, and obnoxiously. If anybody witnessed me being vocal with myself it would have been highly embrassing. I even desired to leave some gifted KanColle treats here, sadly forgetting about them in the Kyoto Station’s locker.
I took various Naganami images, even an AR moment from the Azur Lane side of things, to the possibly hidden disapproval of the KanColle Admirals of Japan for desiring to use Azur Lane’s AR mode in place of Kantai Collection. Japan is loyal to KanColle, not Azur Lane, though respect is still respect.
Trying to reach the K-On! Location, as seen in the anime. The girls from K-On! took a trip to Kyoto, even visiting this specific area of Kyoto. I simply desired to capture what I had seen in the Anime, though unable to reference to online comparisons from other people’s Kyoto x K-On Anime comparisons.
Sapporo:
A few images were captured in Sapporo, though sadly forgot to capture anything else in this beautiful part of Northern Japan. I desired to capture city-scapes, trams, and everything else with my Lumix. Instead, I have beautiful Odori Park fountains and monuments. I have regrets, though still capturing the little bit of beauty that I can.
Yokosuka – Naval Cruise:
I returned to Yokosuka with the goal of taking a naval cruise to see Izumo, USS Ronald Reagan, among other beautiful Japan and American naval vessels. I was struggling to capture the vessels with both my Smartphone and my Lumix GF1, all the while also accidentally irritating the older Japanese guy next to me by jumping from side-to-side while trying to take pictures. It was awkwardly awesome, though equally feel guilty for being that “jumpy” tourist taking images in a weird way.
A new vessel appeared since my last visit, Japanese icebreaker Shirase (5003).
Kamakura – Enoshima Island:
One of my favourite times was hanging around the Kamakura area of Japan. I mainly came to Kamakura for the trams, staying for the scenery and Anime references. The longer I stayed in Kamakura the more I admired it for its more natural vibes; More rural-feeling vibes. The neat Bunny Girl Senpai locations used in the Anime, and even Enoshima Island itself. I kept coming back to both Kamakura and Enoshima Island for the various landmarks, locations, scenery, and scenic vibes. Kamakura is awesome!
‘Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai‘ A.K.A ‘Seishun Buta Yarou wa Bunny Girl Senpai no Yume wo Minai‘.
I’m genuinely happy and proud I’ve obtained many proud moments in Japan, those of my own, and only of my own. Kamakura briefly allowed me to anchor myself into Japan on my own terms, in my own ways, while admiring the area on its own terms. Yes, some tourists had to ruin everything (over-tourism), it was however an awesome place to visit.
Tokyo Tower:
The only time I genuinely remembered to take out my Lumix GF1 camera was in the Tokyo Tower, when I was at my mental worst fearing the heights I forced myself to conquer. I had to face my fear of heights to capture these awesome images (some videos) from Tokyo Tower’s main and top deck. The staff had an obvious expression of – “what is wrong with this foreigner?!” – written on their face.
- Fear of heights.
- Last few days of Japan.
- Lack of sleep, or simply tired from all the traveling and exploring.
Combine all three together, and bam! You have a crazy Canadian losing his mind.
Sadly, that is all there is to my Lumix GF-1 image collection. I even have a handful of videos, even than I’m not satisfied with them to share them immediately. The images are more impressive than the videos I’ve taken. 176 images total in this batch. I’m happy with what I’ve taken, though wish I’ve taken more to document my trip in various parts of Tokyo, Tennozu Isle, Asakusa, Yokohama, Fujikawaguchiko, Kure, Hiroshima, Osaka, Yura, Maizuru, Nara, Kyoto, and other areas. Granted, I’ve taken my content via my Android Samsung Smartphone. It still managed to capture numerous memorable moments. I’m aware I shouldn’t focus on other people when trying to enjoy things on my own terms, we are however highly social creatures needing social interaction and validation on a daily basis. We try to connect with like-minded people to only be constantly be “out-done” on a dialy basis in a weird game of competition, hence why foreigners also hate foreigners in Japan. Foreigners simply travel to Japan for Japan, not to see other foreigners, hence the open hatred. Granted, I don’t mind talking to proper fellow foreigners on a more modest and “down-to-earth” level. The best conversations I had tended to be with other down-to-earth Asians.
I’m genuinely happy I’ve finally visited Japan, especially after all the bitter and negative reactions aimed both directly and indirectly at me for self-ego and clout nonsense. Other people always stealing my thunder and my spotlight, yet thankfully have been able to visit Japan on my own after much mishaps and struggles. I’m happy I have my own memories, my own content (images and videos), my own attachment, and even befriended various locals. Granted, everything comes and goes with time, I will however proudly cherish everything which has come my way; What I had accomplished in Japan.
(One more blog post containing 360 images shall follow this one, and hopefully videos.)
Thanks for viewing! Hope you enjoyed my Japanese content.