Oktoberfest in Japan

The Munich Oktoberfest is the biggest beer festival in the world and over 200 years old. I’ve never been there but many foreigners travel to Germany each year just to get drunk. Like christmas markets, the Oktoberfest has been exported to many countries. Of course, Japan is among them!

The Japanese Oktoberfest is only ten years old and is held in seven locations this year:
Odaiba: 4/27-5/6
Hibiya Park: 5/18-5/27
Sendai: 6/15-6/24
Shiba: 8/17-8/26
Toyosu: 8/31-9/9
Kobe: 9/14-9/23
Nagasaki: 9/14-9/23

A bit Tokyo-centric, isn’t it? However, these are just the Oktoberfests announced on october-fest.jp (Japanese only). There’s another one in Yokohama which is usually held annually in October, but will be held in spring this year as well (4/27-5/7).

Turning NEX train seats

One of the great features of many Japanese trains is that the seats always face the driving direction. Personally I’m fine sitting in the opposite direction because I’m usually sleeping anyway. Some trains turn the seats automatically after they’ve reached their final stop, in others it’s done manually. I recorded this video of the NEX, JR East’s airport train. You can see how easy it is, but don’t worry, they won’t turn accidentally.

Even if you don’t care whether the seats turn, levitate or give you a back massage, there is something nice about this train feature: Since the seats have to be able to turn, there needs to be enough space for them – which gives you enough space for your legs when you sit down

Solo Karaoke

Karaoke is either done with friends/colleagues (Asia) or in a bar in front of people you don’t know (West). But friends don’t always have time and trying out new songs in front of others can be embarrassing. Then it’s time for solo Karaoke, also called “Hitokara” (一人hito(ri): one person; kara: Karaoke). There are Karaoke boxes for just one or two persons in Korea and in Japan.

For some going to a Karaoke place alone can feel embarrassing too. Last November One Kara opened near Kanda Station in Tokyo. One Kara caters to soloists who can even record their singing on CD. They also have a dedicated lady’s space with women-only cabins. From 10am to 6pm it’s 600 Yen and from 6pm to 6am 1100 Yen per hour. Headphones are available for an extra fee.

Bringing the concept of hitokara home without waking up the neighbors is うるさくないカラOK！ミュートマイク (Silent Karaoke is OK! Silent microphone). Pressing the special piece that is attached to the microphone to the face should mute the sound. The mic is connected to an iPhone and can be used without the mouthpiece. The set is available for 3980 Yen. A USB version is offered for Wii and PS3.

I haven’t tried the mute microphone or One Kara, but I have been to a solo karaoke box before.

Google Cave View

Google making panoramic shots of another city is no big deal (unless that city happens to be in Germany), so occasionally they take Street View off the street. One such project is the Google Art Project which is using the Street View panoramic view to explore museums. Some university campuses are photographed as well and after the March 11 earthquake, Google sent cars to the areas affected by the earthquake and tsunami, to show before/after images.

They also have panoramic shots of two Japanese caves. One is the Okubo Mabu Mine Shaft in Oda City, Shimane prefecture. This is the largest mineshaft ruin in the area, tours are offered from Friday to Sunday.

The other is the Akiyoshi-do Cavern in the Akiyoshi-dai Quasi-National Park. When you visit the large limestone cave, you will only be able to visit one kilometer of what is at least a ten kilometer long cavern. It took 300000 years to form the current cavern. The cavern is located in Yamaguchi prefecture and about 40 minutes from Shin-Yamaguchi Station.

I think projects such as the Art Museum one or the panoramic shots of caves are good PR for Google Street View. There’s also less resistance to such projects: It’s great for tourism, great for Google and great for the people. The cavern and mine look already impressive on photo, I’m looking forward to see them with my own eyes one day. (via Mashable)

Sitting Snow Woman and other Snow Creatures in Tokyo

Snow is rare in Tokyo and if it snows it usually doesn’t stay long before it melts. So if it snows, hurry up, build your snowmen and take shots of your favorite places! If you have too much time on your hand, you may explore your inner snow sculpture master and build snow creatures such as the ones above.

The three pictures were posted to Twitter. The top one shows a snow man sitting cross-legged on a bench and was shot by kakko-shima. The body appears very smooth and except for the face, this work looks quite professional. kakko-shima also posted a photo showing what’s left of the snowman.

The bottom left one is even more impressive since the snow woman (man?) isn’t supported on the back. Looking around the snow around her, collecting enough snow alone must’ve taken a while. This picture was posted by Haruka Miyafusa (@tomatel), presumably near Hitotsubashi University in Kunitachi.

The third one is a clever play with perspective. It looks as if it is standing, while the snow has just been put against the wall. kinsama took this picture. It’s not clear where it was, except near his/her company.

The more common snow creatures look a bit different…

Sendai: Zuihoden, the Mausoleum of Masamune Date

Date Masamune (family name: Date) build his castle in Sendai in 1600 and was important in the growth and development of the city. Masamune was actively trading with Europe and even sent Japanese delegations all the way to Madrid and Rome. He was both a legendary leader and warrior but he may not be such an icon even today if it weren’t for his missing eye and the crescent moon helmet. Other leaders may have united Japan, but Masamune is instantly recognizable.

He served Toyotomi Hideyoshi who finally united Japan, and even took part in the ill-fated Korean invasions. After Hideyoshi’s death, he supported Tokugawa Ieyasu. A wise choice since it was Ieyasu who emerged victorious out of the Battle of Sekigahara. Still, neither Hideyoshi nor Ieyasu ever trusted Masamune completely. Masamune was a powerful daimyo and as such a potential rival who also had contacts with foreign missionaries.

Zuihoden is the place where he, his son and grandson are buried and it’s one of the stops on the Sendai Loople bus. The mausoleum was constructed in the architectural style of Monoyama and is an impressive sight. It burned down during the war however and what you can see today is a reconstruction from 1979 and 2001.

From Hakodate to Sendai by train – going underground

The Shinkansen bullet-train is one of the trademarks of Japan, yet, there’s no Shinkansen on Hokkaido. Routes have been proposed as early as the 70′s but it wasn’t until 2005, when construction was finally started. In 2015 the first part will be finished, connecting Shin-Aomori (and Tokyo) to Shin-Hakodate. Currently you have to change trains at Shin-Aomori.

Fortunately, train connections are already advanced enough to offer express trains. So I took the Super Hakucho from Hakodate to Shin-Aomori and changed there to the Tohoku Shinkansen for Sendai. The green hakucho train almost looks as if it has a mouth, doesn’t it?

Hokkaido and the main island of Japan, Honshu, are connected by a 54 km long tunnel which is 240 meter deep at its deepest point. JR Hokkaido seemed to have the train fan in mind, when they made the info graphic. When riding the train, it just feels like a long tunnel, nothing special at all.

An evening in Otaru

There is one other city in Hokkaido I visited during this trip to Japan: Otaru. Otaru is close to Sapporo and can be reached in just 40 minutes via the Hakodate Line from Sapporo Station. The city also has its own snow festival which is supposed to be less commercial – whatever that means. Unfortunately, I spent more time at the Historical Village of Hokkaido than anticipated and arrived in Otaru after 6pm.

Otaru has a population over 130000 but I guess many commute to Sapporo for work. I got off at Minami Otaru Station which is a good start for a roundtrip. The immediate area around the station was quite sleepy, but my first destination, Marchen Square, was just a short walk away.

On the way to the square I passed “Kinderlieb”, a hands-on toy store with a German name. “Märchen” is German for fairy tale. On the square (which is more like an intersection) there is a steam clock in front of the music box museum. The clock is activated every full hour:

Otaru has a well-preserved historic street and may also be called the Venice of Hokkaido.

Hakodate’s Tram

Hakodate’s public transport consists of tram lines and busses. For tourists, the tram is probably the most useful with the three most important stops being Jujigai (Mount Hakodate, Motomachi, Red Brick Warehouses), Hakodate Station and Goryokaku Koen Mae (Fort Goryokaku) all used by both tram lines.

When entering the tram, there is a small machine which prints out little sheets of paper with a number on it. This is important when you leave the tram, as the fare will depend on the distance travelled. If you want to buy a day pass (600 Yen) however, you just need to tell the driver that you want to buy a one day pass. Next time just show this pass to the driver.

The day pass is interesting, as it also has a foldable map inside. There was not much incentive to use it however. Maybe next time, when I have more time to get lost.

Hakodate Christmas Fantasy & Red Brick Warehouse

A (former) foreigner’s district is not the only thing that Hakodate and Yokohama have in common. Both Japanese cities also have red brick warehouses which are used for various shops nowadays. There are restaurants, cafes, clothing and gift stores and – in Hakodate at least – a super market. The space around and between the warehouses is used for special events such as the Hakodate Christmas Fantasy.

Hakodate Christmas Fantasy is an annual event and each day they light a big christmas tree. I rushed to make it in time from the Goryokoku Fort to Hakodate’s bay area. Turned out I didn’t have to rush at all because there was a lengthy christmas story about a woman from Hakodate and her husband from Halifax, Canada. Halifax and Hakodate are sister towns since 1982.

The lighting of the tree was accompanied with some fireworks. December is not the time for firework festivals here in Japan, unless you go to an amusement park.