Apparently 7-11 is also a bank in Japan, which I thought was weird.
I followed this big truck with it's "Support Our Troops" bumper sticker on it for more than an hour down Route 46 before I finally said "To hell with it" and got on the highway (which you have to pay for in Japan based on how far you drive on it).
A bathroom inside a 7-11 with a window conveniently placed so everyone passing by can see exactly what you are up to therein.
This intersection reminded me of that one scene in the movie "SE7EN." ("What's in the box?")
Tokyo Station looms large but appears to not even exist.
A store in Shinjuku-gyoenmae. I have no idea what it was selling because it was closed when we passed by, but it's cool just for it's name.
All-you-can-eat pizza at Shakey's in Shinjuku, including a slice with melted marshmallows on it.
The arch in front of Meiji Shrine in Yoyogi Park.
Meiji Shrine's courtyard.
Obligatory picture of me in front of someplace famous (in this case, the entrance to Meiji Shrine, which was really cool).
We met up with some cool people I'd met through Nico Video to sing karaoke and play pool.
Mosaic sort of deal in front of Shibuya Station.
Supposedly this statue is a famous meeting place in Tokyo. It's also a dog.
(In)famous five-way scramble crossing in front of Shibuya, which was pretty insane.
I thought this building looked more like a dystopian doom fortress than anything else. Not quite sure what was inside.
Not the Imperial Palace, but a cool Japanese-lookin' keep nearby.
Art deco interpretation of a pinecone-like object in front of the Imperial Palace.
The Imperial Palace was built in the 1960's, which was not a good decade for architecture.
Another shot of the Imperial Palace, which looks more like some sort of posh townhouse than a place where someone bearing the title of "Emperor" would live.
Obligatory shot of me standing in front of some building on the Imperial Palace grounds.
A sword made my Masamune in the Japanese National Museum.
An odd looking skyscraper in Shinjuku.
I thought it would be cool to take a picture from the middle of a road in Tokyo.
In Japan you have to sort your trash even at McDonald's. You toss whatever is left of the ice from your drink into one container, then get rid of your paper trash in another, and then another for plastic. Just take a second and visualize trying to get Americans to separate their trash at a fast food restaurant and you have one reason why I was somewhat reluctant to leave Japan despite the many difficulties I have had here.
A wall painting in Akihabara.
There were many advertisements on the Tokyo trains advertising American meat with images of cowboy looking people, which I thought was kind of strange.
Apparently in Japan, it is traditional for young men to take their special ladies out to dinner at KFC on Christmas. This is the line to get in to the KFC near our hotel in Ikebukuro.
Another shot of the line to get in to the KFC.
Sign on the seat of a bike. I would very much like to know what this says.
The entrance to the Studio Ghibli Museum in Mitaka.
In an Japanese context, the swastika means a totally different thing.
The Japanese are very good at combining cute imagery and grim imagery.
Japanese for "Wash me," written on the back of my car.
Random totem pole action behind an elementary school in Marumori, where I went to stay with a friend for a few days after Tokyo.
Sculpture of two young children looking off into the future nearby the totem pole.
Sign above an arcade in Shiroishi.
Sign in front of a restaurant that clearly reads "Penny Lane"... (Part 1 of 2)
...but is spelled "Penny Rain" on the actual sign above said restaurant (Part 2 of 2). It is worth noting that the Japanese pronunciation of "rain" and "lane" is identical.
The Colonel abides, the Colonel abides...
The ultimate expression of the phrase "East meets West".
Taiyaki is a delicious snack consisting of what is essentially a waffle with vanilla or sweet red bean paste inside. For some reason it is always served in the shape of a fish, though, which gave many in our party pause.
Socks.
This woman appears to be shooting a laser beam out of her armpit.
I've got nuffing.
A bean burrito from 7-11. It wasn't all that great, but it was the first thing I'd eaten that even resembled Tex-Mex food in months.
An adorable dog we saw in the parking lot of the Marumatsu restaurant in Marumori.
Mascots of Sendai. I'm not quite sure who they are supposed to resemble, but it is some actual historical figures who were associated with the founding of the city.
The view of Sendai from the site of Sendai Castle, which apparently is no longer standing.
Statue depicting some samurai dude or another, probably the same samurai dude as the one the costume two photos back was supposed to represent.
Sendai Castle itself is no longer standing, but there are a few old structures around the site you can still look out.
Stairs leading to the big Shinto shrine in Sendai whose name I don't recall.
More shrine action in Sendai.
Hot Sendai shrine action.
A lone glove left on a bench in front of a bus stop.
I was very excited to find Cheetos because I hadn't eaten any since I left the United States. It turns out, however, that Japanese Cheetos are completely foul.
Sculptures in front of Shiroishi Station that seemed (to me) evocative of the Hitler Youth.
Upon arriving back at my apartment after my long journey I discovered that some kind soul had sent me this solar-powered bobble head figurine, which now sits exerting its calming influence next to my computer.
