Mizuma Railway Logo

EastOsaka-3, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

There is little I love more than faded paint on concrete bricks. What a great logo too. Mizuma Railway (水間鉄道 short name, Suitetsu) is a short single line local railway that runs down the center of Kaizuka city in Osaka prefecture. Misuma means in, or between the water. Water (水) is one of my favorite kanji so it's no wonder I loved riding this line. Also, the trains have conductors who check and punch your tickets--something quite rare in the cities. It's a great ride and the last station is a 10 minute walk from Mizuma temple and offers some other great walking courses.

Door, lock, brick and bike.

EastOsaka-4, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

Rust at Ishizai station.

No Gun-Hunting

EastOsaka-5, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

I don't know how I'd even buy a gun in Japan, but at least I know I cant hunt here.

Do not play here!

EastOsaka-6, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

The sign says "Do not play here!"

Booze Gorilla!

EastOsaka-2, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

The Japanese equivalent of the Kool-Aid man, but with booze. Oh sake!

Used cans of fryer oil.

EastOsaka-7, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

Garbage left outside a small food shop in Kaizuka city, Osaka pref..

Road Marker, Kanazawa Route 159

Road Marker, Kanazawa Route 159, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

A marker on a bridge in Kanazawa.

Dress Up Curtain

Dress Up Curtain, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

The curtain full dress of my inclination is achieved in your own car.

Hose Uzumaki

Hose Uzumaki, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

When utility and storage becomes decoration. Hose zen perhaps?

Stairs and Balconies

Stairs and Balconies, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

The side of a hotel in Kanazawa

Night Shot of a Kanazawa Snack Shop

Night Shot of a Kanazawa Snack Shop, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

A snack shop in Kanazawa.

Koi in a Kanazawa Catchment

Koi in a Kanazawa Catchment, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

Koi find their way, I assume by human hand, into many of Japan's seemingly haphazard waterways, catchments, ponds, and concrete rivers.

I wonder who decides to introduce Koi into a catchment like this? What time requirements does it take? Do they need permission from the city? Which leads to the question, is this even city property? (It was next to a shrine, it could have been on their property although it appears to be city infrastructure.) If someone illegally introduces koi into a place like this, what actions are taken by the city?

Asuka-mura Rice Feilds

Asukamura, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

A view of terraced rice fields in Asuka village. These were taken near the Takamatsuzuka Fresco Museum. The photo doesn't convey the humidity of that early summer day.

Kenrokuen #2

Kenrokuen 兼六園, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

I've uploaded some more photos of Kenrokuen from my second trip there two months ago. You can see the new photos and the ones from my previous trip here.

Booze Vending Machine

BoozeVendingMachine, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

This is love. It is a machine and it gives love in 100 yen and 300 yen doses. The cups are free, but the love is endless--as long as you have 100 yen coins. This is perhaps the best vending machine in Japan. Yes, I know what you are thinking what about that mythological underwear vending machine somewhere in Tokyo yea yea.. this beats it in so many ways. This machine give you love in the form of local Ishikawa pref. sake (aka nihonshu).

This vending machine is located in the omiyage-kan (the hall of local gifts to bring to your friends back home) of Kanzawa station. You insert 100 yen for the top row, or 300 yen for the bottom row. Make sure you pay attention to which side you put the money in however, top row (the 100 yen stuff) is the right side, bottom row (the 300 yen stuff) is the left side. You have to put the cup into the machine yourself. I don't want you to pour that liquid love down the drain after you've so painstakingly chosen by selecting the label intrigues you the most. (That's how I choose them!)

Kanazawa is a really cool town with a ton of amazing places to see (I think I've posted about it before) and if you go there make sure that you enjoy the booze vending machine!

Riddle me this...

Is the Riddler's parking spot is next to Freakazoid's?

KyotoParkingLot, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

Perhaps!

These large round metal plates rotate cars so they can be loaded into the elevators in the correct orientation. Throughout Japan the cost of land and demand so high that these multi-story parking buildings can be constructed. They are self automated but I typically see some staff manning the controls at places like this, however at this location I did not see any staff. This building also had a nice traditional Japanese style room for you to wait as your car gets carried down from above. The waiting room is visible behind the green question mark.

If you say so...

DrinkBeer, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

...I guess I will.

It kind of just jumped out at me.
Hankyu Kawaramachi Station.

The Most Southern Point of Honshu

Kushimoto-1, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

Japan is made up of many islands, but there are four main islands. The largest one is called Honshu. Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe.... are all on Honshu. I'm on Honshu right now. Kushimoto city in Wakayama pref. Is the most southern point in Honshu. Of course there's an omiyage shop there too.

I got this certificate saying verifying my visit to the most southern point of Honshu at the omiyage shop. I'm a sucker for stuff like this.

This is what the coast looks like. I thought it kind of looks like Laguna Beach.

大きな地図で見る
Here's a map.

Nachi no Taki - bench

Nachi-bench-1, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

Benches at Nachi Waterfall in Nachi-Katsura, Wakayama

Kumano Hongu Stairs

KumanoHongu-stairs-1, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

The stairs leading up the the Kumano Hongu Shrine in Wakayama pref., Japan