Exploring Everyday Life In Yokohama

I love walking around aimlessly with a camera in hand taking pictures of whomever or whatever crosses my path. I'm always pleased and often surprised with the scenes that unfold in front of me.

A perfect example - I never expected to find a group of girls in Yokohama Park running drills for American football.

These girls are happy and not afraid to show it.

Some people have a way of standing out in a crowd.

I hope he doesn't make a habit of staring at his phone while in the company of the charming lady.

Another stand out, she even glows in a dark café. The way she sat there motionless I thought she was a mannequin but it turned out that she was posing for a professional photographer who had rigged several lights to illuminate her.

ET in Yamashita park?

There must be a dress code in Yamashita park that requires all women to wear a hat and sunglasses in the summer.

Looks like fun!

Looks like more fun!

I wonder if the keys are in the ignition?

A summer stroll with the girls. I do believe that they're heading for a nearby restaurant for lunch.

There are times when I take pictures of things that are probably only interesting to me and nobody else.

The multifaceted Breezbay Hotel.

When in town try our tasty Panda ramen.

Emi seems more interested in checking out the live fugu (blow fish) swimming in the glass tank of the restaurant.

Boats moored along the bank of the mighty Ookagawa river.

If a small plane flew by I'd have Trains, Planes and Automobiles in this shot.

Another Radio Taxi.

On the border between Yoshidacho and Noge...

... that's where you'll find the famous bridge sleeper.

Well, there's no shortage of taxis in Japan. And, everyone that I've been in was clean and comfortable.

Thanks for stopping by!
Mike

The Shonan Triangle

It all started because I wanted to ride the monorail in Ofuna. I didn't know where it went or even how to get to the station platform where it started; I just knew that I wanted to ride it. Well, after some intense on-line researching (I googled "Ofuna Monorail") I knew enough to be dangerous. I convinced my wife to come with me and off we went!

This is the Monorail train at Ofuna Station. Instead of riding on a single rail it's suspended from a rail.

Inside looking out - very clean and comfortable.

Looking out the back after passing through a tunnel.

It turns out that the monorail was built as a way of getting sightseers from Ofuna to the seaside resort area of Enoshima, hence this picture of the Shonan-Enoshima Station.

It's about a 10 minute walk from the station to Enoshima Island. The route takes us past the Enoden Enoshima train station which will come into play later.

The entrance to the Enoden Enoshima Station.

Just before we arrived at the Island we saw what looked like a temple or shrine and we decided to check it out.

Turns out that it's another train station. There sure are a lot of train stations around Enoshima and this one is the Katase-Enoshima Station.

Here we are at the bridge that connects the mainland with Enoshima Island.

Looking out from the bridge on a clear day one can see Mt. Fuji. Today I can barely make out the mountains snow cap (right side on the horizon).

As we enter the main shopping street we pass through a tori gate.

The street soon starts winding around the island and ascends up a hill.

The scenery changes quite a bit by the time we make it to the ocean side of the island.

Emi, the awesome navigator.

Returning to the touristy side of the island we pass by many shops and restaurants.

It's getting crowded here.

Crossing back over the bridge we pass by these ladies that look like they plan to make a day out of their visit.

Instead of returning to the monorail we decided to take the Enoden train line to Kamakura.

And, here comes the train now!

One stretch of the train line runs parallel to the ocean and route 134.

After getting off the train at Kamakura station....

....we walked to Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu shrine.

Close to the shrine is a nice flower garden.

I'm told that peonies are sensitive and easily damaged by the rain so they have umbrellas in place to protect them.

The garden has a nice view of a pond.

This umbrella  near the exit of the garden was actually for people.

Even rickshaw operators need a break sometimes.

Back at Kamakura station we wait for the train to Yokosuka for the last leg of our trip.

And, here comes the train! Thus completing our Shonan Triangle adventure. By-the-way, I made up the team Shonan Triangle, there really isn't such a thing, I just thought it sounded cool.

Thanks for stopping by!
Mike