Ohara

Ohara is a rural part of Northern Kyoto up in ye mountains. Lots of satsuma bushes and yodelling nuns.



Strange hobbit/moomin garden



This garden's claim to faim is some topiary shaped into the image of Mount Fuji. It's possibly more convincing in summer.

Harajuku, Tokyo

Rather disappointing to be confronted by a four-storey GAP on arriving at Japan's teen fashion Mecca, but they more than make up for it in vintage stores and cafes selling banana chocolate croissants.

Barbie corpses in a junk shop. The naked one is priced at £11.



Huge papier mache model which seems to be commemorating the completion of a subway line



Prayer cards, lanterns and fishies hanging outside a temple

Ikeburo Aquarium, Tokyo

A threatening looking penguin



A nice pelican



This parrot got too close



To the untrained eye, these little fishies may look happy, but secretly they're gagging to be served with a dab of wasabi and just a sliver of pickled ginger.

Gardens and gherkins, Tokyo

A stone's throw away from all that mess is Shinjuku-gyoen, the national gardens and former residence of some feudal lord-types, now a hotspot for springtime cherry blossom viewing and gay men. But not at the same time.



Strange juxtaposition of the gardens and the bordering Skyscraper District, like an Oriental Central Park.


A tempura Gherkin, if you will.


The Skyscraper District, viewed from one of Shinjuku Station's sixty exits.

Shibuya,Tokyo

It's raining neon:








A desperate plea for hygiene from my hostel bathroom:

Sushi bar

The 13 plates of shame:


The truth is, I'm not ashamed at all, just sort of proud really. But I was told I should be.

Yo Sushi: £35+
Japan: £11