Eric’s 2023 Trip to Japan

I was immediately able to pay for public transit using my iPhone. A lot of Japan uses IC cards for transit and other payments, and options are built into the iPhone. In preparation at home, I selected the Suica card and added credit, and it was ready to go when I landed. I also added credit when needed on the fly, no need to visit a machine or service center. And it works fast, just tap and go (looking at you, Washington, DC, Metro).

Bidet instructions.

Bidet controls.

Asakusa from hotel roof.

The Gate Hotel.

Kaminarimon-Dori Avenue.

Sensō-ji Buddhist temple.

Cooling station. There was a heat wave while I was in Japan.

Cooling station.

A shopping street.

My first look at sampuru, models of food that restaurants use to advertise.

Sampuru.

Tokyo Skytree.

Asakusa Nakamise, shopping stalls leading up to Sensō-ji temple.

Skytower reflection.

Statue of Kaishua Katsu.

Bicycle parking.

Tokyo Skytree.

A market street.

Courtyard of Nakasei restaurant.

Prix fixe lunch menu.

Tempura lunch at Nakasei.

¥5324, $36.20.

Alley leading to Nakasei restaurant.

This restaurant was hard to find. Apple Maps led me to a point on the street nearest its entrance. However, access to the entrance was actually through an alley around the far side of the block.

Alley leading to Nakasei restaurant.

Jean-Charles Rouchoux chocolatier.

Hard Rock Cafe Roppongi.

Metro exit sign.

Metro exit sign, translated.

Exit information is greatly detailed, telling you which fare gate and which exit to use for various destinations.

Unreadable black sign and larger colored sign

Signs.

The black sign shows noise and vibration levels (one sample was 68 dB and 28 dB), but my camera had trouble with signs and lights in eastern Japan, probably due to the 50 Hz power. The camera was happier with the 60 Hz power in western Japan.