Japan

Here's a good way to advertise a shop. Just let the weeds grow. I always love the idea of a city been grown over by weeds and plantation. This is on the way to the dumb immigration office.

Bikers weed

Sleeping trio

Kawagoe - The Land Of Fire

Every morning in the centre of a small town known as "Little Tokyo", when the mist simmers from the rising sun, a large bell rings. Although I was snoring at this time, the tour guide said it was 'really something'.

Kawagoe retains a lot of old Tokyo history. When I tag this town as the land of fire, I mean nearly all of its buildings have been burnt down then rebuilt. There were even many fireproof storehouses built of which around 30 survived and still stand today in their modified original form.

The large bell tower

The streets

Old Style Buildings

More old buildings

The town boasts candy shops, sweet potato ice cream and even a beer branded, "Coedo" or "Ko Ēdo" meaning "Little Tōkyō" beer, which is also made from sweet potato. On October the 13th the town celebrates a "sweet potato day" festival. This "small" town of around three hundred and forty thousand people have festivals all year round. Within a short walk from Kawagoe station, the streets start their metamorphosis into a town that looks a lot like what you would see in a museum. Every year, in October, the biggest festival, appropriately named "The Kawagoe Festival" sends numerous rolling musical castles to do battle by traditional music. That’s a must “go-to” festival. Kawagoe is definitely a town that strives to keep its cultural history.

Check Kawagoe on Under Japan for the history rundown if you're into it.

The 500 Buddha Statues

Actually there are 538 statues. They are carvings of the Buddha's students. Each and every one of them has an individual personality. There’s a rumour that if you touch each Buddha on the calm midst of night, you'll find one that is warm. Mark it and come back the next morning. Provided no one has moved your mark, the Buddha you chose will be the one that most resembles yourself. It pays not to actually try this one as the place is locked up at night and I don't think anyone would appreciate you actually “marking" the statues.

Buddhas in a line

The poor begger buddha

Buddha Buddies

Mischief Thinking Buddha

The Holy Water

Japan is riddled with temples. It's from mostly from the buddhist influence. Anyway outside there are taps usually with elegantly crafted monuments of dragons when the water comes out. People wash their hands and rinse their mouths with this water to purify themselves so whne they prey to the dieties, they smooth the connection. Just like having a shower and dressing up for a job interview. But in my humble opinion, a little wash with a bit of holy water aint gonna make me pure.

Elegantly Crafted Temple

Holy Dragon Water

The Temple Grounds

Cheeky bugger washing his bike with the holy water

I like seeing things like that. It shows that people are not scared to challenge supernatural things. I've had enough experience to understand that there is no reason to fear what you don't know. Just educate yourself.

Kawagoe Castle

This is Kawagoe Castle. Lots of rooms. Lots of tatami. Flourescent lighting and western toilets.

Squeaky wooden floors

A long hallway

A nice big lounge

And a porch

Kawagoe Museum

I visited Kawagoe to take some photos and write an article for att.Japan, a magazine that boasts a 100,000 circulation internationaly. The content is usually an overbearing load of history and other stuff that helps you sleep, even after coffee. This museum has those mobile castles that get pushed around the city whenever there's a festival. We sat and listened to a guy giving a history lesson to the audience. That was about as interesting as the magazine I mentioned earlier. It costs 300 yen for an adult. It's worth a look to see the contenders for the next festival and other memerobilia.

Unfinished Castle

Whoodoo Voodoo Guy

Jester

One of the contenders

Hanabi Madness

Every year around August in Japan, people gather to watch the Hanabi (fireworks festival). The first one I went to this year was at Sumidagawa with my friend Takashi. They pack roughly two million people into the streets along with over a thousand temporary beer and food stands to watch the pretty lights. Very impressive as they are, it's damn hard to see them from the streets. I found meeting the patrons more interesting.

Cute little Yokozuna

Where the cars are surposed to be

Hanabi in the background

Mates for a night

Back Home

After a lot of partying, helping and making myself healthy again we rode the long trail back home to Chofu in Tokyo. We were greeted with a lovely sunset and the open arms of our now not so new home waiting for us. Our house loves us.

Home

Cicadas, Bands and more

This was "Kaze no ichi", a festival made by the Tsukinoniwa crew. We were in charge of the food and drinks. What a stinking hot day. There were bands playing hard core old style mexican music with distortion, organic bands, dancers, artists and little shops like ours. I came across a big cicada too. (Still on my bug hunt)

Our new shop

Semi

Masked band on a hot day

Kaori sneaking the grub

Festival goers

They even sported kimono!

Mai, a person at one with nature

Kelly, an actress / dancer

Mai performing

People In The Street

And of course with every festival there are people dressing their best to join in with the fun of the festival. It's been a common thing seeing mini mobile castles roam around the city. Some battle, some spin and some just roll around. It depenends on which city you are in. These ones span and these are the people who support them.

Husband and Wife Yukata

Kids in Yukata

A humble temple

Cheeky Bloody Kids

Amy and Hiromi were were to put on their festive outfits for the festival so me and Caesar got kicked out. We decided to check out the festival. To tell you the truth, I didn't know where we had been taken. It was Kaori's sisters place anyway. We had a little girl and an annoying little mutt to guide us. The girl ditched us and ran off with her friend so we ditched the dog.

The festival had Elephants. Well, not real ones. The kids were playing and pulling on the decorations. They were asking things like, "How old are you?", "Do you have a wife?" and "Why do you have such a deep voice when you're only seven?". Cheeky little brats.

Will your head get bigger if I blow this?

Whats your wife's name?

Mums nose is long too!

You should be good to your wife!

Mobile Castles

They walk these things around the streets and play music. They're big mini mobile castles that support a number of musicians. I think the generic term is a "float". After gardening, I know what it feels like in the stinking hot weather. These guys must have been sweating.

Bugger, we went off course!

Getting it aligned for the "big spin"

Checking if everyones ready

These little girls get spun around on this mechanically sound castle. While still playing their tune. It looks like lots of fun.

Japan Is Green Too

Amongst a lot of travels around this country, I come across places that are so intoxicating with freshness and nature. Its a breath of fresh air away from the concrete riddled cities. We were on our way to Kaori's sisters house.

Rice Fields

Dreary Sunset

The Drive to Kaori's sisters place

Organic Live Performance

Sorry dude, I forgot your name. I was told it was Bob-San, but thats a differnt guy I'm sure. This guys stuff is quite meloncholie but pleasing to the ear. He explains the songs like a folktale and includes the audience to sing along.

High tech harp

His nice day stage

Including the audience

Foreign fingers on his harp