This is Jiugaoka. I see this place every single day, as I wait to transfer trains, but this is the first time I had ever stepped out of the station to walk around. It cost me 110 yen to get out.
This place is different than anywhere else I have been in Tokyo so far. It's far more upscale (or posh, as people here say). I would compare this place to Yorkville, in Toronto, but much larger. I quite enjoyed my little walk around Jiugaoka. If I had the money, I'd definitely want to live here.
Jiugaoka reminds me a little of Toronto. Not too crowded, no porn on the side of the street and people are quiet(er). Nice.
The next couple of photos are just various shots of the streets in Jiugaoka.
Can't I go anywhere without seeing this blasted sign?
See? I told you this place was classy. Even the Lawson convenience stores are nicer here than other places.
Just so you can compare the two, this is regular joe, working stiff Lawson. Same stuff, different packaging.
Welcome to Las Vegas. Pachinko is the Japense equivalent of slots. There are people sitting in here, on those stupid little stools, pumping coins endlessly into a machine with flashing lights.
I am not sure how Pachinko works, but I do know that the point of the game is win money. However, gambling is illegal in Japan, so here is what they do to get around that silly little law. Instead of winning chips or coins from the machine, you get these little ball bearings. You collect them in a cup (just like the ones you use at any regular casino) and take them to the ticket booth to redeem them for a prize.
Then, you then exit this building with the prize and look for a hole in the wall, around back. Sitting in this hole will be a lady who is willing to "buy" your prize off of you for the dollar-worth of the pachinko balls you bought it for. From what I am told, it's only considered gambling if you exchange your balls for money in the same building. (That wasn't meant to sound dirty)
Welcome to Rasu Begasu (that's what the neon sign says). Many pachinko establishments have become quite efficient at this whole changing-balls-for-prizes-then-prizes-for-money deal. They just print off a little ticket for you instead, so you don't have to walk out on the street with a big Winnie the Pooh stuffed toy.
So, you "win" a ticket with a number on it, and coincidentally, there is a lady in the parking lot who is willing to buy your ticket for the exact same amount of yen that is listed on your ticket.
Wow, what luck!
Here I am standing on the train tracks. I've always wanted to do this back home, but never had the nerve.
Ok, ok, I admit it. I didn't really jump down onto the track, this is just a part where the track intersects with a road. I thought that it would make for a cool shot though.
Everything in Japan costs money. Even committing suicide. Suicide by jumping in front of trains may not be the most pleasant thing for you, but it really sucks for your family. Not only are the insides of a family member splattered all over the front of a train, but they are financially responsible for the cost of the train delay.
As I have mentioned before, the subway system here is privatized, thus the penalty for delaying a train depends on which line you die on. Busier lines, like the Yamanote Line, will screw your relatives for sure. But if you are a considerate, suicidal maniac, you pick a slower, cheaper line.
Remember how I said that Japan is the land of bikes? Well, look at this. Row upon row of bikes, all parked along side the roads. As if they weren't narrow enough without more crap cluttering up the sides.
Apparently, some people share my feelings. Check it out. I don't think the owner will be so quick to park his bike on this street anymore after he comes back to a basket full of trash.
This callous disregard of personal property reminds me of home. Take THAT! Haha, that'll teach you to part your bike on the side of the street.
I was just walking along and saw this grandfather clock. I don't know what made me stop and take a photo of this, as it doesn't really have anything to do with Japan.
I think that this reminds me of someone's house from when I was a kid. They had a grandfather clock that looked just like this, but I can't remember who'a house it was. I think that it was my cousins' house, out in Hamilton, but not sure.
Back in Azamino...
Welcome to The Deep. This place is mainly an arcade, but it also has pachinko and some other gambling games. The Deep is also the only place close to my apartment that has internet access. It costs 100 yen every 10 minutes (it's a coin-op machine) for internet access. That works out to something like $9 CAD an hour. What a rip off.
I have, however, found a way to stretch my money though. See, they have free printing there, so I just print off anything that I happen across, while surfing. Articles, emails, ads, anything. They must hate me there because I use up like 30 sheets each time.
I think what I will start doing now is go there for 10 minutes, print out all my emails, come home and compose replies on my laptop and then go back to the place for 10 minutes to send them all off. Sure beats the hell out of sitting there for 2 hours and paying 1,200 yen.
Look what they have in Japan. When it rains, all the stores put out these little plastic bags for you to put your umbrellas in. It's a nice touch, as I always find myself doing a little dance, trying to avoid touching people or being touched with a wet umbrella when it rains.
If you want, click on the picture for a close up of the bags they use.
These vending machines in The Deep are really, well, surprising. Back home, you would expect to find candy or crappy plastic key chains in one of these vending machines. But in Japan, you find slutty plastic women in nurse uniforms. Click the photo for a close up.
This game is called Photo Battle. The point of Photo Battle is to take the best pictures that you can of scenarios they play on the screen. It is basically a variation on the first person shooter (arcade style), but the fact that this game even exists is weird. Click on the camera on the left or on the right for its respective close up.
In the game, you get to shoot hockey games, soccer matches, karate tournaments and guess what else? That's right, women with their skirts being blown upwards. Nice and wholesome. No wonder this game is so popular here.