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I’m not much on video or cross posting other people’s content here, but I wanted to throw this up.  This is a video put together by one of the Australian guys that was also out at Ebisu Summer Drift Matsuri. It really does a great job of capturing the weekend in a few minutes.

Credit goes to Alexi from Nori Yaro for putting it up (and also Rob which is where I saw it first!).

Ebisu Drift Matsuri Summer \’09

Although it may have seemed like I had a camera at my side non-stop, I made a conscious effort to leave the camera back a few times while I was vacationing in Japan.  Rob brought his P&S and took a few shots that I wanted to see.  These are really more sentimental for me than anything else, but here they are.

The day of my departure, I got up at 4:30 to catch the first train to Tsukiji Market.  This was one of the last big things left that I wanted to do in Tokyo that I had missed out on before.  All that I read was true and then some.  You really have to have your head up to stay out of the way and catch all the action.  I made my way through fairly quickly and it took my 1.5 hours for the market itself.  Could have easily taken longer.  Very unique and very memorable, I’d highly recommend it.

Had the traditional sushi breakfast afterwards, straight from the ocean.   It was delicious.

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I visited Tokyo Tower the last time I was in Tokyo.  I had enough free time that I decided I would go again, this time with a decent camera.  I got lucky and arrived right when I wanted to.  Got some shots in the late daylight and some early evening as well.  The last few shots are from the “special observatory” which is an addtional Y620.  The exposed elevetator ride is not for those that don’t like heights….like me.

So I leave Ebisu…take a few trains…and get to Tokyo.  Transfer over to the Subway and remember which stop to get off on, going by memory of five years ago.  Wander around for 30 minutes while the clouds look very, very ominous.  FInally remember where to go, check in, go in my room and the sky opens up.  Good timing.

I’m tired, hungry and beat down.  The weather clears fairly quickly.  Well…might as well make use of the last day of my JR pass and ride the Yamanote around.  I hit up Ikebukuro, Shinjuku, Shibuya and a few lesser known stops.  Got back to the hotel and passed out.

Here’s a few from the Sunshine 60 in Ikebukuro.  There were still some random sprinkles which diffracted the light through the fingerprinted glass.  Shame as it is a more unique perspective than the usual Tokyo Tower view.