Random photos of stations I have visited

[kuro68000]

 

Went for a film look with this one. It's a bit darker than the Google Camera version. Might need slight rotation as well. The Google Camera level indicator really needs sub 1° resolution.

[miyakoji]

thanks @kuro68000 lots of great pictures there

[kuro68000]

 

The last one, from Haneda. Google Camera, minor editing to remove a slight reflection in the window. That's the aircraft I flew on, up over Greenland.

[Tony Galiani]

Still working my way through these - taking my time to enjoy them.  Lots of surprises for me.  What is an ISO shipping container doing in Minaminakano?  Certainly didn't expect that.

 

And, as to the architecture in Japan, I find it very interesting.  In my neck of the woods, you see the same design concepts repeated everywhere.  Very little is unique.  I suspect, though I never went into this deeply with the architects I worked with for my projects, was that it made getting the building permits and construction easier since everything was familiar to the zoning offices and building contractors.  And cookie cutter designs would be cheaper - just copy your previous design with slight modifications, if any needed, to fit a particular parcel.  Sort of hate it but don't think it will be likely to change soon.

 

Cheers,

Tony

[kuro68000]

Shipping containers seem to be becoming popular for repurposing. A company I used to work for had a couple to add additional storage to their premises. People turn them into workshops, sheds, small houses... Sometimes you can get them cheap in bankruptcy auctions or if they get damaged.

 

Some interesting points about houses. You are right about the permitting, but I think it works differently in Japan. They don't have strict rules about how buildings have to look. In the UK ours are ridiculous, with people being forced to fit fake chimneys and other nonsense to "keep in the character of the area" - apparently 19th century smog belter. Where they do have strict rules are around shading neighbouring properties.

 

That combination seems to have lead to most buildings being bespoke designs. They must also have a lot of architects and architectural technicians to do all the design work. It's great because you can customize the building a lot and at little extra cost.

 

Japanese towns and cities are beautiful because of it, in a way that older parts of Europe are, but anything 19th century onwards rarely is. And on top of all that, those homes are often very cheap as well. If you can work-from-home, i.e. live far from the office, you can buy some amazing rural properties for very little money. If they had a digital nomad visa I'd be calling my boss tomorrow.

[kuro68000]

 

I have arrived in Asakusa at my usual hotel. Flight was okay as these things go, food was above average. Got the express from Haneda direct to Asakusa. Very first attempt to navigate with Google Maps (just to check the options) failed because it thought it was a much further walk to the platform that it really was, so suggested a local train.

 

Immigration was very smooth with the QR code. Off to buy some stuff from the combini and Daiso. I ordered a used Roland R-07 recorder from Yahoo Auctions, which needs AA batteries. Plan is to attach it to the bottom of the gimbal and hopefully it will produce better sound than the phone speakers that face me, and pick up my clothes, breathing, footsteps etc. I packed light because I need to buy a lot of new clothes due to losing a lot of weigh, and part of the plan is to get a stealthier jacket that doesn't make so much noise.

[Gunzel]

Seems you flew JAL, from Australia the food is good, but from Japan the food last time was amazing. Unfortunately couldn’t make JAL work for our next trip so we will arrive on Cathay and depart on Singapore. Counting down the days. 
 

Have a great time. 

[cteno4]

Fun, can’t wait for a new vicarious trip! Looking forward to your new finds in audio on the adventure. The tiny DFplayers are wonderful ways to add random sounds to layouts/modules and would be great to have some truly unique Japanese sounds to add to modules! Looking forward also to interesting scenes to model you always walk by!

 

I think we should all chip in and buy you a big Google streetview 360 setup to wear around n your adventures! Maybe it can go into a big helmet you can wear!

 

thanks again for the great posts.

 

jeff

[kuro68000]

18 hours ago, cteno4 said:

I think we should all chip in and buy you a big Google streetview 360 setup to wear around n your adventures! Maybe it can go into a big helmet you can wear!

 

Oh man, I did look at 360 cameras briefly but there aren't any wearable/stealthy ones... Not even joking!

 

I will try to focus a bit on interesting stuff with the new videos. I will also try to remember to turn on the GPS logger and see if I can add that data to the videos somehow, so that if you do see something it is easier to find on Google Street View.

 

First I went to Kichijoji to have a look in the bug Uniqlo but didn't find anything to my liking. Popped into Hard Off and they have a new PC store now. Some interesting stuff there, including a pretty decent selection of retro computers. I may have to get an NEC PC-6000. They had way too many 8 bit machines and the 6000 series didn't last long, ditched in favour of the 8 series, but... They also had a Bandai RX-78, another rare machine that like most Bandai systems never really took off but did gain a somewhat loyal following a surprsing amount of software. It was quite expensive though.

 

Then went to Hachioji Oawadaten, great Hard Off as always. Nearly bought a jacket in Off House but it was a bit too small. Got one from Muji instead, cheap and wind/waterproof with big inside and outside pockets and a hood, really great. Only 4000 yen as well. It's been really cold but with that jacket I'm mostly fine, just need some gloves.

 

After Hachioji I went south to a couple more Hard Offs, then back via Machida. Bought some Laserdiscs and a PCMCIA LAN card for my old machines, boxed for 110 yen. In fact everything was 110 yen, except one music LD for 550. Found this weird thing, not sure what it does but I've been wanting to make a world time clock for a while and those dials are tempting to convert...

 

 

Saw this rather comprehensive warning sticker on the bus:

 

 

For the moddelers:

 

 

If only I had a bigger suitcase...

 

 

Or one of these for my house... If you don't know, many shops in Japan have these. When it's raining to put your umbrella in the top and it gets sheathed in a plastic bag to stop it dripping everywhere.

 

 

I also noticed this place in Akihabara on the way home. Not seen it mentioned elsewhere, but I'll add it to my Railfan POI map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/vKzHyw3D32yGsPch9

 

Seems to be rain related goods, not model stuff.

[kuro68000]

A few photos from Machida.

 

    

 

Dinner in Akihabara.

 

[Gunzel]

The HARD OFF PC store in Kichijoji sounds a bit like the one in Niigata, I’m planning to go there on the last day of our trip, was there much vintage Mac stuff there? 
 

Those dials look like they were something to do with gas chromatography. 
 

Love the umbrella thing, and it’s a bargain, but not realistic to bring home. 
 

It seem there is also a GENERAL STORE RAILYARD in Omiya, and it might be run by JR East. I want this Doctor Yellow moneybox now. 

[Tony Galiani]

Need to know -what and where was that dinner?!

Tony

[cteno4]

It certainly is very mouthwatering! Simple.

 

jeff

[kuro68000]

On 12/9/2024 at 4:56 AM, Gunzel said:

The HARD OFF PC store in Kichijoji sounds a bit like the one in Niigata, I’m planning to go there on the last day of our trip, was there much vintage Mac stuff there? 
 

Those dials look like they were something to do with gas chromatography. 
 

Love the umbrella thing, and it’s a bargain, but not realistic to bring home. 
 

It seem there is also a GENERAL STORE RAILYARD in Omiya, and it might be run by JR East. I want this Doctor Yellow moneybox now. 

 

There was a bit of vintage Mac stuff. I kinda want one but am looking for something not too bulky and ideally Japan specific. I am definitely going to get up to Niigata soon too, after not going last year due to the earthquake.

 

I think you are right about the gas thing, it had some connectors on the side for tubes.

 

 

On 12/9/2024 at 7:42 AM, Tony Galiani said:

Need to know -what and where was that dinner?!

Tony

 

This place in Yodobashi Akiba: http://www.yodobashi-akiba.com/restaurant/yy_tano.html

 

I usually pass though Akihabara on the way home, so sometimes I eat on the Yodobashi restaurant floor, or some other place near there.

 

 

So I'm on the Keihin-Touhoku line coming home from Yokohama now. Went to a few Hard Offs in Kamakura today, and then the Xmas lights on the Yokohama waterfront. The lights were fun and I took some photos and video. One walking video and one lights video, the latter of which I decided to trust to Google. They have this Video Boost thing that is supposed to be good for night stuff, so I'm hoping it works. Will upload when I get back to the hotel maybe, it's going to be at least 10:30.

 

Otherwise things didn't go to plan today. There was a case of magazine laserdiscs that I saw a couple of years running but had no player. I went to where I thought they were but it seems they were sold, or I got the wrong store. There is one other I thought they were at, I'll have to check. The photos I have of them have location data so if my note says there it's probably based on the photo. Too slow on mobile, will have to wait until I get back to WiFi.

 

I did find a Cassette Vision Jr cheap, because there was no video, only sound. Almost certainly a failure of the tuner module (they were RF output, like most machines of that era) and easy to bypass. I managed to leave it on the train though >⁠.⁠<

 

I will have to check the lost property office. Maybe call them tomorrow. I asked the station staff at Yokohama, but it hadn't turned up. Probably too soon. Not sure where the office will be for the Negishi line. At least it wasn't expensive.

 

Otherwise I bought a Laserdisc. Yesterday I bought a few, and an in-box ethernet PCMCIA adapter for some old laptops (all 110 yen each). I did some good walks yesterday, but didn't bring my gimbal for some reason. Oh yeah, speaking of which I tried to use my Roland recorder today, but failed. It turned off and would not come back on. Tried to just now and appears to be fine, so probably user error. I over tightened the 1/4" adapter and now can't get it off.

 

So overall a very unfortunate day. I suppose on the plus side my backpack is okay, not uncomfortable and it just about fits laserdiscs. If the Cassette Vision had been in there it would have been fine, but it wouldn't fit with the disc. I might try bringing my bigger pack that can hold a lot more, but it's heavier and takea up more room.

 

I'll post photos when I have time, and probably at least one of those videos.

[kuro68000]

Okay, well Google Camera defaulted back to 1080p for video and I didn't check it, so no video boost. I'm uploading what I took either way. Let's see how it looks.

 

Anyway, some photos...

 

 

Haven't seen this poster before. They like the food theme, seems to have been going for a few years.

 

 

 

  

 

 

[kuro68000]

        

[kuro68000]

 

 

[kuro68000]

 

 

  

[kuro68000]

 

Business opportunity, the only other things you need are a chair and some scissors, which they also sell.

 

 

[kuro68000]

 

Found these interesting vending machines at Hiratsuka Station. Did not sample.

 

 

The last thing you should ever give a young boy.

 

 

The vending machine was turned off. I like how someone installed some nice new chairs, but decided to leave the rickety old ones that no-one in their right mind would sit on.

 

[kuro68000]

 

I don't know why they have French fish on the street.

 

 

Someone put a lot of effort into that.

 

[kuro68000]

 

I do sometimes photograph things that aren't embedded in the street.

 

  

 

I tried but I haven't got the hang of adjusting the exposure to make the moon come out, and the Google camera never gets it right. It's usually good with lights but the moon seems to confuse it.

 

 

[kuro68000]

 

The fun I could have with this... What I really want is a computer plotter though. Or rather, another computer plotter, because I have two already. Actually, I saw a thermal printer today and it was hard to resist...

 

 

Got the Cassette Vision Jr instead but might go back for it. It's basically a receipt printer so I shouldn't really. They were apparently sold in the US re-branded.

 

 

I thought this was interesting. It's some kind of radio receiver that picks up weather reports and displays them on your computer. I need to do some research but at least at some time around 2000 Japan must have had a wireless weather data service in operation, probably similar to low frequency time codes or maybe modulated some some LW station like the UK does for controlling energy meters.

 

  

 

Oofuna station view. I'm not sure what to make of it.

[kuro68000]

 

On to Yokohama.

 

 

 

One issue with Pixel cameras, right from the very first one nearly a decade ago, is catching light reflections in the lens. This is the 5x camera and you can see how much noisier it is than the primary lens with the newer Sony sensor. If they had added that same sensor to the ultrawide and telephoto lenses on the Pixel 9 I'd have upgraded, but they didn't.

 

  

[kuro68000]

 

 

 

 

 

 

All of those are just the primary camera in normal mode, except the last one which had Night Sight enabled. One of the few times where it improved the shot.