Random photos of stations I have visited

[kuro68000]

 

Wasn't lasering his name onto the moon one of the villain's evil schemes in The Tick?

 

 

 

 

 

My friend asked for more photos of guitars at Hard Off. I didn't realize but apparently he likes to live vicariously by browsing them. I will oblige.

[kuro68000]

Here's the 1080p video from Google Camera. It's okay, got the usual issues with too low bit-rate and focus occasionally glitching, which is why I normally use mcpro24fps.

 

 

[kami_illy]

Oh nice. Good memories, sitting on the pier at night with a drink ...watching the ships roll in, and them watching 'em roll away again, wasting' my time.  

[cteno4]

4 hours ago, kuro68000 said:

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.

I had something like this back in the 80s in my basis 108. It was super cheap at the time and bought it not because of the weather aspect very much just it was a weird widget for the computer. Did mainly I think the automated audio broadcast but I think there was some limited digital data. Sorry it was like 40 years back.

 

jeff

[cteno4]

10 hours ago, kuro68000 said:

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

Now that is a scene to model!
 

Wow each just strange. Left one’s sign translates to Kugen in Google. Next one is a sign for a medium thick salt ramen with generous portions of flying fish fillets. Next one, well surprised their neighbors have not gotten on them for the mess. And the right one looks to be bar with more than 20 draft brews for 299 yen and makes sense with all the reefer units back there.

 

love these scenes, thanks!

 

jeff

[kuro68000]

5 hours ago, cteno4 said:

I had something like this back in the 80s in my basis 108. It was super cheap at the time and bought it not because of the weather aspect very much just it was a weird widget for the computer. Did mainly I think the automated audio broadcast but I think there was some limited digital data. Sorry it was like 40 years back.

 

jeff

 

I did some digging and apparently it used Teletext! I think in Japan it was more advanced than what Europe had, with more complex graphics. Fairly typical for Japan - the need for complex characters necessitates higher resolutions and more flexible rendering.

 

Very interesting, but of course no longer broadcast. I had a Teletext receiver for my Amiga back in the day.

[kuro68000]

Thought I was getting the bus back to the station, but it's taken me in a tour of rural Narita first. 100 flat rate though.

[cteno4]

100 yen tour!

 

jeff

[kuro68000]

On the way back to Akihabara now, where I will get dinner. Mixed day. Did 4 Hard Offs, 2 new that were both quite good. Ushiku in particular gets a gold star.

 

The bus tour cost me an hour, and a 5th store today. I did get a TV game (1st gen console from Epoch) from Narita and a few other bits. No LD today.

 

I haven't eaten at all. Kept meaning to but never got around to it. Must try harder to make the time.

 

I recorded a walk in Ushiku. The Roland audio recorder seems to have worked this time. It makes the gimbal noticeably heavier. I'll get the video uploaded, unedited and with phone sound. One issue I found is that the gimbal doesn't try too hard to keep the phone facing forwards, the same as the recorder, so the stereo staging doesn't match the visuals. I think you can make it try harder in the settings app.

 

I also recorded some audio on the train with the recorder. Didn't attract much attention so might be viable. The dynamic range seems higher than with the phone, which I think does some auto gain.

 

I need to buy some Uniqlo heat tech stuff too.

 

Photos to follow when I get home.

[kuro68000]

I just ate 400g of beef. Sounds like a Slashdot meme, if anyone remembers those...

 

 

Detail of the barrier mechanism at a crossing.

 

 

Daikon.

 

 

This stuff is really nice, but no substitute for actual food.

 

     

 

Some adverts for the modellers. Toyoshiki Station.

[kuro68000]

     

 

Ushiku Station.

 

 

A bit too festive for my liking!

 

 

Very nearly bought this, but didn't in the end. It's a really nice analogue stick.

 

 

Been wating one of these for many years too. They are actually cheaper in the UK though. They have a good selection of games for it too. If you don't know, it's a Vectrex, a game console that uses vector graphics like the old Atari arcade games such as Asteroids. Very unique.

 

 

 

[kuro68000]

 

Words fail me.

 

     

 

Some more of the station. The clock is interesting. Solar powered, with a radio receiver on top. I wonder if it uses their 60kHz low frequency time signal, or if it's some location station broadcast.

 

  

 

Abiko Station view.

[kuro68000]

 

 

I think that might be the first VHD player I've ever seen. Hard to resist. Might go back.

 

[kuro68000]

     

 

Ajiki Station.

 

 

It's unmanned, so arm waving duty is for the customers.

 

     

[kuro68000]

     

 

It's a single track line, which splits into two at this station for passing. The far side seems to be disused though. Lit, but the weeds are growing around the track. You can walk over there.

[kuro68000]

  

 

Narita. The Hard Off here is good, but needs more frequent busses.

 

Somehow I was the person who uploaded the photo for Narita to Railway Station Photos.

[kuro68000]

                       

 

Great signage. It's a good store.

[kuro68000]

I hate buses and I hate Google Maps.

 

Edit: Okay, it's bloody freezing and I need to buy warmer clothes. I was thinking of going to Niigata tomorrow, but if it's cold down here it's probably arctic up there.

 

Today has been reasonably successful, but I need to take it a bit easy tomorrow. The cold is taking a toll, I need time to get clothes, and I need to get home a bit earlier so I can pack. The bus isn't coming until 20:05 and I'm in Ooyama, so a couple of hours to get home probably.

 

I really want to watch the new episode of Lower Decks too. I could watch it on my phone... Except that I lost one earbuds on the plane, so don't have any headphones.

 

I really need to take stock and a day at least. Hard Off addiction is real. Maybe I'll go to the overpriced ones in Asakusa Rox. There was a better one but it closed.

 

Edit edit: Oh and the only thing I've eaten today is a protein bar and coffee. I have got to stop doing this to myself.

Edited December 12, 2024 by kuro68000

[Gunzel]

Yes mate you need to eat! If you get sick you’re going to miss a heap more shops than a quick stop for a meal. 
 

Those signs look great, especially “JUNK IS TREASURE”, I might have to make a printout of that one. 
 

The HARD OFF PC Hall in Niigata is not near a station, the best way is probably two busses from Niigata as the second bus doesn’t really go close to the station. Also consider taxis, they’re not cheap but better than freezing yourself and getting stuck for hours.

[cteno4]

Yes slow down, eat and get some warm clothes. Synthetic long underwear is quite toasty and cheap. I’ve taken to wearing the thin long sleeved ones under t-shirts in the winter and makes a world of difference. Those thin down puffer jackets as well are super warm for like 5oz and crush very small compared to the fiber fill ones. 
 

just think of all that great food to photograph and savor! It’s what keeps you warm, no fuel no warm belly…

 

jeff

[kuro68000]

Thanks guys. I joke about it, but I might actually have a problem here... Anyway, I picked up a fleece to put under my jacket, that has really helped. Some thermal tights too. I'll see how that goes. I do like the down jackets, might pick one up, but I find I tend to overheat in them. I've seen a few mountaineering coats that have ventilation and warmth, but they are rarely cheap.

 

Decided to not do Akihabara today. I need to order a new soldering iron tip from Marutsu first. Just going to do a little loop to the east of Tokyo. Was contemplating going north again, there is a Hard Off I haven't visited that is a 30 minute walk from the station, but I'll leave that until later.

[cteno4]

Good you are warmer!
 

The new little down jackets are very thin, maybe 1-1.5cm of down layer and very very thin nylon and slim, longer body fit. Not the big puffy stay puff marshmallow man style of years back. They weigh nothing. I dont overheat in them inside in 60s F but they are complete protection down into the low 30s F. I have a one (expensive) I got on sale a couple of years ago but I got some very cheap ones on Temu and Amazon for like $15 for the woodshop (no worries if I get glue and crap on them) and they work fine.

 

jeff

[Tony Galiani]

Fascinating stuff - thanks for all the pics and info.  Busy music week for me so I can barely keep up with all your posts.  Hoping to pore over them more today though I realized last night that I have a tech issue with one of my basses so need to visit my tech guy today for that.

 

I find that flannel lined pants work a treat for cold weather.  Sitting here in my flannel lined jeans and hoping the dog sleeps a bit longer so I don't have to go out in cold quite this early.

 

Anyway, take care of yourself.

Cheers,

Tony

[kuro68000]

Thanks everyone. With the fleece today was a lot better. I did overheat a bit in the evening, so I might try a down jacket. Uniqlo has some but only the very expensive ones have hoods. I do have a hat now but it's still nice to have a hood. I think Muji might have some, or GU.

 

I want to go to Niigata, but it's snowing. Might try Nagoya instead. Thinking of hiring a car. I wanted to do my northern tour in one, but if it's snowing up there I'm not going. Part of that would have taken in Nagoya. Maybe instead I'll take the train down along the coast as there are a number of Hard Offs down there. I'll have a look on booking.com for hotels - often you can get out of season bargains, and last time they had a full bath house attached that I had entirely to myself for the evening!

 

Anyway, today went okay, managed to resist going to one last Hard Off and got home a bit earlier than usual, as well as having a proper dinner (rice omelette with cutlets, should have ordered the small instead of medium). Got a bit lost walking to one, but at least I got some video out of it. On that subject, I realized that I didn't record any audio with my Roland recorder. Should have read the manual... When you press record it flashes a red light and the level bar graphs move, which I thought was recording. Turns out you have to press the play button as well. Oh well, I have phone audio for the walks, and the other recordings were train journeys so plenty of opportunities to do more of those.

 

  

 

It says "kids area" which implies that the rest of it is for more serious practitioners of ninjutsu.

 

 

I don't know why only Japan seems to have these but they are delicious. I can confirm that this one is indeed supreme among melon breads.

 

  

 

Oyama.

[kuro68000]

 

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