Every time I go back it's like I never left. I have real friendships that have stood the test of separation while I've been away. The beauty of the surroundings. Drivers on the road that don't suck. The strait-talking zero-BS way of life. I miss it so much. I'll give up everything in a heartbeat for any job that pays halfway decently back in Gunma.
The only place I feel sane these days is when I drive. I need to get as much of that in as possible because I'm likely not going to be able to afford to drive soon. So till I have to sell my camera, computer and car, You're going to be getting a lot more driving too.
Thanks to Michelle ( https://www.instagram.com/ailanthusia/ ) I got to get some slices inside the hallowed halls of Shibuya 109. Also, random local cherryblossoms.
I was in Shinjuku and had time to kill, so hit up the the Tocho (Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building) and snapped the sunset from the 45th floor observatory. and incase you didnt know, here's the wikipedia link about Ameterasu Omikami.
I clicked a link on a blog post about the Tocho (Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building) and the youtube video that was supposed to be a "thrilling view" was a wobbly, amateur, half-baked mess. So here are some decent shots I took from the Tocho 3 weeks ago, so that you peeps can link to quality next time.
While I usually prefer the cockroach level views of the world's largest city, I've managed to ascend to haughty heights, and gaze upon the city through my nostrils, with the same contempt that those that dwell at these heights tend to have of people like me, twice in one week.
Whereas the previous time was as unconfortable as it was awe inspiring, this time, I had no problems with being with my jumped-up status. After all, If one is forced to be in Roppongi, it's always good to be as far as away from the streets, and it's multiple examples of the worst possible combinations our species' DNA is capable of producing, as possible.
Those of you who follow me on instagram have seen a pic not unlike this one. That was straight out of camera though and when viewed larger than instagram, it didn't look so good. But a took a few RAWs and when massaged a bit in lightroom, this one stood out above all the rest.
Everyone sees Japan as a destination in which to visit more destinations.
Between from 2008 to 2013, I lived in Gunma Prefecture, I drove a Nissan Silvia S14, and found that the best parts of the prefecture, and in fact, the country, are more often than not, the places that are a bit of a drive past the typical destinations, and the best experiences you can have, are the ones that you share with the amazing people you meet on the long, winding road.
To cap off 2015, I rented a Toyota 86, called on some old friends, made some new ones, and went for a drive through nostalgia.
0:02 Rings Autoshop, Owned by Yoshitatsu Kaneda (0:08), Pro drifter and head of Team YRC (Also my closest friend in Japan)
0:35 Mt. Akagi (Shrine and Lake)
1:06 Shibukawa City (My hometown) Many of my earlier vids were shot here, check them out to see more.
1:15 Rokumonsen -essence- My favourite ramen. The Master's mom is essentially my Japanese mother.
1:43 Mt. Haruna
1:49 Mt.Haruna Melody Road. drive at a steady speed and lines in the road play notes as your tires roll over them. Gunma has a bunch of these melody roads on mountain passes throughout the prefecture.
2:11 hidden lookout on Mt. Haruna no locations to this, I take you there or you find it on your own ;)
2:22 Allen Bo, The man behind the Drift Hunter doccie-in-progress.
2:47 Kusatsu Onsen. It's rated the best hot-spring in Japan, and I do quite like it, but the water is too hot and it's always full of tourists, It's a good place to stop and take a break though.
3:36 Tonya, My favorit Tonkatsu place. Prices are average but value is phenomenal. Tastes bloody good too.
3:38 Shiriyaki Onsen. A few kilometers away from Kusatsu in the middle of nowhere (Kunimura) is a heated river. Yes. The river itself is a natural hot spring. No entrance fees, No time limits, no restrictions and on clear winter nights, an infinite ceiling of stars.
3:49 Convenience store munchies aka a drivers' lifeblood.
4:07 Takayama
4:11 The Nihon Romantic Highway. 350 twisting kilometres of mountain roads from Tochigi, through Gunma and into Nagano. An epic drive, with almost no public transport access.
4:20 Shout out to MannyMarx, The man who made the music for this vid (and many of my other ones too). Producing Frank Corva's (4:26) new solo album.
