Japan Hit By Heavy Snows

Above, my commuter train stopped at a Chiba station due to heavy snow. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Here's a story that brings back memories.

Japan is currently being hit by a rare heavy snowstorm. The storm has caused flight cancellations and Shinkansen stoppages.

According to Travel + Leisure:

Parts of Japan, including southwestern Fukui Prefecture, eastern Tottori Prefecture, Kyoto, Tokyo, and other regions along the Sea of Japan coast, are grappling with heavy snowfall. Extreme weather in Japan has made roads dangerously icy, triggering widespread travel disruptions such as cancelled flights and bullet train suspensions. The operational crisis triggered over 100 cancelled All Nippon Airways and ANA Wings flights, and delays were reported by Japan Airlines and Ibex. So far, over 371 flight cancellations and 1,710 delays have been reported in total. 

Above, yours truly at the Chiba station.

This all brings back memories of my 2014 trip to Japan. Upon arrival at Narita International Airport in Chiba Prefecture, a heavy snowstorm also arrived. I managed to get on a commuter train to Tokyo, but the storm forced the train to halt at a train station midway. I was stuck in the train car for almost 24 hours. 

Luckily for me, a Japanese gentleman called my hotel for me to let them know of my predicament. 

Above, the snow-covered Godzilla slide in Yokosuka. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It was an interesting trip nonetheless. I was able to go to the Godzilla slide in Yokosuka as well as Yokohama. I also went to Kappabashi "Kitchen Town" in Tokyo and picked up some chef's knives.

Just before leaving Japan, a second storm hit. 

Above, my hotel after the second snow storm hit. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read the full story, go here.

G-FAN #140

Since I have been holed up due to our season of biting gnats (it seems to be subsiding), seeing G-FAN (issue #140) arrive in today's mail was a welcome sight. Now I have something new to read.

First, the cover by Chris Scalf is quite beautiful. It reminds me of a Godzilla cover in Famous Monsters of Filmland of decades ago. It portrays an imaginary battle between Godzilla and Gorgo (or is it Gorgo's mother?).

Inside, there is an article with a comparison of the abilities of Godzilla and Gorgo by Allen Debus and the likelihood of a battle between the two, if one should ever take place. 

This issue is the final issue just before next month's G-FEST. I would be going except my ex-roommate is coming over for a two-week visit and the dates weren't firmed up until last week. She's coming in August. It is probably too late to get a hotel room or airfare at reasonable rates now, so I'll have to put it off to next year.

Above, Yokosuka's Godzilla slide. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

My contribution to the issue is a look back (2014, to be exact) at my visit to the Kurihama Flower World in Yokosuka, Japan to see the famous Godzilla slide (page 52). (The Monster Movie Fan's Guide to Japan provides directions on getting there.)

For more information on G-FAN and G-FEST, go here.

Snow Pummels Japan

Above, the commuter train car I was stuck in for nearly 22 hours in Chiba Prefecture in 2014. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This certainly brings back memories of my February 2014 trip to Japan.

It was that trip that I managed to arrive at Narita Airport at about the same time one of the biggest snowstorms in years also arrived. I was stuck in a commuter train car for about 22 hours before managing to get into Tokyo from the airport. Later that week, a second big snowstorm hit Tokyo.

During that week, I did manage to go to Kurihama to see the Godzilla slide at the Yokosuka Kurihama Flower Park.

Above, the Godzilla slide at the Yokosuka Kurihama Flower Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

According to The Japan Times:

Heavy snow hit the Sea of Japan coast from the Tohoku to Kyushu regions Sunday, disrupting transportation and prompting authorities to urge people to stay indoors.

The Meteorological Agency predicts snow and blizzard conditions will continue until Tuesday, with up to 90 centimeters of snow projected to fall in some regions.

Television footage Sunday showed heavy blizzard conditions in Aomori and Niigata prefectures, as well as parts of Ishikawa, Toyama, and Fukui prefectures on the Sea of Japan coast. Snow also fell in Tokyo for the first time this year, as well as in Nagoya and Hiroshima.

The weather, including snow squalls and heavy winds at times, played havoc with road, rail and air transportation. Train service was canceled on sections of the Uetsu Main Line, which runs up the Sea of Japan coast through Niigata, Yamagata, and Akita prefectures; the Joetsu Line in Gunma and Niigata prefectures; the Oito Line in Niigata and Nagano prefectures; as well as parts of the Sanin Main Line along the Sea of Japan coast from Kyoto to Yamaguchi prefectures.

 To read more, go here.

While You Visit The Godzilla Slide, She Can Shop At A New Yokosuka Shopping Complex

Above, you can visit the Godzilla slide while she shops at a new shopping complex. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When the coronavirus pandemic ends and there's no more cases, a trip to Japan would then be possible.

If one happens to be a Godzilla fan, a day trip to Yokosuka from Tokyo to visit the Godzilla slide at the Kurihama Flower World is a must-do. But if that fan is in Japan with a spouse or girlfriend and she couldn't care less about Godzilla, she can go shop at a new shopping and entertainment complex while the fan is savoring the Big G. (See? I am always looking out for ya!)

According to Stripes Japan:

A new shopping and entertainment complex near Yokosuka Naval Base has finally opened its doors after months of delayed openings due to COVID-19.

Coaska Bayside opened its supermarket in April, but the rest of the building’s 100 shops remained closed due to the State of Emergency declared on April 7. 

The rest of the 6-story complex, which opened June 5, features a large food court, clothing, home and cosmetics shops. The top two floors include various entertainment facilities like a movie theater, bowling alley and more.

The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan provides directions on how to get to the Godzilla slide at Kurihama Flower World.

To read more, go here.

Out-of-Season Snow Hits Tokyo

Above, the Godzilla slide at the Kurihama Flower World in Yokosuka. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This story reminds me of my trip to Japan six years ago when heavy snowfall covered the country by two storms. It was during the month of February and I arrived at the same time as the first storm.

According to Kyoto News Plus, an out-of-season storm hit Tokyo and that, plus the stay at home requests by the government, left Tokyo streets almost barren.

They wrote:

TOKYO - Crowds disappeared from bustling business and tourist districts as out-of-season snow fell in Tokyo and surrounding areas on Sunday, the second day under stay-at-home requests in the capital region due to the coronavirus outbreak. 

It was the first time in 32 years that central Tokyo witnessed the accumulation of snow measuring 1 centimeter or more in late March, according to the Japan Weather Association. 

As cold air gripped the Kanto-Koshin region, including the Tokyo metropolitan area and the prefectures of Yamanashi and Nagano, the temperature dropped below 1 C in Tokyo in the morning, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. 

Tokyo's Akihabara district, a subculture hub known for attracting anime fans from across the country and overseas, observed a quiet Sunday with accumulated snow.

To read more, go here. 

Cold Snap Disrupts Tokyo Air Travel

Above, the Godzilla slide in Yokosuka after a snowstorm in 2014. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It looks like Tokyo dodged a weather bullet as a cold snap didn't dump as much snow as originally forecast. It still caused the cancellation of flights to and from Tokyo.

Japan Today reported:

TOKYO - A cold snap hit Tokyo and vicinity Saturday, causing cancellations of more than 100 flights to and from the Japanese capital despite lower-than-expected snow totals. 

One centimeter of snow was observed as of noon in downtown Tokyo where temperatures fell below zero due to a cold air mass. The weather agency initially forecast an up to 5-cm snowfall but later said heavy snow was not expected in Tokyo and its adjacent prefectures of Kanagawa and Saitama. 

But the Japan Meteorological Agency still warned about icy road conditions as low temperatures will continue at least through Sunday morning. 

Japan Airlines Co and All Nippon Airways Co canceled more than 100 flights as of noon Saturday into and out of Haneda and Narita airports servicing Tokyo.

To read more, go here. 

NY Times Travel Show Ends Today

Above, the Godzilla slide in Yokosuka. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If you happen to be in the New York City area, the New York Times Travel Show will be ending today, so you may want to head over there while you still can.

Japan is promoting tourism at the show which is being held at the Jacob Javitz Center.

According to The Mainichi:

NEW YORK (Kyodo) -- Travel agencies and organizations from Japan pitched the country as a perfect destination for American tourists at the annual New York Times Travel Show, which opened on Friday. 

"One of our main efforts is to disperse travelers throughout Japan," Keiko Matsuura, a spokeswoman for the Japan National Tourism Organization, said, adding, "We are trying to introduce lesser known regions." 

Akita Inu Tourism was among the bodies present at the exhibition, promoting its "land of Akita dogs" in the prefecture located in northeastern Japan.

To read more, go here. 

Typhoon Warning In Japan Mistaken By Tourists As Godzilla Alert

Above, the Godzilla slide in Yokosuka. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Suppose you are vacationing or on a business trip in Japan and a storm warning goes off on your cell phone. Naturally, being a foreigner who does not understand Japanese, you wonder what's the warning is for.

Some visitors in Japan recently received a typhoon warning on their phones and they mistakenly thought the warning was for an impending attack by Godzilla. Seriously!

According to Social News Daily:

This was the case according to Japanese Twitter user @Znplus2. According to the Japanese person, a group of Italian tourists was aboard a passenger train when all their phones started ringing and buzzing. Of course, the Italians could not understand anything and one of them kept asking “Godzilla?!”

Afterward, the Italians realized that no Japanese on the train was panicking, meaning it was probably just one of Godzilla’s enemies— er, a storm. Specifically the typhoons Soulik and Cimaron. Still, the Italians had a good laugh, along with the rest of the Japanese on the train who also found the foreign bewilderment hilarious.

To read the full story, go here. 

Foreign Visitors To Japan Set New Record In February

Above, the Godzilla slide in Yokosuka at the Kurihama Flower World. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The number of foreign visitors to Japan set a new record for February.

The Nikkei Asian Review reported:

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The estimated number of foreign visitors to Japan in February soared 23.3 percent from a year earlier to 2,509,300, a record for the month, the Japan Tourism Agency said Tuesday. 

The Chinese New Year, which started in late January last year, began in the middle of February this year, boosting the number of tourists from Asian countries.

To read more, go here. 

A 3-Year-Old Godzilla Fan At The Supermarket

Above, the Godzilla slide I was telling an Encino family about. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

An interesting and cute thing happened while I was in the local supermarket picking up some groceries.

I was in the frozen food section when I heard some singing. Then I recognized what the song was. It was "Mothra's Song". I turned around and saw a little girl, about three years old, singing the song perfectly while sitting in the child's seat of her mother's shopping cart.

I said to her, "You like Mothra?" She said yes. Her mother was nearby and was stunned that someone in the market knew the song. I told her a little about myself.

Then the girl's father came up and said that they are all Godzilla fans from Encino and his daughter's name is Serling (named after Rod Serling of Twilight Zone fame). Right now, her favorite kaiju is Titanosaurus from Terror of Mechagodzilla.

We talked a little bit about Godzilla and he said Serling likes to watch Godzilla movies in Japanese language.

I told them about different Godzilla places to go to, including the Godzilla head in Shinjuku and the Godzilla slide in Yokosuka.

I gave them one of my cards.

It has been said before, but Godzilla fans are the nicest fans around.

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Tokyo Cheapo's Kamakura Mega Guide

Above, the Great Buddha of Kamakura. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Visitors to Japan, and Tokyo in particular, who have limited amounts of time but would also like to venture out of the metropolis, then a day trip to Kamakura is something to consider.

I visited Kamakura during the first G-TOUR in 2004. Two of the places we stopped at were the Great Daibutsu and the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu shrine.

Tokyo Cheapo has posted their "mega guide" on Kamakura that focuses on 7 historical sites.

They start with:

Whether you want a day of hiking from shrine to temple through beautiful mountains and valleys, a day at the beach or a stroll around a bustling town with its fair share of culture, Kamakura (just south of Tokyo) is perfect. A long-ago political capital alongside Nara and Kyoto, Kamakura shares many of the traditional features and is a great place to get your taste of ancient Japan if you can’t reach Kansai. 

Once a great fortress town thanks to the surrounding mountains and open sea, it is now  thriving city filled with quaint shopping streets, stunning temples and peaceful shrines, along with the famous Buddha of course. With a history of inhabitants stretching back 10,000 years, Kamakura developed into the political capital of medieval Japan and was the site of numerous battles, mainly during the Kamakura period, which ended in 1333 with a brutal siege. The city originally had 7 entrances, also known as the seven mouths of Kamakura, but has since been opened up with roads and tunnels for a more city-like feel, and less of a battlefield stronghold. These days there is plenty to explore for everyone, but we have listed a few ideas for a great day in one of our favorite cities!

Another nice thing about Kamakura, it is not too far from Yokosuka, where the Godzilla slide is located at the Kurihama Flower World.

The article also has information on getting to Kamakura from Tokyo.

To read more, go here.

Tips For Weebing Out In Japan

Above, the Godzilla slide in Yokosuka, Japan. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If you happen to be an otaku, geek, nerd, Japanophile of any sort, Geek.com has 7 helpful tips for first-time visitors to Japan to make their trip much easier.

They begin with:

Going to Japan is one of those lofty nerd goals that nearly anyone who remotely likes video games or anime dreams of. And, if you haven’t gone before and don’t know Japanese, it’s a pretty daunting task. I recently spent two weeks in Glorious Nippon, and I had a blast despite my linguistic ignorance. It’s not hard to have a great time if you keep a few things in mind while planning your trip. 

It’s a vastly different country from the United States, but the commercial and tourist areas are generally friendly and accommodating to English speakers. Most important signs are in English, and most of the symbols and icons we’re used to are used in Japan to the same extent. You don’t have to be intimidated by it. 

Preparation is everything, and even if you can’t teach yourself to be fluent in Japanese in time for your vacation/sabbatical/pilgrimage you can still get ready in some simple and helpful ways. Getting a passing familiarity with maps, locations, and pleasantries can go a long way, and plotting out your trip in advance can save a lot of headaches while still giving you plenty of wiggle room.

It just so happens that it was one year ago today that I made my last trip to Japan. I plan on heading back as soon as the updated edition of The Monsiter Movie Fan's Guide To Japan is completed.

To read more, go here. 

Godzilla Anime Coming In 2017

Above, the Godzilla slide in Yokosuka, Japan. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Godzilla will be coming in 2017! Only this time, the Big G will be in anime.

According to the Asahi Shimbun:

Godzilla is set to go on a rampage again next year, but this time in the first animated feature film adaptation in the series about the “king of monsters.” 

No details about the “Godzilla” story have been released, but it appears the animated film will mark a dramatic departure from previous titles in the series. 

A teaser visual features three people against the backdrop of a great natural landscape. 

The anime project is co-directed by Kobun Shizuno, who scored a hit with “Detective Conan: The Darkest Nightmare,” and Hiroyuki Seshita, director of CG anime “Knights of Sidonia” and “Ajin: Demi-Human.”

To read more, go here. 

9 Sightseeing Spots In Yokosuka

Above, the Godzilla slide after a heavy snowstorm. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Two days ago, I blogged about two attractions in Yokosuka: The Godzilla slide at Kurihama Flower World and the Japanese-Russo War-era battleship Mikasa.

Besides those, City-Cost.com has seven other attractions in Yokosuka for visitors to see. Included in their list of nine places, are the Mikasa and Godzilla slide.

They begin with:

The city of Yokosuka Japan is most known for its Japanese and American Navy bases. The culture has been crossed and mixed and reflects in its food, atmosphere, and shopping. The US navy base opens to the public every year for Yokosuka Friendship Day in order to demonstrate the strong relationship between Japan and the US. If you plan on coming to Yokosuka for this event, consider staying for the weekend and visit the surrounding areas as well. If you live and work in this city, you may be surprised that you don’t have to go towards Tokyo or Yokohama to see something interesting. 

To see what the other attractions are, go here.

Yokosuka: Godzilla Slide and the Battleship Mikasa

Above, the Godzilla slide at Kurihama Flower World. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For Godzilla fans, a visit to the Kurihama Flower World in Yokosuka to see the Godzilla slide is one of those "must-do" things while in Japan. But there's something more to see while in Yokosuka.

Along with the Godzilla slide, Yokosuka is the home of the only remaining pre-dreadnought battleship surviving in the world. It is also worth a visit while in Yokosuka.

According to CNET:

An hour south of Tokyo, on the edge of the bay is a piece of history unique in the world. Embedded in concrete just a few feet from the water is the 114-year-old battleship Mikasa. It's the only surviving pre-dreadnought battleship, not to mention one of the only Imperial navy vessels still intact from that era. 

After 21 years in service, the Mikasa was decommissioned, but not scrapped. Instead she was preserved at the request of the Japanese government, with her engines and armament removed, and her hull encased in concrete. 

After several extensive restorations, the Mikasa today is a museum ship, and a fascinating look back into turn-of-the-last century naval design.

The Godzilla slide is spotlighted on page 32 of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

To read more, go here.

Godzilla's Seaside City Home

Above, the Godzilla slide with a dusting of snow. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Hardcore Godzilla fans are very much familiar with the (roughly) 30-foot Godzilla slide at the Kurihama Flower World park in Yokosuka.

I visited the Godzilla slide in February 2014 on a cold day that included occasional snow flurries. As the park's trams weren't operating that day, I had to hike up to it. Fortunately for me, I was in good enough condition with hiking experience to make the hike without having a heart attack in the process. I may go there again later this year when there's better weather conditions and the tram is operating.

Stripes Japan has posted an article on the Godzilla slide with some history on the current slide and one that was originally erected at Tatara Beach.

They begin with:

YOKOSUKA, Japan — The "Godzilla" series started in 1954. In the middle of the first film, a warning is broadcast as the nation braces for attack by the giant monster: "Godzilla has been detected undersea 15 miles northeast of Kannonzaki cape, moving toward the northwest." 

Spotted first off the cape in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, Godzilla lands on Tokyo's Shibaura waterfront, sweeps away high-voltage barbed-wire fences, stomps off unscathed by a barrage of bombardments and soon turns the bustling Shimbashi and Ginza districts into a sea of fire. 

In other words, the monster never set foot on the grounds of Yokosuka or destroyed the port city. Even so, Yokosukans strongly feel Godzilla still has a deep connection with their city.

If one is a "serious" Godzilla fan, a pilgrimage to the Godzilla slide in Yokosuka is a must.

To read more, go here.

USS Ronald Reagan Now Calling Yokosuka Home

Japan has a new American resident who arrived in Yokosuka to take up residency.

According to the Mainichi Shimbun:

YOKOSUKA, Japan (AP) -- The American nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan docked at its new home in Japan's Yokosuka naval port Thursday just as Tokyo tries to deepen defense ties with the U.S. under new security laws that expand the role of Japan's military. 

The warship's arrival received a warm welcome from Japanese officials because of its role in disaster relief after the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster as part of the U.S. government's "tomodachi," or friends, project.

Perhaps the USS Ronald Reagan will be a new tourist attraction (at least from a distance) for the Yokosuka area along with the Godzilla slide.

To read more, go here. 

"Godzilla El Niño" Coming?

Above, the Godzilla slide in Yokosuka, Japan. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

With Legendary Pictures' Godzilla 2 not due in theaters until 2018, Toho's own production is set to go into production in a few weeks for a 2016 release.

2016, as it seems to be turning out, will be a Godzilla year in another way as something else is lurking in the waters of the Pacific Ocean.

According to the Los Angeles Times:

The strengthening El Niño in the Pacific Ocean has the potential to become one of the most powerful on record, as warming ocean waters surge toward the Americas, setting up a pattern that could bring once-in-a-generation storms this winter to drought-parched California. 

The National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center said Thursday that all computer models are predicting a strong El Niño to peak in the late fall or early winter. A host of observations have led scientists to conclude that “collectively, these atmospheric and oceanic features reflect a significant and strengthening El Niño.” 

“This definitely has the potential of being the Godzilla El Niño,” said Bill Patzert, a climatologist with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Cañada Flintridge.

If we do have "a Godzilla El Niño", should we call it the "King of the El Niños"? God knows we in California can use it to eliminate the effects of the current drought. If it does come to pass, we should have a great river-rafting season next year!

To read more, go here.