With all its people and interesting places, Tokyo is a wonderful city to live in. At the same time, however, all those people and the increasingly concrete landscape can become wearing. A sense of fatigue that a trip to the countryside can fortunately help fix. And while there are still reminders of more urban areas, the sense of space and lack of people is surprisingly liberating.
Even trains, that constant in Tokyo, are a refreshing sight. They are small, almost laughably infrequent, and yet rather luxuriously are still lacking in passengers. Plus as an added bonus they reflect nicely in rice fields, which in the city at least is an incredibly rare treat.
Al says
So not Tokyo! 🙂 Love the reflection. Where do you go?
Lee says
Thanks. Yes, it was Niigata. Very different, yet not that far away at all on the shinkansen.
cdilla says
Ah, a break from the city. There is so much to like about these photographs. The newly planted rice paddys with regimented rows of palest green and mirror finish water are beautiful. I also like the contrast of the colour and complexity of the rail infrastructure. The almost iconic scene of a two carriage half empty train making it’s way across a countryside of fields is a strangely popular one in Japanese manga, anime, films and travel programs, along with the “ding ding ding ding” of the crossing warning.
There does seem to be more put into the appearance of Japanese trains. Even the Crested Ibis pink and golden yellow stripes dont look too out of place hovering over their reflections.
I just (literally half and hour ago) finished watching a program featuring a cat called Tama who is a stationmaster – only in Japan 🙂 Tama even has a wikepedia page.
Anyway, two lovely photographs to start may working day to. Thanks.
Lee says
Cheers. Very good to hear you got something out of them. I certainly enjoyed the trip and walk that enabled me to get the photos.
The odd loneliness of the crossing was particularly appealing.
I think Tama-chan sadly died. Unless of course there’s another one. That wouldn’t surprise me!
Coli says
Yes. This looks so much like where I live in kansai. Finally we are on the same proverbial page! 🙂
Lee says
Haha! I thoroughly enjoyed my time out of the city. Always do. Do always wonder though how much I’d enjoy it if I was to go and live there. An experiment I’d like to try at some point. How do you find it?
Coli says
I really enjoy living in this area. the biggest downside though is it is too hard to travel without a car. Lots of birds and even more frogs every morning. I suppose the best part is being able to hear higurashi cry every night from mid July:)
Lee says
Does sound very nice. If only I had the money for a second home…
I guess the lack of public transport can be an inconvenience, but here in Tokyo travelling by car is a nightmare because of the traffic and ludicrous amount of traffic lights. Positives and negatives on both sides eh?
Hans ter Horst says
I love the countryside, no matter how bleak! and a bleak countryside your photos show 🙂
And for all I know you could still be in Tokyo, as Tokyo of course isn’t a city, it is a prefecture and even Mt Takao with its forest is in Tokyo.
Lee says
Bleakness is something I thoroughly enjoy in all its forms!
Happy to say I went much further than Takao. Spent 4 days walking round parts of Niigata I’d never visited before. Very enjoyable.
LAObserver says
It is interesting how well the various colors work together in both shots. Very nice x 2 !
Lee says
Thank you very much. The space, lack of people and greenery made it a very pleasant place to walk and take photos.
Joanna McPherson says
There is another Tama- chan, but she’s a bit crochety by all accounts! Haha…
I love the lonely crossing image, so poignant, and the train and it’s reflection reminds me of Spirited Away…
Lee says
Ah, didn’t know about the other, less friendly Tama-chan!
I liked the feeling of the crossing too. Really quite lonely, and yet somehow also very soothing.