Finally – Rain
I can’t even remember when we had rain last in Tokyo, the weeks around New Year was just dry as a tinderbox. Touching anything was a sure invitation to a hit of static electricity and I can imagine sales of softening skin lotions must have gone through the roof. We’re not being helped by the fact that most house heating systems in Japan are air borne, electric heaters and so on makes our rooms super dry in winter. But finally, on Friday, we got some rain, and even more on Saturday. It’s not often that I am happy to see icy cold rain in mid winter, but this time it was really needed! I took this photo yesterday afternoon at one of my favorite photo spots in Omotesando.
Indeed, I wonder why the heating systems are all the air-blowing type. I much prefer the radiators they use in the UK (in the rest of Europe, too?) But anyway yay for rain! Now there is a new view of Omotesando~ ^^
I think water borne heating is more expensive and less stable in case of an earthquake, but I am not sure. There is a recent trend in radiant floor heating using gas, which is much much better on your skin and throat but it is still very rare in apartments.
yes please Japan, oil filled, or even onsen filled heaters please…inappropriate for me to comment, perhaps, but what happened to saving electricity/energy? I do love the light in this photo(all electric)
on a lighter note, the sale of little things one carries to prevent static shock was popular I noticed too, something I had never seen before
I kept warm pounding mochi!
Any airborne heaters is just bad news for my skin and throat! And about onsen heating I have never understood why it is not more readily used like in Iceland for example. Yes, the electricity saving is almost gone, for better and for worse…
Really like this one – the sky and the street lights. Very inspiring.
Thank you Irina! Can you spot all the little people in the street with their umbrellas?
Oh, yes.
Even more inspiring.
I’m not sure where I stand on the central heating debate, I’m in the U.K and my radiator is keeping me nice and warm,
And I would love to spend some time photographing Japan, it looks incredible,
Japan is incredible, and even more so if you are a photographer! (^-^)
That was the one thing I hated in Japan was no central heating and I’m sure it’s because I’m a spoiled American. I remember the rainy season but up in Aomori it’d be snowing rather than raining. I love the shot though! It is very cool!!
Thanks! (^-^) On the one hand, central heating is very comfortable and relatively cheap but it also takes up a lot of resources when building and maintaining homes and offices, this combined with the Japanese tradition of heating the person inside of the space around them (eg. kotatsu, warm clothes, slipper etc.) makes their living arrangements different from those in the West. Traditional Japanese houses were built for summer, to be cool and airy while during the winter the family would gather at the core of the house around the central hearth. This western obsession with heating every room in a house and everyone sleeping in their own rooms would be a disaster for the Japanese economy. It is just too expensive! So while I miss our western luxuries, I am personally used to the Japanese way of life now. It works too, but it is damned cold in the mornings! (^-^;) I miss the snow too! Tokyo has been raining since Friday now…
You guys aren’t getting snow? I have a couple of friends that have been posting pictures on facebook about snow in Fussa-shi. I’m shocked that it’s snowing! The weather this year is so strange! We never had so much rain in the desert in a long time! I mean I’ve been here for almost 4 years and it’s been over 3 inches of rain which is a lot of here. My friends said the other night Fussa was blanketed with snow.
Fussa got snow a couple of days ago, and finally last night we got some in central Tokyo as well! This morning was like walking in a skate park on crunchy ice. I made it all the way to work (including an hour off work to go take pictures) without falling over although I had to walk like a duck in my suit and flat shoes… (^-^;)
LOL oh no! I’d say invest in snow shows but you won’t need them for too much longer.
I love rain, probably because it rarely rains here. Funny thing it rained here on Friday and is supposed to rain again on Monday. Ugh, I don’t like driving in it though, and there’s constructions on my short commute turning it into a possibly longer commute.
Commuting destroys the soul! Unless you do it on a warm comfy Japanese train where you can read a book… (^-^)
I’m in a warm cozy car with some nice jazz on and a cup of something warm and yummy
Aaah… sounds lovely! (^-^;)
The photo looks so gorgeous and mysterious! I’d never missed rainy days before I came to this dry desert area (all year around), but now I DO miss walking in the city holding an umbrella! And yes! I hate using AC,too. It’s good that I’d never have to use it in winter here! (and that’s one thing I will miss after I get back to Japan…) Btw, akemashite omedetougozaimasu:)
あけましておめでとうございます！Tank you May! I love the deserts… so jealous of you! (^-^) Do you miss the see through vinyl 100 yen store umbrellas too?
Yes I do! lol
Super photo – love the colours and contrasts and the shine of the rain in the dying light. The cold dry air sounds dreadful.
Thank you! Cold dry air is something new for me, this must have been the driest two weeks in my life! Thank good we had some snow this morning as well. (^-^)
The scenery is wonderful with the contrast of the light and darkness.
It’s amazing how it doesn’t even look like an afternoon and more of a night time scene.
Darkness comes early these days! I am happy that we’re going towards brighter and longer days though. (^-^)
It’s been a rainy January here. We get a little bit of snow, then rain and fog. Thunderstorms are in the forecast today! By sheer luck, the coldest days this month coincided with the Plymouth (Michigan) Ice Festival, which usually happens during the January thaw. Everything is topsy-turvy!
Last winter was very snowy, so this year we prepared; we bought new boots for the whole family and an electric snow-blower (concession to increasing age and decreasing availability of E). We may have destroyed the winter tourism industry!
(rain + city lights at night = win)
“Lack of E leads to unbridled consumerism among Upper M manga afficionados!” I can see the headlines already! haha… Yes, it’s topsy-turvy over here too, lots of snow and ice this morning! (^-^;)
Very inviting picture.
Thank you! (^-^)
What an incredible photo. Absolutely great stuff. Keep it up.
Thanks Jake! (^-^)/