Greetings from Japan

[Maurits71]

Morning , last Friday I was planning a trip to Wales to visit my customers, one day and one phone call later everything changed suddenly.

so instead of Wales we are in Japan.

lovely flight, plane was almost empty



and then a once in a live time probably from Nairita Airport to Tokyo and from Tokyo to Niiagate with the bullet train







the first thing I thought was amazing is the fact that you don't see filthy trains, so for people building a Japanese layout, no need for weathering

Tokyo train station is great, several different levels but all understandable.



this one was going the wrong way, but funny two different types combined.







and this one mine



bit disappointed, thought we were faster then the Eurostar



and finally, after 12 hours flight, an hour in the Nairita express and almost 2 hours in the shenkensen, we are in Nagaoka

love the snow







and the purpose for my visit here





so for a while no more building for me :'( :'(,

[Sprintex]

Shame Virgin didn't have a proper plane available for you to use, just one of those French Scarebus things

That green 'Pinocchio' train is hideous! Like the little shunter though


Paul

[Pengi]

Fantastic pictures Maurits, love the bullet trains - beautifully clean. I think the one you went on was an E2 which looks gorgeous. Love the scenery and the fish pictures. Being nosy, what sort of work do you do that enables you to jet off to Japan?

This has quite cheered me up, on a dull, grey and wet Thursday

P.S. Kato do a very nice E2, I got one off eBay from Thailand for a very good price. Runs beautifully.

[Brooksy]

Nice pics - thanks for sharing! 

[Lawrence]

Soooo jealous 
Have a good trip 

[Tank]

Great to see something different.   Roughly how old are the trains showing the interior?  It looks brand new.

[Bigric]

I'm with Tank on this one....really interesting & VERY different !!! When I find out how to put photos on here , I'll put some on of the new main station in Berlin I took a couple of years ago when I was there . It's on umpteen different levels inside as you look down - fantastic ! Thanks again for the Japan pics !!!! Ric

[Pengi]

I'm with Tank on this one....really interesting & VERY different !!! When I find out how to put photos on here , I'll put some on of the new main station in Berlin I took a couple of years ago when I was there . It's on umpteen different levels inside as you look down - fantastic ! Thanks again for the Japan pics !!!! Ric

I love Berlin but some years since I have been so some photos of the new station would be fab!!

[Duncan83]

I was in Berlin on a stag trip a year back and went up the TV Tower  amazing views and was just looking back at the pictures and came across this one, But not sure if its the main Berlin train station  as we walked and used the underground network for most of the trip.



Dunk

[Maurits71]

Thanks all.

just facing a big jet lag, but will get used to the time difference in the next 2 or 3 days. I am aware that I am in quit a fortunate position to see a lot especially in Asia.

In Japan now, next Month first to Hong-Kong and then to China but in all fairness the home front is not agreeing with me about the joy part, they rather have me home more.

@ Pengy, I work for one of the European leaders in the Aquatics and Koi industry, although my Home base is the UK in this case theirs a problem as I have some experience in the back office. so What you have seen is just 2 pictures of some very, very exclusive and expensive koi, for the price of one fish I can buy a decent mid class car.

@tank, the  Naiirata exerts is quit new I believe , but it;s the Japanese peoples nature to look after stuff any way, everything here is clean, both trains were cleaned before you was allowed to enter.

I will try to get some more pictures as quit a few trains are similar to ours, I have seen emu look a likes in really nice colours, haven't seen any freight trains yet as from here it's an hours walk to the nearest train.

[Lawrence]

Will you have any time to visit any hobby shops whilst there, hint hint 

[Duncan83]

Like the hint hint. Been looking at a loco i wouldnt mind getting

[kaiwhara]

Love the pictures but I am a little confused. How do fish translate Wales (the place, not the mammal ) into Japan??? 

[Lawrence]

Like the hint hint. Been looking at a loco i wouldnt mind getting

Have used these guys Duncan http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/rail/ prices are normally amongst the best and decent shipping too, it's just the tax and Royal Mail charges that annoy me