Japan Photo Guide » Best of Japan

The New Japan Photo Guide

babibubebo — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 19:18:24 +0000

I am very proud and excited to announce my new Japan Photo Guide website! After years of living and traveling around Japan, I know offer tours to help visitors really experience Japan. Stop by the site for more details about how I can make your experience in Japan unforgettable and unique!

Experience Japan with Professional Photographer, Evan Pike

Experience Japan: Travel and Photo Guide

babibubebo — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:35:01 +0000

UPDATED November, 2010, Due to overwhelming requests, I am already starting to take bookings for March/April of 2011! I’d love to be your personal Japan tour guide and show you all of what Japan has to offer by creating an unforgettable experience in Japan. If you are interested in having me guide you while you are traveling around Japan, please contact me for details/availability.

See the original article here and photos here!

Living in Japan for over three was one of the best experiences of my life. While I lived abroad, I spent a lot of time traveling. I traveled throughout the county and have probably been more places than most Japanese! Japan is a unique, exquisite and beautiful place that might seem daunting to do by yourself. This is where I come in, as your Experience Japan Travel and Photography Guide.

There are a few things that I am really passionate about, and Japan and photography happen to be two of them. I really enjoy talking about and sharing my experiences from Japan. That is why I take a small group of travelers to this incredible place. I love to share my unique view on the country and its culture and to guide travelers throughout Japan to some great spots to visit, photograph, and enjoy!

In addition, and maybe the best part, not only will I act as your tour guide of Japan and photography mentor, but also I will be your own personal photographer for your vacation in Japan! No more shots of only the wife or having to ask a stranger to take your photo (which always ends up not the way you wanted it)! I will document your vacation as much as you want and provide you with great memories and unique experiences in Japan. Please contact me for more details.

UPDATED November, 2010, Due to overwhelming requests, I am already starting to take bookings for March/April of 2011! I’d love to be your personal Japan tour guide and show you all of what Japan has to offer by creating an unforgettable experience in Japan. If you are interested in having me guide you while you are traveling around Japan, please contact me for details/availability.

Nakamoto Spicy Ramen in Ikebukuro

babibubebo — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 02:29:13 +0000

Before I had ramen in Japan, I thought ramen only came in the form of “almost tasteless instant ramen” that costs like 30 cents for a single bag. I had no idea how many different kinds of ramen there are(Sapporo and Fukuoka quickly come to mind as two of the most famous kinds) or exactly how delicious ramen can be. If you go almost anywhere in Japan, you will find tons of ramen ( ラーメン ) shops and probably will get something decent at most places. That being said, I have decided to share with you an excellent place in Ikebukro, Tokyo, Nakamoto with their spicy ramen, or I think they call it “tantan-men.”

If you like ramen and/or spicy food, you will like this place. First a warning though, it is REALLY spicy. Let me repeat that, it is REALLY spicy. I am not talking about wasabi spicy, I am talking super red chili pepper spicy. On their menu, they have a rating system from 0 to 5, of course 0 being not spicy and 5 being beyond comprehension spicy. As for myself, I like spicy food so I thought I could handle it and went with a level 3. This was barely eatable but after adding a lot of vinegar to cut back on the spiciness, it was delicious. My friend got a level 2 and it was still really really spicy, but much more eatable. After eating, we both got upset stomachs, but it was so good that even despite that, my friend wanted to go back the next day before he left Japan to go back to the USA. The next day we both went with level 2 and we both added a little vinegar and that was about perfect for me, just below my tolerance level for spiciness. If you make the trip, I suggest starting with 1 or 2 and then working your way up. Trust me it is spicier than you think it will be.

I made a very simple map for you. Basically, from Ikebukuro station, go out the exit OPPOSITE side of Sunshine City (Sunshine 60) and look for Maru Ichi Maru Ichi (circle one circle one, sometimes called Marui or Oi Oi). It is very close to there on the second floor. It is somewhat famous so if you ask somebody in the area where is Nakamoto, they can probably get you close.

Another warning, if you go at peak times you might have to wait a while to get a seat…

My friend suffering from eating two bowls in two days of Nakamoto’s spicy ramen.

Not really actually, I just wanted to use this photo of him assimilating to Japanese culture.

Here is another photo and some information about Nakamoto Ramen at World Ramen and another account of just how spicy it is.

New Japan Daily Photo Blog

babibubebo — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 14:19:14 +0000

Recently I have been neglecting this blog (sorry about that) but the reason for that is that I have been working on my new photo blog, Japan Daily Photo, where as you can probably guess, I will be sharing photos from Japan, daily (imagine that). A photo blog is like a regular blog but more photos and a lot less text, which is fitting for a photographer. I am not abandoning this site, and now that I have got the other up, I will be updating more here, but basically I wanted the freedom to share photos that I like without having to talk about why you should or should visit there. Anyway, let me know what you think.