Photos taken May 11, 1985 (except for the 1st shot over Alaska)
After our first visit to Japan in 1982, we were determined to get back for a longer look. We also wanted to do this trip on our own, rather than be herded about within a tour group. I did a lot of research through tour books and brochures, planned out the route, decided on accommodations and ordered our 3 week Japan Rail passes. With all this in hand, we visited a travel agent to make the bookings for us (there was no Google in the before times, folks).
Not much to tell. After working for 3 companies over 43+ years (38 years 7 months with my last company), I finally got that promotion I had waited my entire career for……retirement.
I have been exploring this new career for the past 7+ years and while it is not always exciting, the chance to do what I want for myself and my family instead of what my company wants has been very fulfilling. Early on, there was a long list of projects in my “to-do” hopper and I attacked these projects with a vengeance for the first 9 months of retirement. Eventually, my brain told me that this was not what retirement was about, so it took me another 5 months before my industriousness again took over and I attacked another line of projects, this time somewhat shorter and less complicated, as well as many new projects related to the family weddings in 2016. After going hard for 6 weeks and 3 weddings, my body was telling me to relax, then the flu bug hit and as soon as that was done with me, my sciatic acted up. No rest for the wicked. In 2020 and 2021, the Covid 19 pandemic changed the whole retirement gig. I was lucky to not be still working, for sure.
I enjoy photography, gardening, working with my hands, walking, cycling, skiing, travelling, reading and creating special photo and video productions obtained in my first pastime. I may never become wealthy in any of these pursuits, but I already feel I am rich in life experiences far beyond any expectation.
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9 thoughts on “Analogue Adventures – Tokyo, Japan 1985 – Day 1”
You started off your trip with a bang (I mean shake)! I love all the throwback pictures. Jon’s sister is going to Japan this summer and I’m trying to find a way to sneak in her suitcase.
You are right. We were a bit worried about the hallway announcements that we could not understand, but, we were so tired. Hard to believe that trip was almost 38 years ago. Japan is a wonderful place to explore, for sure. Thanks for reading Lyssy. Allan
Yay, it’s analogue time once again. How amazing that Patty chucked in her job for the Japan trip, she is my hero. Have done that a few times over the years when various schools I worked for tried to chain me to their classrooms. No chance. Funnily enough, the very first thing I did on my Tokyo trip was Tsukiji Fish Market. As for the rest of the sights you covered that day, it reads like some of my own Tokyo greatest hits. Great stuff, you really packed it in that day, no wonder you told the earthquake to shove it.
Glad you are coming along Leighton. In fairness to Pat’s boss, we were thinking about starting a family in the near future, so the job would have been a casualty in any event. We went back to Tsukiji in 2009 and we are glad we did, as the wholesale fish market has now been relocated. Our prairie minds could not comprehend all that came from the sea and how the chaos we saw could be so efficient. I think we walked our socks off that day. Oh for the good old days. Thanks so much for reading and commenting. Allan
Hats off to you Allan for planning the trip and the route all by yourself. Trip planning can be a daunting task. Where do you begin? What’s step one? What’s step two? It’s easy to get overwhelmed, especially when you haven’t done something like this before and especially when you had to do it back in 1985 when there was no such thing as travel blogs and apps like there are today. I am glad to see you had a chance to go back and thanks for sharing 🙂 Aiva xx
It was what was done in the day and as I was a Project Manager, I found the task was fun. I am a member of the AMA (our AAA motor league) and went there for maps. I also bought a very good guide book and a tourist accommodation book from a book store and put together a travel route based on a 21 day Japan Rail pass. Once that was done, I picked the places where I wanted to stay and gave the list and dates to an AMA travel agent who also arranged our air travel and the Japan Rail pass. After that and the Japanese lessons, all we had left was to follow the plan and have fun. It was dauting at first, but also exciting. Thanks for reading and for your questions Aiva. Allan
I am glad to see you found planning your itinerary fun. It’s actually one of my favourite parts of travelling and I firmly believe that trip planning should be a major part of travel enjoyment and, if you’re an organiser like me, there’s almost nothing you’re likely to enjoy more! I can easily spend days carefully booking accommodation, planning the route and looking up various attractions. And it always amazes me how much it is possible to learn, both about the destination and the planning process itself while doing it. Plus the more you do it, the easier it gets and the better you get at it too.
That’s exactly how I used to plan any travel itinerary 20 years ago when there was no internet available. I would spend hours at my local library or bookshops and ‘borrow’ their suggested train or bus itineraries and tweak them to suit our interests and needs. I have to say that I very much loved planning trips without the internet or review; you were guaranteed to experience an uncharted adventure 🙂 Cheers 🙂 Aiva xx
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You started off your trip with a bang (I mean shake)! I love all the throwback pictures. Jon’s sister is going to Japan this summer and I’m trying to find a way to sneak in her suitcase.
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You are right. We were a bit worried about the hallway announcements that we could not understand, but, we were so tired. Hard to believe that trip was almost 38 years ago. Japan is a wonderful place to explore, for sure. Thanks for reading Lyssy. Allan
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A great start to your Japanese adventure. Will look forward to hearing more. Have a good weekend.
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Those were the good old days, when every vacation was a real adventure. No Google or cell phones to fall back on. Thanks for reading Marion. Allan
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Yay, it’s analogue time once again. How amazing that Patty chucked in her job for the Japan trip, she is my hero. Have done that a few times over the years when various schools I worked for tried to chain me to their classrooms. No chance. Funnily enough, the very first thing I did on my Tokyo trip was Tsukiji Fish Market. As for the rest of the sights you covered that day, it reads like some of my own Tokyo greatest hits. Great stuff, you really packed it in that day, no wonder you told the earthquake to shove it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you are coming along Leighton. In fairness to Pat’s boss, we were thinking about starting a family in the near future, so the job would have been a casualty in any event. We went back to Tsukiji in 2009 and we are glad we did, as the wholesale fish market has now been relocated. Our prairie minds could not comprehend all that came from the sea and how the chaos we saw could be so efficient. I think we walked our socks off that day. Oh for the good old days. Thanks so much for reading and commenting. Allan
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hats off to you Allan for planning the trip and the route all by yourself. Trip planning can be a daunting task. Where do you begin? What’s step one? What’s step two? It’s easy to get overwhelmed, especially when you haven’t done something like this before and especially when you had to do it back in 1985 when there was no such thing as travel blogs and apps like there are today. I am glad to see you had a chance to go back and thanks for sharing 🙂 Aiva xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was what was done in the day and as I was a Project Manager, I found the task was fun. I am a member of the AMA (our AAA motor league) and went there for maps. I also bought a very good guide book and a tourist accommodation book from a book store and put together a travel route based on a 21 day Japan Rail pass. Once that was done, I picked the places where I wanted to stay and gave the list and dates to an AMA travel agent who also arranged our air travel and the Japan Rail pass. After that and the Japanese lessons, all we had left was to follow the plan and have fun. It was dauting at first, but also exciting. Thanks for reading and for your questions Aiva. Allan
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am glad to see you found planning your itinerary fun. It’s actually one of my favourite parts of travelling and I firmly believe that trip planning should be a major part of travel enjoyment and, if you’re an organiser like me, there’s almost nothing you’re likely to enjoy more! I can easily spend days carefully booking accommodation, planning the route and looking up various attractions. And it always amazes me how much it is possible to learn, both about the destination and the planning process itself while doing it. Plus the more you do it, the easier it gets and the better you get at it too.
That’s exactly how I used to plan any travel itinerary 20 years ago when there was no internet available. I would spend hours at my local library or bookshops and ‘borrow’ their suggested train or bus itineraries and tweak them to suit our interests and needs. I have to say that I very much loved planning trips without the internet or review; you were guaranteed to experience an uncharted adventure 🙂 Cheers 🙂 Aiva xx
LikeLiked by 1 person