Peter's Japan blog

The Tokaido road was the most important road in Japan since hundreds of years and it still is to this day, although in many different forms. It was the road between the ruling capital Edo (now Tokyo) and the imperial capital Kyoto.
The Belgian national TV's cultural channel CANVAS has made a documentary (called "Tokaido") focusing on the old Tokaido road and what is left of it. They are using old drawing made by famous artist Ando Hiroshige from 1832 and follow all the 53 stops on the Tokaido and compare his 53 drawings with the current situation. During the course of the documentary, they also show different aspects of Japanese society which may be unknown to western people.
It is a very interesting 10-part documentary which has just ended its broadcast but will likely be rerun again. But the makers would like to make a DVD release of this documetary and are looking to see if there is enough interest to make it. The DVD would probably have the original english voice in stead of the dutch voice which was shown on TV, making it easier for international distribution.

Official site: http://multiblog.vrt.be/canvasprogrammas/category/tokaido/tokaido-deze-week/
Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=140668917965

Okay, it's not a spur of the moment any more ^^ Flights are booked for Tokyo New Year 2009-2010! It's a direct flight from Amsterdam from December 27th till January 3rd, with KLM Airlines. Departure on December 27th is in the afternoon at 17h40, so I don't have to get up early! Still need to go get to Amsterdam from Antwerp though, but that only takes 2 hours. Now I need to get the planning going as I won't be going alone this time :) Still need to book the hotel, but there's still loads of rooms left in my usual hotel (Oak Hotel).

First post about the next big trip to Japan in 2010. No schedule or dates yet, but a general period of March till May. This will depend on many factors like the people coming with me (which should be 2 friends from my own country and one from England), concert dates of various artists, dates of certain fairs.

Will probably have more info when the first concert dates start to get through at the start of January. January is a crucial month as it usually also has good sales for plane tickets!

It was a little of a spur of the moment but I've decided to go to Tokyo during New Year this year (Most likely Dec 27th - Jan 3rd, and will be a non-stop flight from Amsterdam). Main goals are Comiket 77 and Ayumi Hamasaki Countdown Live concert. I will only be going for a small week and the purpose isn't really to do much sightseeing, more like shopping, taking more time to take pictures and the aforementioned 2 goals. The 2.5-week Japan 2010 trip will still go on as planned though.

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