A winter spent in Japan and Vietnam produced too many pictures for one post. So Vietnam will be in a separate post. Stick around to the end of this post for some streetwear fashion shots Japan-style.

Nightlife in Shinjuku, Tokyo

We headed north to the ski town of Hakuba in the Japanese Alps near Nagano where Noah is working for the winter as a back-country ski-guide. And yes there was lots of snow!

Patty & John joined us in Hakuba along with Max and Noah for some Shabu-Shabu Kobe beef…wow!

Visited nearby Jigokudani Yaen-Koen National Park known for it’s snow monkey population. These amazing creatures come down from the mountains every day in winter to bathe and warm up in the local hot springs. An amazing experience walking among them. (and yes, there are 400 more pictures of monkeys on my camera).

Shinkansen bullet train

Matt measuring the speed of the Shinkansen on his phone – top speed he clocked was 187 mph.

Back to Tokyo for some more photography…Max is getting some nice night street shots.

With Noah at Matsumoto Castle

Japan is very welcoming… Akihabara, Tokyo

Local liquor store, Matsumoto

The scramble – Shibuya, Tokyo – supposedly “the busiest pedestrian intersection in the world”

3D Shinjuku cat, Tokyo

Ubiquitous street vending machines, mostly selling coffee and soft drinks (and a few that sell beer). You can even get hot coffee in a can right on the street!

Kanazawa – along the central western coast was untouched by WWII bombing – charming Edo era neighborhoods dating to 1600s-1800s

Matt at one of the many shrines in Japan

Kanazawa

Pontocho Alley, Kyoto

The deer will bow hoping to get food in Nara, Todaiji Temple

Todaiji Temple, Nara

Nara

It’s common to visit temples and shrines in traditional costume, Kyoto

Kyoto

Kyoto

Matt at Kanazawa Castle

Kanazawa Castle. Yukitsuri  or ‘snow suspenders’ cover the trees. This technique dates back to the 1600s and is used in winter to protect trees from heavy snow. Bamboo poles are erected and ropes are tied to tree limbs giving this interesting effect.

Matt in his happy place – beautiful architecture and tool collection at Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum, Kobe, Japan

Old bus sign reading ‘protect the elderly and children from minor accidents’

OK – If you’ve made it this far-what you’ve been waiting for…street wear Japan-style…

Shinjuku, Tokyo

Shinjuku, Tokyo

Kyoto – Notice trendy Japanese fashions for young women usually include knee socks of all varieties, often baggy or highly decorated with bows etc

Shinjuku, Tokyo

Advertising local drinking establishments…sign reading “all you can drink for 500 yen” etc…what a deal

Uniforms are very important in Japan. All schools have them and many jobs as well.

More knee socks

Boy bands are everywhere