Today my wife and I went to Iidabashi Station in Tokyo.
From there we walked to Yasukuni Shrine to see the 銀杏 (Ginkgo trees) autumn foliage.
The Budokan can be seen from the entrance to Yasukuni Shrine entrance.
It says 「靖国神社」 (“Yasukuni Shrine”).
“TV Tokyo” was there filming.
And then we walked to the Budokan:
The world-famous 武道館 (Budokan) in Tokyo.
A beer vending machine at the Budokan.
Do you know what a kotatsu is? Usually cats like them in winter.
Shoes that say 「ナイキ」? No thanks. Doesn’t look cool to me!
Where to start this post?
Thirteen months ago, KISS (an American rock band that I’m a big fan of) played some shows in Japan.
My friend and I saw their 2013 October 20th show. (I wrote a post with photos here about it).
I have seen KISS in concert many times, actually…and it’s always been a great show!
Well, it’s been officially announced that KISS are returning to Japan in about three months!
KISS Japan Tour 2015 flyer
The Japan tour dates are:
2015 Feb 23 – Nagoya
2015 Feb 25 – Osaka
2015 Feb 26 – Hiroshima
2015 Feb 28 – Sendai
2015 Mar 3 – Tokyo (at the Tokyo Dome)
A surprising fact about the March 3rd date at the Tokyo Dome is that KISS will have the Japanese band “Momoiro Clover Z” as the opening act.
First of all, many concerts in Japan have no opening act at all. KISS almost never does for their shows in Japan.
But more surprising is that this band, Momoiro Clover Z, though popular in Japan…is a J-pop band!
They have, though, played at “OzzFest Japan” last spring (which I saw). I was surprised that they were at OzzFest…and now I’m surprised again that they’ll be sharing a stage with KISS!
Momoiro Clover Z have also collaborated with heavy metal guitarist Marty Friedman (who lives in Tokyo) on one song, and on another with heavy metal guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen.
And now, Momoiro Clover Z and KISS will not only sharing a bill at the Tokyo Dome…but the two bands will be releasing a collaboration song on 2015 January 28th.
This song featuring American hard rock band KISS and Japanese pop band Momoiro Clover will be released internationally on i-tunes…and on two CDs in Japan (an official KISS CD and a Momoiro-Clover one).
KISS with Japanese pop band “Momoiro-Clover Z”
Last weekend we went to the Tokyo Sky Tree.
(We didn’t go inside the tower. I have done that before).
The Sky Tree is illuminated at night in various colors every evening.
When we went it was lit up orange for the start of autumn.
We did go in the adjacent 「空町」 (“Sola-machi“) (lit. “Sky City“) shopping center.
Drinks in a traditional Japanese candy store.
Retro Japanese toys.
Japan’s “Hello Kitty” meets American rock band “KISS”.
From there, we walked to the nearby neighborhood of Asakusa.
「みくじ 百円」 (“Fortunes, ¥100”)
Tokyo Five 
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