I have visited Japan on numerous occasions on business as well as for pleasure.

Click here to view photos of Eastern Japan as slide shows

Not one of my favorite cities, but I do spend a day or two here when I visit Japan - mostly just after arriving at the Narita International Airport in the late afternoon after a long flight.  I took these photos when I attended the 2005 Japan Grand Prix International Orchid Festival.

I used to travel to Mito (about one hour on a ltd. express train from the Ueno Station in Tokyo) several times a year when I was working because the main factory of the parent company was located in Mito/Katsuta area. 

One sees amusing signs written in Japanese English (Janglish). My all-time favorite is the sign on a map in a park that said "Place Now Standing On".  It was a direct translation of Japanese, and it really should have been translated as "You are here".  I've also seen a sign that read "Japanese First Food" on a sushi restaurant.