School girl uniforms match bullet train color scheme

夏は、たくさん修学旅行する学生を見かけます。東京駅で見たセーラー制服と新幹線の配色が似ています。

Summer is the season for school field trips. There seemed to be more than one hundred students on this field trip.

So many “ekiben” train meals to choose from

東京駅の店は、駅弁の選択が多いです。

At Tokyo Station, near the bullet train platforms.

Impeccable bullet train conductor

公共交通機関は場所から場所に移動するだけじゃなくて、スタイルも大事です。この新幹線の車掌の身ぶりは完璧で、制服と手袋が誇らしいです。

Everyone knows that Japanese trains are efficient and reliable. But there’s another element of stylishness that takes it from being a functional service to a sometimes sublime experience. I love the white gloves with the impeccable uniform, the sense of precision and pride.

A day trip to Karuizawa with moss forest and bikes

夏の軽井沢は涼しいです。自転車でまわって、苔の森や小川や池を見ました。東京から日帰りでも楽しいです。ジョンレノンとヨーコオノがよくたずねた喫茶店を見つけました。

In the heat of summer, Karuizawa remains cool and elegant. We found a moss forest, streams, and a small lake. It is just an hour from Tokyo by bullet train, and easy to rent a bike near the station. We passed many tennis courts, but did not meet any royalty. By accident, we met the charming proprietress of a coffee shop frequented by John Lennon and Yoko Ono in 1977.