2020 Olympic Stadium

While in Tokyo earlier this week I was able to visit the construction site of the New National Stadium. The stadium will be used for the opening and closing ceremony of the 2020 Olympics as well as Track & Field and other events.

Tokyo 2020, Olympic Stadium, Construction, TokyoIn my post Recover Day in Tokyo I shared this picture of the stadium. The stadium here looks pretty sterile, so I thought I would share some pictures that included things other than the stadium.

New National Stadium, Tokyo, Tokyo Olympics, 2020 OlympicsHere is a view that shows some of the cranes that are near the stadium. The construction is still ongoing and will not be complete until November.

Bicycle, Stadium, Tokyo 2020In Tokyo you see a lot of bicycles. I really liked this older bicycle and was taking just a closeup picture of it. However, my friend was taking a picture of the bike with the stadium in the background and I decided to take one too.

I am sure that during the Olympics you will not see such a quiet Sunday afternoon like this. If people ride their bicycles to the stadium they will be locked up in a designated area and places like this will be crowded with people.

Tokyo New National Stadium, Cherry blossoms, Spring in TokyoDuring the 2020 Olympics you will not see blossoms on the cherry trees around the stadium as they will take place much later in the year.

Cherry Blossoms, New National Stadium, Tokyo, 2020 Olympics in TokyoHere are some pink cherry blossoms with the stadium in the background. The trees in the area were really beautiful.

I really look forward to seeing the events that take place at the stadium next year. I always enjoy watching the Olympics, especially Track & Field.

What is your favorite event to watch?

Steven

 

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Home before I left Japan

This morning I woke up in Osaka, Japan and tonight I am back home and get to sleep in my own bed.

Breakfast, 23rd floor, Osaka, Japan, Japanese breakfastMy breakfast was in a restaurant on the 23rd floor of the hotel. I had a nice view out over the city while eating breakfast.

Train Station, shin-osaka, airport like, trainsAfter breakfast I finished packing and then headed to the Shin-Osaka train station. Some of the train stations in Japan are as big as airports, and really have the feel of an airport. The train station is full of restaurants and shops, ticket counters, travel agencies and of course waiting areas. You really feel like you are in a airport.

One big thing that is missing though are security lines. It is much quicker to get through train stations than airports.

airport train, Kansai airport, KIX, OsakaHere is the train as it approached the platform. Since it is an airport express train it had nice luggage racks that were easy to access as you boarded.

I then settled in for the almost hour long journey to the airport.

Osaka Japan, Kansai Airport, bridge, reclaimed landThe Kansai International Airport or KIX is built on an artificial island in the Osaka Bay. Here you can see the bridge that crosses to the island. The train I was on crossed this bridge to get to the airport.

I arrived at the airport at about 1:30 in the afternoon on Thursday. I actually arrived home at about the same time on Thursday afternoon.

United 787, KIX, Osaka Airport, Kansai Internation Airport, United AirlinesAfter spending about three hours at the airport it was finally time to board and head for home. My flight actually left Japan about three hours later by the clock/calendar than when I arrived home. I made it home before I left.

I have managed to pretty much stay awake until normal bedtime, but have caught myself napping a few times while catching up on some shows I missed while gone 🙂

I hope this post makes sense, it has been a very long day.

Steven

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