The 2-Belo <the2belo@msdREMOVETHIS.biglobe.ne.jp> wrote:
> We have a report from the fj.life.in-japan Dynamics Officer that
> mtfester@netMAPSONscape.net has exploded. Flight director confirms that:
> 
>> The 2-Belo <the2belo@msdremovethis.biglobe.ne.jp> wrote:
>>> We have a report from the fj.life.in-japan Dynamics Officer that Declan Murphy
>>> has exploded. Flight director confirms that:
>> 
>>>> Even a highly urban area such as Aichi, has extensive areas of
>>>> mountainous terrain that is mostly devoid of people.
>> 
>>> 82% of Gifu's land area is in fact uninhabited mountain or forest terrain. It's
>>> quite easy to drive up into the midwestern and northwestern parts of the
>>> prefecture for two, three solid hours without seeing another human. 
>> 
>>> This is largely why I always laugh at the crowded-train stereotypes. (I'm sure
>>> parts of Tohoku are even emptier.)
>> 
>> Oh, the crowded train stereotype is quite real; why people choose to live
>> like that and essentially ignore their wilderness (except for urban parks)
>> is beyond me.
> 
> Oh, I know it's real. I've been twisted like a pepper mill on trains during
> business trips to Tokyo more times than I can count. But it's not only the
> native population that largely ignores the sticks... the offshore press does,
> too. I'll see country courses aimed at the backpacker guys time and again, but
> for the most part the image has always been "overcrowded, futuristic".
> 
> But as someone else farther up the thread mentioned, it's a blessing in disguise
> -- the very fact that everyone shuns the countryside is a major reason it's
> still so undamaged and appealing to those of us who appreciate it.
> 
> I can drive for three minutes north of my house and take a picture like this (my
> garden):
> 
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/the2belo/4003164325/
> 
> ...and invariably get a reaction from US friends like "Wait, this is Japan?!"
> 


Nice Flickr album!
-- 
Peace, Steve