A 30-minute snow delay at the very end of the platform, in freezing wind — redeemed when an N700 Series Shinkansen pulled in and I got to study that nose up close.

This photo was taken on February 3, 2008. Snow actually accumulated in Tokyo — apparently an unusual amount even by recent standards.

Dozens of Tokaido Shinkansen rides and I’d rarely caught Mt. Fuji — then came a rare cabin announcement: ‘Mt. Fuji is now visible on the right side of the train.’

The photo date is January 22, 2008 — nearly a month ago — but when I cracked an egg, there were two yolks inside!