In keeping with Japan Today tradition, this December article introduces a seven lucky gods walk in Tokyo's Kameido neighborhood, one of the oldest districts of the city. Seven lucky gods walks, mini-pilgrimages that can be completed in a few hours, are a popular new year's activity. (Archived article, originally published in Japan Today.)
Christmas Markets continue to be a popular Tokyo attraction. This year there are a couple of markets close enough to each other that you can have an afternoon/evening out and hit both, with a little photo-op stop at Tokyo Tower in between. Azabudai Hills, one of Tokyo's newest shopping/office/residential complexes, hosts a Christmas market in … Continue reading Christmas Markets in the shadow of Tokyo Tower
This article in Japan Today takes a look at the man whose face is on Japan's newest JPY10,000 bill and introduces a number of places in Tokyo where his legacy can still be seen. (Archived article in Japan Today.)
This article features a Western-style Japanese palace with plenty of Japanese symbolism blended into the design and decor. (Archived article first published in Japan Today)
In keeping with Japan Today tradition, this December article introduces a seven lucky gods walk in Tokyo's Shinjuku neighborhood. Seven lucky gods walks are a kind of mini-pilgrimage traditionally completed at the beginning of the year to secure luck for the year. This one, however, can be done at any time. (Archived article, first published … Continue reading Shinjuku-Yamanote Seven Lucky Gods: A walk to collect luck for the new year
To take full advantage of the October 2024 supermoon, Tokyo's Hamarikyu Garden is remaining open until 9:00 pm, with special lighting and small events, from October 15 through 19, 2024. Centuries ago Hamarikyu Garden, on the banks of the Sumida River near Shiodome, was the residence of a feudal lord. It then became a favorite … Continue reading Moon-viewing from Hamarikyu Garden
My friend Etsuo recently suggested that we get together for dinner at Sunaba, one of his favorite soba restaurants. "We can have toshi-koshi soba," he exclaimed, excitedly. Ah, yes! Toshi-koshi soba, a serving of buckwheat noodles eaten at the end of the year. The noodles are symbolic in a couple of different ways. Soba noodles, … Continue reading Symbolic Soba for the New Year
Ghibli may have created an animation of Castles in the Sky, but Tokyo's Shibuya Ward has created a real-life park in the sky. Miyashita Park was once a rather forlorn little playground park wedged between Meiji-dori and the Yamanote train line, just north of Mitake-dori (ie, a few hundred meters north of Shibuya station). The … Continue reading Miyashita Park: green space in the sky
Seven Lucky Gods walks are a popular new year's activity and this Japan Today article is published just in time for readers in Tokyo to use it in the coming new year period. (Note, there's a list of other walks at the end, too.) Since the article does not include a dynamic map, one is … Continue reading The Nihonbashi Seven Lucky Gods Walk: An exploration steeped in history and tradition
An early morning visit to the largest seafood market in the world is still high on the must-do lists of many visitors to Tokyo, even after the market moved to its new location in Toyosu a few years ago. A visit to the Toyosu Seafood Market is more “sanitized” than one to its predecessor, Tsukiji--at … Continue reading Sushi: Breakfast of Champions!
One hundred years ago, on September 1, 1923, Tokyo was hit by a M7.9 earthquake that badly damaged the city. Because the quake struck just as mid-day meals were being prepared across the city, fires broke out across the city causing even further (some say even more serious) damage. Altogether, between 100,000 and 150,000 lives … Continue reading The Centenary of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Imperial Hotel
This article in Japan Today introduces a World Natural Heritage site that is one of the most remote spots in Japan, but technically a part of Tokyo. (Archived article published in Japan Today.)
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