This Japan Today article introduces a great way to experience a sumo tournament in Tokyo even when there are no official tournaments (basho) taking place or when no tickets to sumo basho are available. (Archived article originally published in Japan Today)
This review of the Edo-Tokyo Museum originally appeared in Deep Japan, a website designed to foster affection for and a deeper understanding of Japan. The museum gives visitors deeper insight into the history of a city that is today a modern behemoth but started as a collection of fishing villages at the mouth of a … Continue reading The Edo-Tokyo Museum, a comprehensive introduction to the 400-year-old city
This Japan Today article outlines a short pleasant stroll in an easy to access neighborhood of Tokyo, perfect for a spring day outing. The walk finishes at a hot springs bath in Musashi Koyama. Serious hikers/walkers in Japan always try to finish walks with a rejuvenating soak, but that's not so easy to do in … Continue reading A Springtime Stroll in a Southwestern Tokyo District
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
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