Tokyo

Shinjuku gyoen garden
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Shinjuku gyoen national garden

Used to be the residence of a guardian who served Shogun Tokugawa at the beginning of 7th century the area became the Imperial garden in 1906 and now opened to the public. Many giant trees were planted long ago, some of them in the Edo era (about 150 years ago).  The garden composes of French formal garden, Japanese garden and English landscape garden. To cerebrate the marriage of Emperor Showa, Taiwan kaku was gifted from Taiwan where was a part of Japan in 1928. In the greenhouse covering about 100m2  tropical and subtropical plants are grown, and a lot of orchid varieties are produced. The greenhouse also works as conservation […]

hamarikyu
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Hama-rikyu Garden

Hama Rikyu is a large, attractive landscape garden in central Tokyo. Located alongside Tokyo Bay, Hama Rikyu features seawater ponds which change level with the tides, and a teahouse on an island where visitors can enjoy Japanese tea and sweets while seeing the scenery. The traditional garden stands in a contrast to the high rises of the Shiodome district. The garden was originally built as a feudal lord’s Tokyo residence and duck hunting grounds during the Edo period (1603-1867), but later used as a strolling garden and as an imperial detached palace. Shoguns enjoyed the scenery from tea house with their guests and appreciated various ornaments inside.

Sumida Hokusai Museum
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Sumida Hokusai Museum & Hokusai Katsushika

Opened in November 2016 in Sumida area, Hokusai Museum is dedicated to the Ukiyoe artist Katsushika Hokusai. Sumida is the district where Hokusai was born and spent most of his life. The four-story museum was designed by Pritzker Architecture Prize winner Sejima Kazuya of the architecture firm SANAA.  Katsushika Hokusai Katsushika Hokusai is one of the most famous Ukiyoe Painters in Edo period. His 36 sceneries of Mt. Fuji is well known around the world. During his life it is said he moved 93 times, married twice and lived to be 90 years old. The secret for long life even compared with the present life expectancy may be that he […]

Edo Tokyo Museum
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Edo-Tokyo Museum

Opened in 1993 Edo-Tokyo museum displays 400 years of history and life culture from Edo era to the present day using replicas. The museum consists of Edo Zone and Tokyo Zone. Edo Zone First we cross the Nihon bashi bridge of real size and reach the zone where life of ordinary people in Edo are lively replicated.  “Edo”, now Tokyo flourished as the political and cultural center of Japan for over 400 years after Tokugawa Ieyasu located the shogunate at Edo in 1603. Life of Townspeople In 18th century Edo became one of the world’s leading cities with population of 1 million, and its own unique culture blossomed. Many young […]

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Ryogoku Sumo stadium

Sumo stadium was opened in 1985, 3 of 6 sumo tournament are held here in January, May and September. Sumo, the oldest sport in Japan was originally practiced as a part of Shinto ritual for good harvest in ancient times. Professional wrestlers appeared in Edo period and matches were held to raise money to construct shrines and temples or the new bridge. In 1909 sumo was designated as the national sport.  In a Sumo match two wrestlers wearing only loincloths wrestle in 4.5meter diameter ring until one of them is pushed out or touches the ground with any part of body except the soles of his feet.  There are six […]

Tokyo Skytree from Sumida park
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Tokyo Sky Tree

Tokyo Sky tree opened in 2012 is 634m high, the tallest structure in Japan, the second highest in the world. The highlight is two observation decks at 350m and 450m from where you can enjoy 360degree panoramic views of the city. But first it is Tokyo’s radio tower having the important function of providing the Kanto area with stable radio wave. Tokyo’s main radio tower used to be Tokyo tower built in 1958. However, much has changed in the last 50 years. As the high rises increased and Tokyo metropolis expanded Tokyo tower couldn’t provide enough radio wave. So a new radio tower needed to be built. Despite of its […]

Kappabashi, Asakusa
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Kappa bashi Wholesale street

You can find Kappa decorations in stores and Kappa statues along this street. What is “Kappa” ? Why is this district called “Kappa bashi” ? Kappa is a mythical and imaginary water spite which lives in Japanese river and lakes. This district’s drainage was poor and this area was often flooded, so they tried to construct ditches, but it didn’t go well. Seeing that things didn’t progress the Kappa of Sumida River helped with the construction work, and the work was completed successfully 200 years ago. There’s a variety of plastic fake food such as vegetables, fish, meats, Japanese foods, pan cake and others. They look more real than the […]

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Yanaka

  Yanaka is one of the few areas of Tokyo that survived the Great Earthquake and Big fire of 1923. Old houses, many temples and old Edo atmosphere remain here. “Ya” means valley and “naka” means middle, so Yanaka means “in the middle of valley” from where we stroll down to the Nezu area.  Tenno-ji temple Tenno-ji temple, the largest in the area was established in 1274 during the Kamakura era (1185-1333) and a Buddha statue was built in 1690 modeled after Buddha in Kamakura. The lotteries that were held on the temple compounds were stopped in 1842, since then the temple regains the calmness, and is well maintained. Lotus […]