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EXPERIENCE

How to Take a Bath in Japanese Hot Spring

Bathing in hot spring is a must experience for visitors to Japan. But there are some manners you should observe. Learn about them and enjoy like Japanese do. Please make sure which entrance is for you. Color of Noren (hanging cloth) is usually blue for men, red is for women. First, take off your clothes at dressing room. Swimming suits and tattoo are not allowed. But you can bring in a face towel to cover your privacy. Once you get in the bath tab keep the towel out of water. Before entering the bath rinse your body with warm water from the tap or bath tab with bucket. 3. […]

Akihabara

Lined with many electronics, anime and manga shops Akihabara is like an amusement park crowded with the adults. In 1945 after WWⅡ some electronics shops were opened here. They sold radio parts used by the military. This was the origin of Akihabara as an electronics town. The number of the electronics shops rapidly increased in Akihabara. In the 1980’s when Nintendo started video game young people began to visit Akihabara. Since Windows 95 appeared on the market Akihabara has also gained popularity as a computer town. Closed to car traffic from the afternoon till 6 o’clock on Sundays the central street is lined with hundreds of electronics shops selling everything […]

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Koishikawa Korakuen Gardens

History of Koishikawa Garden One of the major daimyo feudal lord’s gardens and a stroll garden where you walk around the central pond while enjoying the changing scenery In Edo period Mitsukuni Tokugawa completed the garden taking advantage of the landscape to build miniature ocean, rivers, mountains and others, replicating beautiful scenery found in Japan and China. At Meiji restoration it was handed over to the new government and used by Emperor to welcome the foreign dignitaries. In 1952 the garden was designated as a site of special historical and scenic beauty in Japan. Chinese influence The garden is full of Chinese influence and the name is originated in a […]

EXPERIENCE

Shinjuku Kabuki cho

Kabuki cho developed after world war Ⅱ as an entertainment area. As its name indicates there was a plan to build Kabuki theater here, but plan stopped because of budget shortage. The movie theater was built here and “Godzilla” series was produced. Entertainment like Robot restaurant, Samurai museum and Ninja trick house attract the tourists. Shinjuku Golden Gai At Shinjuku Golden Gai there are about 280 restaurants and bars and foreign visitors have increased over the last few years and it is now a major Tokyo evening tourist attraction. Shinjuku is known for skyscrapers, neatly suited businessmen and clean and cozy streets. But this is not always true at Golden […]

Art & Museum

Ukiyoe, wood block print

During Edo period under the isolation policy Ukiyoe, wood block print uniquely developed. Ukiyo means the modern and the popular subjects of those days and they were depicted in Ukiyoe.Sumo wrestler, kabuki actor and beautiful woman and scenery were representative themes. Three persons such as painter, carver, printer, were involved in making Ukiyoe. Painter designed, carver carved 7 wood panels and printer beautifully printed all the layers on the paper. It is said about 200 pieces were printed a day and popular paintings were repeatedly printed. It cost as much as a sheet of buckwheat noodle and the commoners could afford to enjoy it. Ukiyoe was first introduced overseas as […]

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Chrysanthemum exhibition, Shinjuku Gyoen

It is believed that the first chrysanthemum was introduced from China to Japan in the late 8th century. Since then many varieties have been created during Edo period (1603-1868). A single flowered chrysanthemum with 16 petals is the crest only for the Emperor family. The first chrysanthemum exhibition was held for the Imperial family at Akasaka Palace in 1878, and later relocated to Shinjuku Gyoen in 1929. Since then Shinjuku gyoen became well known to the world as a garden to uphold the tradition and beauty of the chrysanthemum for the Imperial family. These chrysanthemum beds within the Japanese stroll garden show different varieties of flowers in the unique method […]

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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.