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Nostalgic Town, Shibamata & Temple of Wood Carving

Located at eastern Tokyo, Shibamata is nostalgic area accessible from Tokyo Sky Tree. After Tokyo Sky Tree why don’t you stop at JR Shibamata station and visit historic Taishakuten temple well known its carving gallery? Shibamata is also loved by the locals as the town where famous movie actor, Tora-san lived. Tora-san & his sister Sakura In front of JR Shibamata station there is a pair of bronze statues of “Tora-san” and his younger pretty sister “Sakura”. Tora-san was a main character in series of the most popular 48 movies “Otoko wa Tsuraiyo” or “It’s tough to be a man” released from 1969 and 1995. He was a vagabond and […]

Jin, Shari
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Bonsai Village, Oasis for Bonsai Lovers

After visiting Omiya Bonsai Museum why don’t you stroll around Bonsai village? The area around the museum is very calm residential area. It would be nice to see pretty  garden of each house where pine trees and other flower trees are neatly well kept. In the village there are 5 Bonsai gardens where Bonsai are created by each owner, displayed and some are sold. If you find a favorite one among them, the staff will teach you how to take care. Bonsai classes are periodically held for the beginner at some gardens (reservation needed). note: closed on every Thursday.  Photography and Touching Bonsai are not allowed. Seiko-en Garden Founded in […]

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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Nakamise, Asakusa picture scroll of shutter

Why not take an evening stroll down the quiet Nakamise street of Sensoji temple? When the shops start to close, the beautiful Emaki (picture scrolls) appear on shutters instead. In 1992, some artists gathered under the direction of a famous Japanese artist named Ikuo Hirayama and painted on the shutters of Nakamise shops. Various artworks include the Sanja festival, senko hanabi sparklers, cherry blossoms, and other beautiful scenery that embody the Edo atmosphere. Nakamise is one of the oldest shopping streets around. It stretches roughly 250 meters from Thunder gate to the second gate, Hozomon. The street is lined with about 89 stores selling Japanese traditional souvenirs.  Here you can […]

Art & Museum

Netsuke

Netsuke Netsuke 根付 is a toggle invented in Edo period to serve a practical function. “Ne” means root and “tsuke” means attach. Traditional kimono着物had no pockets, so men needed a place to store their belongings, such as seals and medicines. Their solution was to place such belongings in a container and hang it by cords from the obi 帯sashes. Netsuke 根付 was drilled to take cord and made smooth not to break off or catch on the kimono着物 and later developed into the fashionable and lovely one carved from bamboo, ivory or wood, sometimes nuts. Inro, Container The containers were called Inro 印籠 and beautifully crafted boxes. To prevent the […]