Festival

Japan International Cycle Show

This event is held every year in November at the Tokyo Big Sight venue. Various cycles are put on display. A number of companies participate in this exhibition. The latest technologies utilized in producing comfortable, safer and more environmentally conscious bicycles are displayed as well. Lately there has been an emphasis on using cycles as an alternative to carbon emitting cars to take a stand against global warming which the Japanese are quickly capitalizing on.

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Overview & visitor information

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O-Shogatsu

Activity

This event refers to the Japanese New Year. This festival is held annually at the various temples in and around Tokyo. This is supposed to be a very significant day and celebration. The residents of Tokyo after having a traditional breakfast head to their religious and spiritual temples/ shrines to pray for good fortune.

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Sumida River Fireworks Display

Activity

This event takes place annually in the month of July. The venue is Sumida Gawa. The Hananbi (Japanese for fireworks) display at this time of the year all along the river is absolutely brilliant. The atmosphere is electric too with food stalls set up here and there for spectators to indulge in local delights while enjoying the breathtaking display. These aren’t just any old fireworks- companies compete with each other to see whose display is best using advanced technologies.

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Tokyo Summer Festival

Activity

This festival lasts one whole month and is held annually. It is characterized by a vast array of performing arts. There are a number of venues around the city commemorating the occasion, including concerts, dance shows and plays. The city comes to life during this one month and residents and tourist’s alike look forward to it.

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Asakusa Samba Carnival

Activity

This event takes place annually in the month of August. The venue is the Asakusa district but the parade visits other parts of the city too. The residents of Tokyo have taken to this dance form most commonly identified with Latin America. Groups from all over Japan converge on Tokyo to perform the Samba. The costumes worn by the girls are beautiful and the parade is grand.

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FIVB World Grand Prix Volleyball Women’s Finals

Activity

Tokyo hosts the finals of this important international event every year in the month of August. This is one of the most prestigious tournaments in women’s volleyball and many countries participate in it.

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The September Basho

Activity

This event is held annually in the month of September. The venue is the Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Hall. Sumo wrestling has, through the ages, always been identified with Japan. This ancient sport involves a battle of mind and matter. The sumo wrestlers are huge and seeing them is truly remarkable. But it is not to be forgotten, that this sport is a kind of art involving over 60 different kinds of techniques and maneuvers. This sport also embodies the culture and traditions of Japan itself. It has retained some of its ancient symbolic features- for instance salt is still scattered over the clay ground before the competition and the referee still holds the fan; a symbol of his power over authority.

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Tokyo Jazz Festival

Activity

This festival is held annually at the Tokyo International Forum. Jazz artists and bands from around the globe converge on Tokyo at this time of the year to treat the city’s residents to some wonderful jazz. The festival lasts about three days.

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Blickfang Tokyo

Activity

This event is held annually. The venue is the beautiful Meiji Jingu Gaien garden. It lasts three days and is a treat for the fashion conscious populace of Tokyo. Primarily European designers display their collections- clothes, accessories, jewelry as well as furniture are exhibited.

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Ikegami Honmonji O-Eshiki

Activity

This festival takes place every year and lasts about three days. The event marks the death anniversary of the High Priest Nichiren’s death. People from all over Tokyo converge at this temple for a somber parade marked by blaring sounds of gongs and carriages bearing lanterns.

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Japan Fashion Week

Activity

This event takes place twice every year. The city and its residents become gripped with excitement over the launching of new collections by designers from Japan itself and abroad. Tokyo is the fashion capital of Japan and its residents are known to be consciously following and keeping up with the latest trends.

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Asakura Choso Museum

Museum

This house turned museum belonged to famous Japanese sculptor Asakura Fumio known for his carvings of famous personalities. The house is wonderful in itself- antiques adorn various rooms. The house comprises a courtyard, a tea room, a rooftop garden and a library. A delight to visit. Timings: Tues- Thurs & Sat-Sun 9 30 A.M- 4 30 P.M

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East Garden

Garden

This is one of Tokyo’s most gorgeous gardens. It is located near the Imperial Palace and spread across over 50 acres of land. Traditionally known as Higashi Gyoen, the garden looks splendid when cherry blossoms, irises and other beautiful flowers and trees are in full bloom. Like other traditional Japanese gardens; ponds, cobblestone pathways, winding tracks dot the garden. Honmaru or the inner citadel is the site at which the Edo castle: once the highest building in Tokyo and from where the Shogun ruled the rest of Edo. Timings: Daily, except Monday and Friday 9 A.M- 5 P.M

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Edo-Tokyo Museum

Museum

This museum showcases the evolution of the city of Tokyo through the ages; in particular from 1590- 1964 spanning almost four centuries from the era in which Tokyo was made the capital by the Shogun to when the Olympics were held in this amazing city. The history, geography, culture and social life of the city are showcased here. Edo literally means Old Tokyo and the Museum shows how the city as it is today radiated from the nucleus that was Old Tokyo. The Nihombashi Bridge which connects the old and new parts of the city and a model of this very bridge is presented in the museum. Exhibits educated visitors as to how the different strata of Japanese society- the Shoguns, Merchant class, feudal lords and the common people lived. Others showcase the great earthquake of 1923 and its aftermath, yet others showcase the air raids during WWII. This museum makes for a very interesting afternoon indeed. Timings: Tues- Sun 9 30 A.M- 5 30 P.M

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John Lennon Museum

Museum

For the Beatles and John Lennon fans in particular this museum will be a rare treat. Opened in 2000 under the patronage of Lennon’s wife Yoko Ono- the Museum showcases the life of this musician; his personal life as a husband and father, as well as his life as a musician and as a protestor. Pieces include lyrics hand-written by Lennon himself, his jacket, passport, his glasses and guitars.

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Meiji Jingu Shrine

Mausoleum

This shrine was built in honor of the Emperor and Empress Meiji in 1920. These royals were credited with making Japan more extroverted and opening it up to foreigners. This Shinto shrine is magnificent- the gates leading to the shrine known as Torii in Japanese are 1700 years old and are made of extravagant cypress. The structure itself is also composed of Japanese cypress with green copper roofs sitting atop the temple. The gardens contained within the gates are beautiful- trees, shrubs, and beautiful flowers adorn the gardens. Timings: Daily, sunrise-sunset

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Miraikan National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation

Museum

This museum is very interesting and caters to all age groups. It is fascinating in terms of the technologies that are showcased here- ultra-modern, revolutionary, and environmentally friendly. Moreover, most exhibits are interactive. Visitors can engage with robots and embark on virtual reality rides. They can also use touch screens to learn more about nanotechnology and genetic engineering. This visit will be both educational and a great deal of fun.

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Open Air Folk House Museum

Museum

This museum, located only half an hour away from Tokyo, is delightful. It showcases the architecture of the past rural Japan. The setting is beautiful; historic/traditional houses are perched amidst or atop of wooded hilly areas. The houses are simple and often comprise of thatched roofs. Interesting features of this museum include a gate to the home of a Samurai, a Kabuki stage and a water wheel from centuries ago.

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Panasonic Center

Market

Japan is famed for the rapid technological advances it has made and the high-quality electronics that its numerous factories churn out. The Panasonic Center allows tourists to witness firsthand the sheer progress Japan has made in this department. Visitors are allowed to interact and use the various exhibits including Nintendo games on gigantic TV screens, checking out various cameras, camcorders, and other gadgets. The tour can also be quite educational and visitors can learn/ are shown environmentally friendly technologies being developed and how they work. RiSuPia is a kind of museum within the center allowing visitors to indulge in various fascinating activities including playing air hockey scoring only in prime numbers, a pillows puzzle, probability-based games, computerized artwork, and many more. The Eco and Ud House is the most interesting exhibit of all which showcases an ultramodern household with ultra-modern gadgets that use energy efficiently. Timings: Tues- Sun 10 A.M- 6 P.M

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Sensoji Temple

Temple

This is arguably Tokyo’s most popular temple. It has stood at this very location since 628 A.D. despite having been destroyed during WWII in 1945 during a bombing raid, it was rebuilt soon after. The myth surrounding this temple is that two fishermen catching fish in the Sumida river caught instead a golden statue of the goddess of Mercy and Happiness namely Kannon. The temple is said to house this priceless statue in whose honor the temple was erected. Thousands pay tribute to the goddess daily praying for good fortune.

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Tokyo National Museum

Museum

Tokyo National Museum is a grand museum and is well worth a visit. It showcases the marvelous history and culture of Japan. The pieces on display are stunning, some archaic all allowing visitors to appreciate the richness of Japanese heritage. The museum comprises the Japanese gallery which contains Japanese arts and crafts; Samurai swords and armory, ceramics, Buddhist sculptures, textiles and calligraphy. The Asian gallery contains archaeological finds from all over Asia especially China but also from Cambodia, Vietnam, India, Iran, Turkey even Egypt. These relics include some statues of Buddha, some jewelry, paintings, frescoes and ceramics. Some objects date as far back as 2000 B.C. The Heiseikan gallery showcases archaeological finds from within Japan itself with relics dating back to various periods in Japans history including the Jomon Period and Yayoi period, therefore displaying pieces dating as far back as 10000 B.C. The Horyuji Treasures gallery showcases Buddhist statues and ornaments from the Horyuji temple in Nara. A fifth building of the museum known as the Hyokeikan houses special exhibitions.

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Casita

Cuisine: Japanese/ International Address: 5-51-8 Jingumae, Harajuku and Aoyama Tel: 03-5485-7353 Website: www.casita.jp The ambience of this restaurant is best described as being intimate. The seating is comfortable, the lighting is dim; the staff is more than helpful. The food is excellent as well; a variety of dishes are served; seafood as well as chicken and beef.

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Nobu Tokyo

Cuisine: Japanese/ International Address: 4-1-28 Toronomon, Asakasa Tel: 03-5733-0070 Website: www.nobutokyo.com This is another one of Tokyo’s popular extravagant joints. The food served here makes use of the freshest of ingredients and has the most unforgettable taste. The menu comprises mostly of sea-food dishes but with a twist; for instance shrimp tempura with creamy spicy sauce; sushi and avocado; yellowtail served with jalapeno dressing, squid served with ginger dip etc. Tourists should definitely stop for a meal here. Also try Nobu’s Chocolate Bento Box.

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Donto

Cuisine: Japanese Address: 1-7-1 Yurakucho, Ginza and Hibiya Tel: 03-3201-3021 Website: none The food here is delicious. A diverse range of Japanese dishes are available here. These include sushi, sashimi, grilled fish/meat, noodles and obento.

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Legato

Cuisine: Italian Address: 3-6 Maruyama-cho, E-Space Tower, Shibuya Tel: 03-5784-2121 Website: www.legato-tokyo.jp This is a lovely eatery popular amongst the residents of Tokyo for the delectable Italian dishes served here. Dishes include pastas such as steamed chicken with chive spaghetti, spaghetti with Japanese Mentaiko, and Arrabiata with cherry tomatoes and basil. Fish and meat are also served; the sirloin steak is delicious. Try the home made marble ice cream as well.

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Ohmatsuya

Cuisine: Japanese Address: 6-5-8 Ginza, Behind the Sony Building Tel: 03-3585-6600 Website: none The food here is delightful; seafood, chicken and beef dishes are normally grilled. The décor too is wonderful mimicking the style of a traditional Japanese farmhouse.

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Fungo

Cuisine: Italian Address: 6-16-7 Nishi Shinuku Tel: 03-5339-7123 Website: none Down to earth best describes the ambience of this restaurant. Italian cuisine is showcased in the menu with traditional pastas, steaks and sea-food dishes being served here. Fresh ingredients are used in churning out these high quality dishes.

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Gonpachi

Cuisine: Japanese Address: 1-13-11 Nishi Azabu Tel: 03-5771-0170 Website: www.gonpachi.jp This restaurant serves excellent quality dishes at more than reasonable prices. Their menu comprises of a diverse range of dishes from salads (seafood salad as well as spinach and spicy jyako salad) to noodles, to sea-food (grilled tiger prawn and snow crab croquettes) to tempura to yakitori as well as meat dishes such as sirloin steaks. The sushi rolls are exceptional.

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Hakkaku

Cuisine: Japanese Address: 2-4-1 Nishi Shinjuku, N.S Building Tel: 03-3345-1848 Website: none This restaurant is extremely popular especially amongst the youth. The atmosphere is vivacious and the guests are treated to beautiful views of the surrounding city. The salads are excellent; as are the grilled fish/ meats, the noodles and the sashimi and yakitori.

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Namiki Yabusoba

Cuisine: Japanese (Noodles) Address: 2-11-9 Kaminarimon, Asakusa Tel: 03-3841-1340 Website: none This is one of Tokyo’s most well known noodle house. A variety of noodles are available as well as noodle soup.

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New York Grill

Cuisine: American/ International Address: Park Hyatt Hotel, Shinju-ku Tel: 03-5322-1234 Website: www.tokyo.park.hyatt.com This is an extremely popular choice amongst the wealthy of Tokyo. Housed in the Park Hyatt Hotel the décor is contemporary and the ambience chic and sophisticated. Apart from the glass walls, stunning chandeliers and modern art on display there is also a live band playing some jazz at night. The food is delectable and the menu comprises of a diverse range of dishes serving everything from seafood, to lamb, to red meat to duck. Do not miss out on dessert either.