Hachiko, the popular attraction at the Shibuya Station is wrapped with a red ribbon for the past one week. It’s the World AIDS Day on December 1 and he is promoting awareness of the same. Its a perfect sunny day of Autumn here today in Tokyo and life is bright with autumn colors all around. However, if
The Meiji Jingu Gaien Park outside the Aoyama Itchome Station on Ginza Line is one of the most beautiful place in Tokyo for autumn foliage. Ginkgo Biloba trees lined on both sides of the street turn into stunning yellow colors (I went a bit early this year) as below. The street with the Meiji Memorial
Autumn sky in Japan implies CLEAR and BLUE skies. They are called as Aki-bare, 秋晴れ. Mornings start with early sunrise and sunset by 05:00 p.m. It is one of the best seasons to capture HDR shots with thin cloud layers in early morning of blue hour photography in early evenings. The autumn colors add the
Christmas equates illumination and in Tokyo Marunouchi is one of the famous spot to enjoy the festive mood. Marunouchi Christmas implies the beautiful illumination on Marunouchi Naka-Dori, the backside of the Marunouchi Building opposite Tokyo Station. A million LED lights powered by green energy add beauty to a posh fashion street filled with customers in
Look at any wood block prints, Ukiyoe from the Edo period of the Edo (Tokyo) City and chances are that you will find Mount Fuji in the distance. The iconic mountain, in absence of the skyscrapers was visible almost from anywhere in the city which unfortunately is no more the case. The most famous wood
The city of Tokyo is awash in illuminations all around. I remember 2004, the first year of Christmas illumination at Roppongi Hills and was amazed to see the lights all around the newly built Roppongi Hills complex with the Tokyo Tower in the distance. The illumination in Roppongi Hills since then is usually held until
Tokyo, a vast metropolis has many free access observatories spread across the city and Bunkyo Civic Center Observation deck is one of those awesome spots. Not only does it boast of awesome views of the city, it is the FREE ACCESS to the observatory which was so helpful in my initial days in Japan when
Tourists and new comers to Japan head out to Kyoto when we mention the word “Autumn”. I did too, but then I started discovering beautiful spots around Tokyo like Nikko, Okutama area etc. In 2003, I remember, I was told by a friend that the Narita Temple near the international airport also was a beautiful
Benzaiten (弁才天, 弁財天) is a Japanese Buddhist goddess, who originated from the Hindu goddess Saraswati. The Shinobzu Pond at Ueno Park has a temple of Saraswati. Floating on the water of the pond, it is a Buddhist temple dedicated to Saraswati the goddess of the arts, knowledge and wisdom. Japanese of todays generation, pray to her
Travelling between Tokyo to Yokohama on the Tokaido Line, nearby Kamata, I had seen a park filled with tyres. I had not planned to visit this place though but it certainly intrigued me every time I passed on my way to Yokohama. Last month, accompanying my daughter to the Japan Open 2015 Rubik Cube Competition at
Stories, symbols and rituals are the primary way to transmit ideas across generations and the Hindu religion uses symbols in form of idols extensively. So to represent Wisdom, you can look at a few attributes like, WIDE EARS – Ability to assimilate a lot of input or listen SMALL MOUTH – Talk less FLEXIBLE TRUNK –
Why do people go to an airport? One reason, they maybe working at the airport. Oh, more importantly, yeah to board a flight and travel. For me, the things started a bit differently. International travel from India in my childhood days of the early 80s was “RARE”. Staying close to an international airport in Mumbai,
The Rainbow Bridge connecting Odaiba to the rest of Tokyo, has a toll expressway on the top,a toll free road one level below and a railway route for the Yurikamome Line to pass through. But, that’s not all Rainbow Bridge also has a walkway on either side of the bridge too !!! You can cross
What do Sumo Wrestlers eat? How long is the Mawashi (belt) the wrestlers wear and how heavy is it? If you are in Tokyo this month until August 29, hop over to the KITTE Marunouchi building (also knows as JP Tower) at Tokyo Station for the answers. The facility is holding an experience event in
The Enoshima Island in Kanagawa Prefecture is a picturesque island located just 45 minutes on a train from central Tokyo. Benzaiten (Indian Goddesses Saraswati) , the goddess of music and entertainment, is enshrined on the island. The island in its entirety is dedicated to the goddess, who is said to have caused it to rise from the