Rare Kamakura Summer Night Illuminations 2017

Kamakura, the famous tourism spot in Kanagawa Ken near Tokyo was my first day long trip in 1998. I was fascinated by the huge Buddha statue in deep meditation on an open ground and have been visiting this place at least once a year. BUT, IT WAS ALWAYS IN THE DAY TIME and I have

Beautiful Sankeien Gardens in Kanagawa (Yokohama)

Sankei-en Gardens has been on my autumn or the spring to-do-list for a long time. Known for its beautiful colourful autumn light up in the night, it is one of the most beautiful garden around the Yokohama area in Kanagawa Prefecture. It belonged to a silk trader, Tomitaro Hara, and is designated as one of

Enoshima Lanterns, experience “Yu-Suzumi” a cool summer evening

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

Beautiful Lotus flowers at Shinobazu Pond in Ueno Park

Tokyo has a couple of Lotus flowers spots with my favorite one being the Shinobazu Pond in Ueno Park. The summer festival in Ueno Park is accompanied by beautiful lotus in the Shinobazu Pond which bloom late July to mid August. The Shinobazu Pond is a pond within Ueno Park, and a historically prominent Shitamachi

Tokyo Bay Grand Fireworks suspended due to Olympics 2020 village construction

UPDATE : ITS OFFICIAL. THE TOKYO BAY FIREWORKS HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED FOR OLYMPIC VILLAGE CONSTRUCTION WORK. NO FIREWORKS NEXT AUGUST FOR THIS SPECTACLE WHICH STARTED IN 1988. SAD BUT THE DECISION HAS BEEN REACHED TODAY, JANUARY 25, 2016. OFFICIAL STATEMENT : THE WARD COULD NOT FIND A BIG ENOUGH ALTERNATIVE TO HOST SUCH A BIG

78000! Sunflower maze at the Narita Yume Bokujo

It’s a hot summer time again in Japan and many farms around Tokyo are announcing the arrival of the sunflower bloom in the fields. Narita Yume Bokujyo or Narita Dream Dairy Farm is a sightseeing ranch located in Narita City of Chiba. A wide field with an area that equates to around seven Tokyo Domes

Tokyo Midtown : Photos from the SUMMER LIGHT GARDEN

On the weekend went to the Tokyo Midtown Complex in ROppongi to experience the Summer Light Garden event. Midtown is hosting an event of lights “SUMMER LIGHT GARDEN” with a unique first time illumination of around 54000 LED lights. The event started on 17th of July and will continue until 30th of August every evening

Umi no Hi (Ocean Day) at Odaiba : Beautiful lanterns lit up

Ocean Day is a celebration of the sea and her relationship and importance to Japan. Celebrated mid July, it is a national holiday. Odaiba, Tokyo’s romantic beach front and popular dating spot, is set in a wonderful light using beautiful paper lanterns, which are lit up by citizen volunteers every year on the third Monday

Mitama Matsuri at Kudanshita : Honouring the spirits of the dead

It’s July and time for the summer festivals to kick-in. The weekend has the lantern light-up at Odaiba but before that I made my way in the evening on a weekday to Kudanshita. At the Yasukuni Shrine they have an interesting festival in mid-July, a Shinto festival honoring the dead in Japan!!! The poster said 69th

Peeing Boy Statue gets ready for summer

For the complete information and photos on the Peeing Boy Statue, see The article here…. The Peeing Boy Statue at JR Hamamatsucho Station has very interesting dress ups and now he is ready for summer too! Shorts, Half T-Shirts, sun cap, sunflower! in his hand…. The cute boy used to have Sakura flowers in his

Crazy beer names and branding lift sales for Japanese manufacturers

“Old wine in new bottle”, the Japanese beer manufacturers seem to have taken this phrase to heart.. Draft beers Asahi, Yebisu and Kirin have been sold for years with a similar can design which can be downright boring and a routine sight. A general perception is that all beers more or less taste the same….

Tokyo Midtown : SUMMER LIGHT GARDEN

The rains continue in Tokyo and temperature still remains cool. That is all set to change with the weekend predicting sunshine and temperatures are set to climb up for summer up to 29 degrees in Tokyo on Sunday. Midtown is set to host an event of lights “SUMMER LIGHT GARDEN” with a unique first time

Pet cats and dogs in Kimono wear

Pets in Japan get some real royal treatment in every sphere of life from baby carts, to posh hair salons, pet hotels and even the NEWS coverage. Just today morning there was a news item of a cat stranded on the pillar of a highway bridge unable to make it down covered a full 10

Koto-ku Hanabi Taikai, Fireworks Festival

If Spring in Japan is about Hanami or flower watching, summer is about Hanabi or fireworks. Firework festivals are held all over Japan during the summer season as the wind is gentler and the temperatures allow for external social activities in the evenings. Attending a hanabi event had been a fundamental part in Japanese culture.

Hakusan Shrine Summer flowers Ajisai/Hydrangea

Summer time in Tokyo, Hakusan Shrine is famous for the Ajisai/Hydrangea flowers. Over 3,000 hydrangea plants bloom in June with variety of colors. The first week of June to first week of July is the time every years when there is a Ajisai Matsuri (Hydrangea festival) at the Hakusan Shrine. Beautiful lanterns and the Hydrangea flowers at