HAPPY NEW YEAR 2016 In Japan, the first visit to the shrine in the new year is called Hatsumode, and it attracts quite some crowds every year, and I think it is a great way to start a new year in Japanese-style. Fireworks are the standard celebrations in many cities in the world, but in Japan
New Year’s Eve is a time for parties and fireworks in many countries, and I have enjoyed the festivities in so many cities with fireworks and a usual “Happy New Year” wishes to anyone and everyone on the street. In Japan and specifically in Tokyo, it is a somber time when people return to their
We wish all our readers, contributors, fans a happy new year 2016. Experience Tokyo is blessed to have your support and we will keep bringing you the best of Tokyo to all of you. The new year is the year of the monkey as per the Chinese Zodiac calendar. The Manneken Pis statue at the
Let me recollect the FIRST word in Japanese language that I have learnt in my life…. Well, I clearly remember that I was around 10-12 years old and the Doordarshan channel was playing the 1966 hit, bollywood movie LOVE IN TOKYO. The song SAYONARA SAYONARA introduced the first word for me, “Sayonara” which is the Japanese word
Snowfall in Tokyo is rare, although in the past few years, when it does snow it creates a white blanket lasting weel for a couple of days to clear. The white blanket of snow in the metropolis makes for pretty pictures, but grinds the traffic to a halt even with 5 cm of pileup. Unique
Tokyo Skytree illumination has transformed the Oshiage area in these past four years. Every year they come up with beautiful illuminations, with a projection mapping show which has started last year. A wonderful new illumination spot addition to the shitamachi (downtown) area of Tokyo.Christmas lights are set all around the Skytree with the fourth floor decks of the Solamachi Mall
Its that time of the year. The city glows with lights all around and my favourite is the the Marunouchi area around the Tokyo Station. The Tokyo Station since its renovation in 2013 gets a Christmas illumination makeover for 4 days 24-27 December. The weekends get a lot crowded so I visited yesterday on a
Mathematics class meant depression for me in school and I think am not alone in saying this. A class full of students vying for the teachers attention and the brightest in the class always miles ahead, I sank into my own space, building a gradual dislike for the subject due to peer pressure. Mathematics even today nauseates me when
Have you tried to scoop a goldfish at a local festival in Japan? Well, its using a scoop to pick fish and transfer them to a bowl, a game very popular with both kids and adults at Japanese summer festivals.The law enforcement agencies in Tokyo have probably picked this idea for their efforts to control DRONES!!!With drones starting to consume
Fireworks in cold winter season? Firework events in Japan are usually held in the summer season but there are a few events held in the past couple of years which advertise winter fireworks. One is the big festival in Saitama Chichibu area and the other is the Rainbow Bridge Fireworks. The Tokyo Rinkai Holdings company
Hachiko, the famous pet dog of Japan is having some warm time in Shibuya. Yeah its that time of the year, Christmas time and Hachiko is enjoying the annual illumination!!!!The lights are all around the Hachiko Square. Statues of Santa Claus climbing the tress surrounding Hachiko are attracting the crowds to take snaps with the
Tokyo is full of big and small surprises and we were caught by one such surprise at the JR Hamamtsucho Station a few days back. If you sit in the first compartment of the Yamanote Line going towards Shibuya, you can spot the Peeing Boy Statue on the Hamamtsucho Station Platform (Platform number 3). Named 小便小僧 Shoumben Koushou a detailed
Mount Fuji is frequently is part of the wood block prints or Ukiyoe. It is common to see towering depictions of the Mount Fuji which was easily visible from most of the locations in Tokyo, then called the City of Edo. With Towering mansions, office buildings and overall development including clean air, being able to see
Visitors to Tokyo spend good money to visit observation decks like the Tokyo City Vie win Roppongi Hills, the Tokyo Skytree or Tokyo Tower. There are many free access observatories in Tokyo and quite popular too. A relatively less well known is the Carrot Tower in Sangenjaya. I discovered it in 2004 when I had visited a
When I first visited London, I developed a liking for the red brick constructions illuminated at the the twilight time. The reddish brown and yellow tinge contrasted with a blue sky at sunset looked superb in Piccadilly Circus there and thereafter I have been a huge fan of brick architecture. I tried such photography in
