Autumn : Kiku Flower Festival at the Yushima Shrine

Japan does not have a national flower as such. I think some might want to call the cherry flowers of spring as one of the most well known ones but there is another flower very popular with the Japanese and that is the Kiku flower in the season of autumn. To know how popular the

Sagamiko : London themed illumination with 5.5 million lights 2015-2016

A few days back I posted about Sagamiko Illumillion an illumination spot under an hour (Just 50 min from Shinjuku Station via Chuo Expressway) from Tokyo. Every year the theme keeps changing and I visit this spot every year with 2015-2016 theme being LONDON. Due to work I have to travel to London every month

Autumn Colors at the Naritasan Shinshō-ji Temple

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

Illumillion : 5 million LED lights at Sagami Resort Pleasure forest

When : Nov 1 – March 31 Winter and Christmas equals illuminated evenings at famous tourist locations in Japan. There are many famous illumination spots in Tokyo city, like Roppongi Hills or Midtown although they  get restricted due to the available space that commercial establishments attempt to decorate. My personal recommendation is Sagami Resort Pleasure Forest, just an

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

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

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….

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.

Former Yasuda Garden : Beautiful Japanese garden with Tokyo Skytree backdrop

I love morning strolls in the autumn and spring. I try not to go on walks in my neighborhood and prefer different locations to take a morning walk so that it does not become a routine. It also gives me the chance to explore the city of Tokyo. On the last weekend me and my

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

Tokyo Skytree and Hydrangea (Ajisai)

Ajisai or Hydrangea flowers can be found almost anywhere in Tokyo and Japan, on street corners and even footpaths. Summer time flowers of Japan, Ajisai blossoms start in June and last until July. The flowers have a long history in these islands and  many scholars assert that it is indigenous to Japan. The beauty of the flowers

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