Birthplace of Sumo tournaments : Tomioka Hachiman Shrine at Monzen Nakacho

For a cultural immersion most travelers to Japan head to Kyoto, the cultural capital of the country.  Understandably so, but Tokyo has many hidden gems and one in my neighborhood Tomioka Hachiman Shrine at Monzen nakacho is one of them. If you are interested in the history of the Sumo sport, this shrine should be on your to-do-list

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.

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