April 30th, 2008
Tokyo’s Imperial Hotel has a long and distinguished history. The hotel opened in 1890 across from the Imperial Palace in a impressive Victorian style building that for many decades was the only fully European style hotel in Tokyo. In 1923, the hotel opened a fabulous new building designed by Frank Lloyd Wright which […]
By Shane -- 1 comment
April 29th, 2008
One of the coolest things that you can do when you come to Tokyo is eat at a Kaitenzushi restaurant. This month marks the 50th anniversary of this very cool dining experience where your sushi is brought to you on a conveyor belt. The Daily Yomiuri reports that the first conveyor belt sushi restaurant […]
By Shane -- 4 comments
April 28th, 2008
An exhibit titled “Renoir + Renoir” will be on display at the Bunkamura Museum of Art until May 6th. The exhibit focuses on two great masters — painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) and his son Jean Renoir (1894-1979).
Both men had a love of nature and depicted joyful scenes in their work. On display are 50 […]
By Shane -- 0 comments
April 28th, 2008
This past weekend, at Sensoji Temple in Asakusa, 84 babies participated in the ‘crying’ sumo contest or Nakizumo. The first baby to cry or the loudest crier is deemed the winner! Like the other traditions surrounding Children’s day, this event is held to pray for children’s healthy growth.
CNN has put a photo show […]
By Shane -- 0 comments
April 27th, 2008
A report on the disturbing increase of cyber-bullying on Japan’s school websites.
Japanese men are turning to spa treatments and anti-aging products offered by a local department store.
Some great shots of Geisha in Japan in this slide show from Yahoo! News.
Learn a little bit about how recycling is done in Japan - it’s not that […]
By Shane -- 1 comment
April 26th, 2008
If you want to check out what’s new and hip in Tokyo, take a walk down Takeshita Dori. This ‘back alley’ in the Harajuku neighborhood has a distinctive entrance and is lined with shops, cafes and fast food outlets catering to the young and hip in Tokyo.
The quarter mile long (400 meter) strip is […]
By Shane -- 0 comments
April 25th, 2008
The Japan Craft Beer Association is hosting the 11th annual Great Beer Festival. What will you find there? Why, beer, and lots of it!
For Y4,800 (Y4,300 in advance) you can sample 1.7 ounce portions of 120 different micro brewed beers in the Garden Hall at Yebisu Garden Place. Beers are separated […]
By Shane -- 0 comments
April 24th, 2008
On a overcast day in Tokyo it felt as if I had been transported back to the days of Edo. Under a peaceful canopy of greenery and cherry blossoms, magnificent horses and their riders (ite), dressed in traditional hunting attire (a-ge-shozoku), thundered down a narrow 240 meter track (baba), taking aim at three targets […]
By Shane -- 2 comments
April 23rd, 2008
Kodomo no hi (Children’s Day) is observed in Japan on May 5th. The event is celebrated by hanging carp streamers (koi-nobori) and displaying samurai dolls and helmets (kabuto) in and around the home.
Kodomo no hi was originally the day that Japanese families would pray for the health, strength and future success of their sons. […]
By Shane -- 3 comments
April 22nd, 2008
You may have heard of Golden Week if you live in a popular destination for Japanese tourists but do you really know what Golden Week is? Golden Week runs from Tuesday, April 29th through Tuesday, May 6th, 2008 and there are four national holidays during this 8 day period. Many Japanese take this opportunity […]
By Shane -- 2 comments
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