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The Tokyo Traveler

Archive for May 2008

May 31st, 2008

Woodblock Prints - A Great Souvenir!

One of the most recognizable forms of Japanese arts are woodblock prints or ukiyo-e. The word ukiyo refers to the world of common people and e means picture. This art form originated in the late sixteenth century in the ancient capital of Kyoto and the first ukiyo-e were not woodblock prints at all but […]

By Shane -- 2 comments

May 30th, 2008

Kagurazaka - Tour the Alleyways of Old Edo

The Kagurazaka district is located in the center of Tokyo, in the middle of JR Yamanote Line. The area is famous for its lively main street, Kagurazaka-Dori (Dori means “street.”) and it’s winding cobblestone alleyways. The name Kagurazaka is a combination of kagura (a shrine-dance to music) and saka (hill) and evokes the […]

By Shane -- 4 comments

May 29th, 2008

Azaleas and an Edo Era Puppet Show

The Rikugien Garden is celebrating it’s annual Azalea or satsuki festival from May 24th through June 8th but it’s not just about these beautiful flowers!
The garden was built in 1702 on the grounds of a private villa and was not open to the public until 1938. It was designated as a special beauty […]

By Shane -- 0 comments

May 28th, 2008

Imperial Palace East Garden

The Imperial Palace East Garden, or Higashi-gyoen, is rightly considered one of Tokyo’s finest gardens.
The Imperial Palace East Garden is located on the former site of Edo Castle. None of the original buildings remain but the moats, walls, entrance gates and several guardhouses that protected the former castle still stand within the […]

By Shane -- 3 comments

May 27th, 2008

Tokyo Station is Getting a Facelift!

 
Efforts began in 2004 to renovate and preserve the Tokyo Station for the first time since the end of WWII.  The renovations will be completed by 2013 and will include the reconstruction of the domes atop the station, restoration of the red brick facade and repairs to the third floor of the facility.
Architect Kingo […]

By Shane -- 3 comments

May 26th, 2008

One Stop Shopping at the Oriental Bazaar

The Oriental Bazaar claims to be the biggest art & antiques store in Tokyo. It’s definitely a one stop shop for all of your souvenir needs so, if you are strapped for time and need a memento from your trip then this is the place for you!

In the basement you will find Kinomo, Yukata, Geta, […]

By Shane -- 1 comment

May 25th, 2008

Nihon on the Net

Bring your own chopsticks three times and you could win a new pair!  Just the latest eco-conscious promotion in Japan.  But the best eco-conscious product has to be the solar powered bra that you can use to charge your I-pod.
The Japanese have brought native Noma horses back from the brink of extinction and you […]

By Shane -- 2 comments

May 24th, 2008

Edo Furin-Blow Your Own Glass Wind Chime

Yutaka Shinohara is one of the few people in Japan who continues on the ancient tradition of making hand-blown glass wind chimes or Edo Furin.   After the hand-blown glass balls are created they are then painted on the inside to create one of a kind pieces of art. Shinohara-san has been blowing glass furin […]

By Shane -- 0 comments

May 23rd, 2008

Royalty in Tokyo - The Imperial Palace

Across from the grand Imperial Hotel you will find the Imperial Palace, home to Their Majesties, the Emperor and Empress of Japan. The palace has housed the Imperial Household of Japan since 1868, when the imperial family relocated from Kyoto which had been the imperial capital for more than a thousand years.
Japan’s monarchy […]

By Shane -- 5 comments

May 22nd, 2008

Acrobat Firemen in Asakusa on Sunday

If you can’t make the fire boat demonstration at the Tokyo Port Festival this Saturday then why not head over to the Asakusa Yayoi Matsuri (festival) on Sunday, May 25th. Or you could do both!
The Edo Shobo Kinen-kai (Edo Civilian Fire Fighters’ Association) will be hosting a demonstration of acrobatics on fire-ladders at 12 […]

By Shane -- 0 comments

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