The Tokyo Traveler

In Tokyo you will find museums and galleries around every corner and it’s hard to keep up with everything that is going on in the Tokyo art scene.  Tokyo Art Beat is a great site that provides it’s readers with event listings and details for art & design related events around the city. This site covers 500 venues and is the most comprehensive online resource available in English.
Tokyo Art Beat has now taken it a step further and now offers the Tokyo Art Map at more than 200 locations around Tokyo.  In an effort to promote an even …read more

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A look at the tight schedule of air traffic controllers at Tokyo’s busy Haneda Airport in Grounded Rulers of the Sky.
Who’s watching you? is an interesting article on the rising use of personal surveillance and anti-surveillance measures in Japan.
If you love caviar but can’t afford the real thing you may have to settle for ‘Cavianne’, billed as caviar for the masses and created in Japan from squid ink and other ingredients.
In an effort to limit carbon dioxide emissions, Japan’s convenience stores are considering shortening their operating hours.  They might not be so convenient anymore…
Many foreigners who live in …read more

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Summer in Japan is well known for it’s heat and humidity but it is also time to dust of your yukata (summer kimono) and head out to a festival or to your local park for a bento picnic. You can also catch some great hanabi (fireworks) shows or head out to a baseball game.
Many festivals are held throughout the year and you can attend one on almost any weekend during the summer months. The Japan Times provides a Monthly Guide to Festivals in Japan which is a great resource for visitors and residents alike. Attending a …read more

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The British rock band, The Who, will tour Japan in November of this year and have three shows scheduled for the Tokyo area. On November 14 they will be at Yokohama Arena, November 15th will take them to Saitama Super Arena and on November 17th they will play at the legendary Budokan.
If you are a subscribe to TheWho.com you can take advantage of pre-sale tickets starting on June 28th and continuing until July 10th. Tickets cost Y12,000 or around USD$120 and there are also VIP packages available (you don’t need to be a member to get these). The …read more

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The bento, or boxed meal, is like a tasting menu of Japanese food and is a great way to sample a variety of different foods without making a huge commitment to one dish. Bento are commonly available at most grocery and convenience stores throughout Japan and are a staple on many restaurant menus. The contents of a bento box can vary greatly but they usually contain small portions of fish and/or meat, rice and vegetables. Tempura, sushi and noodles can also be found in many bento boxes.
Formal bento meals in restaurants are served in black, partitioned, lacquerware …read more

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The yukata is a type of kimono worn during the summer months by both men and women in Japan.  Usually made of 100% cotton, they are light weight and comfortable to wear in the hot summer months. 
The Japanese don yukata when they head out to festivals, use them as a robe after a bath, at onsens (public baths) and ryokan (traditional Japanese Inns). 
The name yukata comes from the word “yu” (bath) and “katabira” (under clothing). Thousands of years ago, Court Nobles wore linen “yukatabira” which were draped loosely after taking a bath. It gradually became worn by Japanese warriors …read more

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Take advantage of three free bus routes around in Tokyo – your feet and your wallet will thank you!
The Marunouchi Shuttle operates in the area around the Tokyo Station and the Imperial Palace every 15-20 minutes from 8AM – 8PM weekdays and 10AM – 8PM on weekend and holidays. (route map & schedule)
Metrolink Nihonbashi operates on the opposite side of Tokyo Station (Yaesu exit) and circles around the historic Nihonbashi and Kyobashi areas. Busses run daily, every 10 minutes, from 10AM – 8PM . Sights in the area include the Nihonbashi bridge, the Kite Museum and the …read more

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The National Museum of Western Art in Ueno will be displaying works by the 19th century French painter Camille Corot (1796-1875) in an exhibition titled “Corot: Souvenirs et Variations“. The highlight of the exhibition will be his painting “The Woman with the Pearl” which is said to be his ‘Mona Lisa’.
The exhibition was put together with cooperation from the Musée du Louvre in Paris and will feature more than 110 paintings and prints by Corot, Renoir, Sisley, Braque and others who were influenced by Corot.
Event Details:
Location: The National Museum of Western Art
Dates: June 14th through August 31st, 2008
Hours: …read more

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If you find yourself in need of some retail therapy while in Tokyo check out Omotesando Hills.

Located in trendy Omotesando and opened in 1996, this innovative mall boasts six floors of retail space, three of which are underground, and two floors for residential use. There are three wings, all of which front Ometesando Dori which is lined with beautiful Japanese zelkova trees the entire length of the mall (almost three blocks).
In the mall you will find a selection of restaurants, gallery spaces along with many fashion and lifestyle stores. Most of the stores are Japanese but some American …read more

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How hard is it really to learn Japanese? is a great article with a little bit of history of the language and it’s origins.
Reuters lists Top 10 “weird activities” around the world features the Hakone Kowakien Yunessun Wine Spa in Hakone, Japan at number eight. Yep, you read it right, the spa website says that bathing in wine is a rejuvenation treatment for the body, and that the Queen of Egypt, Cleopatra loved to bath in wine.
Traditional court music or gagaku, …read more

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