The Tokyo Traveler

Kendama is a game that came to Japan in the Edo period and was a popular form of entertainment.  Kendama is also know as Nichi Getsu Ball, or Sun Moon Ball, in Japan and is based upon the French game ‘Bilboquet’ meaning ‘cup and ball’ which has roots that can be traced back to the 11th century.  Yep, it’s an old game and it was one of the first real toy crazes in the early 1700’s according to the British Kendama Association. 
A kendama (pictured on the right) is a traditional wooden toy that consists of a ball connected …read more

3 Comments

Parades and parties are on the Halloween calendar in Tokyo!  Summer and O-bon is the season of ghosts in Japan, but Tokyoites have embraced the fall fun of a western-style Halloween with a few events around the city. Participate or just watch the Hello Halloween Pumpkin Parade down Omotesando-dori towards Harajuku.  The festivities in the area run from 11AM to 6PM on October 26th.
Tokyo Disney’s Halloween 2008 got an early start on September 12th and will run through October 31st.  Feel free to visit the park in costume but be sure to check the costume guidelines before heading out.
Adults …read more

2 Comments

According to legend, the ground shook and the cherry blossoms bloomed out of season on an October day in 1282 when Nichiren Daishonin, a famous Japanese Buddhist priest, passed from this world.  Nichiren Daishonin was the founder of Nichiren Shoshi, a 750 year old orthodox Buddhist denomination centered at Taisekiji, near the foot of Mount Fuji, and is considered by many to be the One True Buddha.
His immortal life is celebrated at O-eshiki festivals throughout Japan each October with parades of mando and of matoi (firemen’s standards of the Edo period) accompanied by drummers and flautists.  A mando, literally “10,000 …read more

3 Comments

When you think of Sega you think of video games!  Sega is a household name when it comes to video games and they are the makers of classic arcade games such as Sega Rally, Virtua Fighter and House of the Dead.  They are also well known for games such as Mario and Sonic at the Olympics, Super Monkey Ball and NiGHTS Journey of Dream on the Nintendo Wii, as well as Viking: Battle for Asgard, Sega Rally Revo, Virtua Fighter 5 and Virtua Tennis 3 for the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360.
In addition to creating some of the best video …read more

2 Comments

Are you fascinated with how people live? Do you want to get a better understanding of how the village of Edo started out and grew to become the sprawling, multi-faceted metropolis that is Tokyo today? Then you should visit the Fukugawa Edo Museum. The Fukagawa Edo Museum presents a fascinating reproduction of downtown Edo in the mid-19th century. The warehouses and stores have been painstakingly recreated along with a typical street of row houses where you can see the humble abode of a fisherman, a typical kitchen from the era and the living room that must have …read more

1 Comment

Why not rent a bike and get some exercise while taking in all the great sights that Tokyo has to offer? Next to the train, cycling is the most common way to get around the city and it can be a lot of fun. Folding bicycles with carrying cases can be rented through Coolbike for Y2,000 (around US $20) per day via an online reservation system in English, or in person at their shop.
Coolbike rentals can be taken on trains and busses around the city (when collapsed and in their carrying case) so you can take …read more

3 Comments

Visitors to Tokyo tend to do a lot of walking while touring the city.  The routine goes something like this, walk to the nearest Tokyo Metro Station, navigate your way to your destination, possibly transiting one or more stations on foot in the process, walk to and around your desired destination and finally,when you have had your fill of the sights or your feet are just too tired to walk anymore, do it all again in reverse to get back to your accommodations.  Now that’s a lot of walking! It’s good for you and you see a lot more by …read more

3 Comments

The Rihga Royal Hotel Tokyo is offering a great family event during the months of July and August.  Mom, Dad and kids can all learn to make and decorate cupcakes under the guidance of the hotel’s pastry chef, Ryoko Nonoda, the first-ever female chief pastry chef in the history of RIHGA Royal Hotels group.
You can eat your creations too!  After the class, enjoy you cupcakes fresh from the oven with some tea and take some home to eat later.  Classes are scheduled on July 29th, August 4th, 7th, 22nd and 26th at 1PM and are estimated to be 3 1/2 …read more

Comments Off

Mark you calendars for the 37th Annual Kagurazaka Festival. The highlight of the festival is the Awa odori, a local bon dance of Tokushima Prefecture. Fifteen dance troupes will parade down Kagurazaka Dori at 7 & 9PM on July 25th and at 9 PM on July 26th.
In the area around the Bishamonten Zenkokuji Temple you will find a group of yukata clad volunteers who will offer information about the area and festival events from 6:30 – 8:30 PM daily. Refresh yourself at the beer garden that is temporarily established within the temple precincts or pick up a …read more

4 Comments

Do you love money? At the Banknote and Postage Stamp Museum in Shinjuku you can see a lot of money, and it’s old money!
The National Printing Bureau was founded in 1871 as the Paper Money Office (Shiheishi) under the Ministry of Finance and they have engaged in the manufacture of banknotes and postage stamps since that time.  The Banknote and Postage Stamp Museum was created by the National Printing Bureau to preserve the history of the Japanese currency and offers exhibits of historical and current banknotes, postage stamps and securities along with the equipment and technologies utilized in making …read more

Comments Off