The Tokyo Traveler

Mitsuo Aida (1924-1991) was a traditional Japanese brush-and-ink calligrapher and poet who became well know for the simple and insightful way that he wrote about the challenges, pitfalls and joys that are part of daily life.   His artful presentation of his writings utilizing the calligraphy skills that he learned as a young man are on display to great effect at the Mitsuo Aida Museum in Tokyo.
The museum bills itself and “A place to spend two hours of your life” and encompasses five exhibition rooms, a store and a relaxation or meditative space where you are free to pause and …read more

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Toto Norenkai is an association of shops and businesses that have been in operation in Tokyo, formerly know as Edo, for over 100 years and three generations. In Japanese the single word “Toto” captures the essence of both old Edo and modern-day Tokyo, and “noren” refers to the traditional curtain-like sign that is hung over the doorway to announce the name of the shop and that it is open for business, while “kai” means “club” or “association”.
Established in 1951, as a way to preserve the traditions of old Edo while promoting their business to an evolving clientele that was …read more

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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

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“Tokyo Museums – Grutt Pass 2008” is a multi-museum admission ticket that allows visitors free or discounted admissions to 61 facilities, including museums, zoos and aquariums, in the Tokyo metropolitan area.
It can be purchased for Y2,000 (US $20) at various locations and is valid for two months from the first day of use. If you plan on visiting a few museums in Tokyo during your stay this pass will definitely save you some Yen.
Here are just a few of the participating institutions:

The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum
Ueno Zoo
Tokyo Metropolitan Edo-Tokyo Museum
National …read more

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