Major Areas in Tokyo
Planning your trip can be quite difficult if you are not familiar with the place you are visiting. It is best to book a hotel nearby the places you would like to visit or somewhere easily accessible. So here is a list of various areas in Tokyo what to do there:
Akasaki/Roppongi Area
This area has a great night life. You can shop and dine here too. Tokyo Midtown and Roppongi Hills are major landmarks in this area.
Asakusa/Ueno Area
Get a feel of the old Japan in this area. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions. Enjoy shopping at the ameyoko streets, visit Ueno Park and surrounding museums and shopping malls here.
Ginza Area
Here you can find luxurious shops, hotels, theaters, restaurants, clubs and department stores. It is a high end area where adults can shop and dine.
Shinagawa Area
It is the shopping and entertainment central in Tokyo. Here you can find many hotels situated nearby the JR Shinagawa station. The railway hub can also be found here.
Shinjuku Area
Shinjuku is considered as one of the busiest areas in Tokyo. There are many convenient hotels in the area and it is a good spot to shop and enjoy.
Ikebukuro Area
This is another busy Tokyo district where you can find great entertainment. It has a railway hub, shopping malls, restaurants and theaters to name a few.
Shibuya Area
Just like Shinjuku and Ikebukuro, this busy district is great for shopping and entertainment especially for the younger crowd.
With these descriptions, it is easier to choose what to do and where to stay while you are in Tokyo. Enjoy!
Posted January 31st, 2012 by Anna | Comment (0)
Tokyo 101
When traveling it helps to be familiar with the place you will visit, so that it is easier to map out your itinerary and decide where to stay, eat or what to do.
The Tokyo Metropolis is Japan’s capital. It is the set of the Japanese government. Here you can find the Imperial Palace where the Royal Family resides. The now developed city was once a small fishing village named Edo. Its whole area is a little over 2 million square kilometers, with a population of over 13 million people as of August 2011.
There are various airports within Tokyo and its islands. Getting around is also not a problem because they have a reliable public transport system. You can take the Metro, bus or taxis easily. Ferries are also available in case you want to visit neighboring islands.
Tokyo houses many museums and theatres all over for you to appreciate art and music. You can visit the Imperial Palace or check the Asakusa Shrine for sightseeing too. You can also enjoy the many festivals they have throughout the year or enjoy the cherry blossoms at bloom in spring. During this time, many people go for walks or have picnics at the Ueno Park, Inokashira Park or the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden.
If you are fond of cosplays and modern fashion, Shibuya’s Harajuku is the place to be. Walking around this area is definitely an interesting experience. As for food, there are many fine dining and izakayas all over for you to choose from. Most of them serve traditional Japanese food which you will surely enjoy. You can never go wrong with ramen, tempura, grilled meats/seafood and sushi.
Posted January 30th, 2012 by Anna | Comment (0)
Celebrating the New Year in Tokyo
You know what they say: when in Rome, do as the Romans do . . . and we all know what the Romans do (they wear togas and watch gladiator battles, right?). But what if you are in Tokyo, and for the New Year, of all things? It seems safe to say that the bright lights and bustle of downtown Tokyo easily match the atmosphere in New York City, so there has to be some major excitement in Tokyo come the New Year. That’s exactly right. To spend New Years in Tokyo is to close one year and begin a new year with a really big – huge () – bang. If you plan on being in Tokyo around that time, then you are in for a real treat. Here is a guide to celebrating the New Year in Tokyo:
Japanese New Year
Continue reading »
Posted November 17th, 2011 by Wayne Ernest | Comment (0)
5 Stunning Sites to See in Tokyo
Tokyo is a place that meshes the most modern of experiences and amenities with ancient, sacred sites. If you are planning a trip to Tokyo, then you will be pleased to find that there is a wide array of interesting, entertaining and unforgettable sights and sounds to take in for each and every type and age of person. Here are five stunning sites to see in Tokyo:
Kyokyo (The Imperial Palace). This is the actual home of Japan’s Emperor and the Imperial family – a modern reconstruction of the Meiji Imperial Palace, which was destroyed by bombers in WWII. It was also once the site of Edo Castle – the largest castle in the world – and, although the castle is gone, the impressive moats, defense walls, armories and watch towers still remain. Take a guided tour of the palace, itself, and then explore the on-site art museum and the opulent East Garden. And, yes, Aurelio did mention The Imperial Palace in his post 5 Free Attractions to Visit in Tokyo the other day – but this is one site worth mentioning again! Continue reading »
Posted November 13th, 2011 by Wayne Ernest | Comment (0)
5 Free Attractions to Visit in Tokyo
Tokyo, Japan is a senses-stimulating experience of lights and colors – so much so that it can be a whirlwind for travelers who aren’t prepared with a targeted vision of exactly what they want to see while they are there. What’s more, it can be hard to separate all that glitters from the actual gold . . . and all that sight-seeing can add up. Fortunately, many of Tokyo’s most worthwhile attractions won’t bust your bank account. Here are five free attractions to visit in Tokyo:
Imperial Palace. This is the residence of Japan’s imperial family, and is in a picturesque park-like setting and surrounded by awe-inspiring moats, bridges, and massive walls. Take a guided tour through the palace, take in Emperor Showa’s art collection at the on-site museum, and walk through the majestic East Garden area for a taste of ancient Asia that you will never forget. Continue reading »
Posted November 9th, 2011 by Wayne Ernest | Comment (0)
Visiting Tokyo’s Beer Gardens
Tokyo summers are sweltering, and one of the most popular ways to escape the Tokyo summer heat is to visit the Tokyo beer gardens. What are the beer gardens? Well, they’re not exactly what they sound like (if you are picturing a Willy Wonka-esque scene with rivers of beer . . . or is that just me?). Tokyo’s beer “gardens” are actually the rooftops of busy city retailers that want to offer their customers a little something extra when it comes to getting out of the summer sun. If you visit Tokyo in the summer, then you really should make it a point to tour the beer gardens. Here are some helpful pointers for visiting Tokyo’s beer gardens:
Variety. Each of Tokyo’s beer gardens has a little something different to offer. Most of them don’t have an actual garden, but some of them do – koi pond and all. What’s more is that some beer gardens require a bit of a hike, if you want to take in a bird’s eye view of Tokyo while you sip your malt beverage. You should definitely do your research before you trek out for your bar hop, and make sure you plan your trek through beer garden land.
Where to go. As I’ve already hinted, not all beer gardens are created equal. Imagine visiting your friendly, neighborhood bar, where “everybody knows your name,” and now imagine how each and every neighborhood bar has its own atmosphere and flavor. Most people who frequent Tokyo’s beer gardens have their favorite stoops, so you will want to visit several in order to find the beer gardens that are right for you.
Popular beer gardens. Of course, some beer gardens are more popular than others. Some of the most highly celebrated beer gardens include Mr. Takao’s Beer Garden (also called Beer Mount, because of the hike you must take to get to the amazing view), Hanezawa Beer Garden (which actually has a real garden), and Ginza Matsuya Rooftop Beer Garden (where you can have lamb grilled right at your table).
How to find the beer gardens for you. Do a search online for Tokyo beer gardens and you will find a lot of information about the variety of beer gardens available to you. Read the testimonials to plot out the course of your beer garden tour. You can also use Google maps if you have a smartphone in very worst case do a research and make sure it is a smartphone and you can then use the Google Maps.
A visit to Tokyo just wouldn’t be complete without a visit (or more) to the Tokyo beer gardens. Do your research and choose which beer gardens you most want to visit, because once you are there you will want to stay a while.
Posted November 1st, 2011 by Wayne Ernest | Comment (0)
Give What You Can for Japan
It’s time for Japanophiles to show just how much they appreciate everything Japanese. In the last days, the whole world has been witness to the earthquakes and tsunamis that have hit Japan. The after effects of the natural disaster are still being felt in Japan, for sure, and we can only do our part in extending a helping hand to those who have been affected.
Millions and millions of people are without things that we consider basic – a roof above their heads, food, electricity, and so on. Even today, many people are evacuating certain parts of Japan due to the risk that some nuclear power plants pose.
The Japanese may be some of the most efficient and strongest people, but in times like these, even they can use some assistance. Whether you’re thinking of prayers, volunteering, donating, or raising awareness – nothing is too small. Here are Geisha Blog, we would like to help in whatever way we can, and we urge our readers to do the same. There are many different ways by which you can donate. We’ve created a Chipin widget which you can use to send your donations. We challenge you to support a worthy cause and give what you can.
Posted March 13th, 2011 by Maki | Comments (9)
The Tokusatsu genre
In a few previous blog post, I talked about my love for the various sentai series that came from Japan. Well, the nostalgia trip didn’t end with writing that post.
I recently went to a toy sale at my local mall and found a whole stash of Kamen Rider 555 action figures. I immediately grabbed a Kamen Rider Kaixa figure (which is one of the coolest figures in the bunch). It was a 12-inch figure that lights up just like in the series — signifying that the armor is powering up.
Getting my hands on a Kamen Rider figure made me think of the other genre that is as popular as Sentai — the Tokusatsu genre. Tokusatsu is a looser grouping, not like the more genre specific sentai. Tokusatsu literally means Special Effects and is actually a contraction of two words tokushu satsuei, which means special photography.
The tokusatsu series runs the whole gamut of subgenres from science fiction, fantasy and even horror and monsters. Some of the most popular tokusatsu series or shows aside from Kamen Rider are the Ultraman series, the Godzilla and Gamera series, and even Doraemon.
The Tokusatsu is another one of those distinctly Japanese pop culture references that make their culture so unique.
Posted October 29th, 2010 by Maki | Comment (0)
My Favourite Japanese Gardens
I have always wanted to have a Japanese garden. The Japanese are true masters in turning nearly everything in their culture to an artform, and the garden is no exception. Many of the famous gardens in Japan are located within Zen monasteries, an influence that is often conjectural at best. There must have been important religious influences on early garden design as well, given the significance of natural objects in Shinto beliefs. Although its original meaning is somewhat obscure, one of the Japanese words for garden—niwa—came to mean a place that had been cleansed and purified in anticipation of the arrival of kami, the deified spirits of Shinto, and the Shinto reverance for great rocks, lakes, ancient trees, and other “dignitaries of nature” would exert an enduring influence on Japanese garden design. The individual elements of Japanese gardens can fill a book, and often has. This includes waterfalls, rocks, bridges, islands, flowers, water and of course, trees. Here are my favourite ones:
Ginkaku-ji
The temple of Jisho-ji is more popularly known as Ginkaku-ji, the Silver Pavilion. Both the pavilion and the garden were part of the retirement villa of Ashikaga Yoshimasa, the eighth Shogun of the Muromachi Period, who began construction in 1482. The complex became the very center of Japanese aesthetic concerns during the eight years of Yoshimasa’s residency, particularly in the areas of art collecting, flower arranging, and the tea ceremony.
Shoseien
Popularly known as Kikokutei Hall Garden, this is currently part of the Higashihongan-ji Temple (although separated from it physically). Its landscaping—attributed to Ishikawa Jozan and Kobori Enshu—dates to the Edo Period, but the large pond may originally have been part of the Heian estate of Minamoto no Toru, younger son of the Emperor Saga. It is one of a number of such Kyoto ponds that are all that remain of the great gardens of the Heian aristocracy.
Daisen-in
Founded in 1509 by the Zen priest Kogaku Sotan (1464-1548) upon his retirement as abbot of Daitoku-ji. The hojo, his residence, was completed in 1513, and the most famous of the gardens that surround that structure probably dates from the same period. While the theory that other early Zen gardens were intended to imitate Chinese landscape paintings or their Japanese equivalents is open to question, there can be little doubt that this was the intention at the Daisen-in. The garden that flanks two sides of the hojo is a miniature landscape whose vertical rocks suggest the mountains from which a waterfall and its resulting river flow.
Posted September 30th, 2010 by geisha | Comment (1)
Noh Masks: Neutral Theatre Brought To Life
In 1647 the shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu (the Shogun was the Japanese military ruler) ordered that no variations were allowed in Noh performance. At that time stage directions were written down, costumes and masks were clearly defined and actors were allocated fixed positions on stage.
Elaborate costumes are a very important part of creating a striking performance. If a play begins rather slowly it is likely that the audience will get bored, therefore the Noh actors choose bright and colourful costumes. Costumes can also help to communicate a special context, so a broad-brimmed hat made of bamboo would suggest country life. These expensive costumes were often gifts to a famous actor by his admirers, something that still happens today.
Stage props on the other hand were hardly needed at all. More important than the costume was the Noh mask. Masks are only worn by the main character, his mask would stylise the person it represents and show them in a truer light than reality could do by depicting only the absolutely essential traits of character. There are five categories of Noh masks: gods, demons, men, women and the elderly.
The masks used in Noh theatre generally show a neutral expression so it is up to the skill of the actor to bring the mask to life through his acting. The parts are all acted by men, so the task of performing as a young woman is one of the most challenging for any actor. The masks are comparatively small and they only cover the front of the face having only small holes for eyes, nostrils and mouth.
Noh masks have to be very light because they are worn throughout a performance that lasts for several hours. They are carved from one piece of cypress wood. After the masks has been carved to the desired thickness, holes for eyes, nose and mouth have been cut, it is then coated with layers of gesso mixed with glue. This coating is then sanded down, giving the mask its final shape. Finally it is painted in the colours prescribed for the particular character and some parts of it might be gilded. Some of the masks’ eyes are inlaid with metal leaving a tiny hole. The hair and the outlines of the eyes are traced with black ink.
Posted September 24th, 2010 by geisha | Comment (0)
