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!

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.

Japanese New Year

The New Year (called “shogatsu” in Japan) is actually the most important holiday in Japan. Shogatsu is a time that families generally spend together, as is customary during our holiday season. Stores generally shut down from January 1 through January 3, and a real celebration ensues.

Party the Old Year Away

In Japan, each year is considered to be completely separate from the year preceding and following it; therefore, both the end of the old year and the beginning of the New Year are celebrated with a number of traditional parties. Bonenkai (“year forgetting”) parties begin during the last few days of the year, and the first day of the year (the first sunrise of the New Year) is a sacred day, when everyone is joyous and stress-free and there is no work to be done. If you want to go crazy then make sure you get financial help in form of loan to help you have a great new year eve.

Visiting the Shrines

A traditional New Year custom is to visit a shrine at the turn of the New Year. This is called “hatsumode.” Beginning at midnight on New Year’s Eve, hundreds of thousands of people flock to popular shrines to ring the New Year in (literally) by listening to the loud gong of the temple bells. People continue to visit the shrines for the first three days of the year, making special prayers and buying lucky charms to bring in the New Year right. Popular shrines to visit are the Meiji Shrine, Sumiyoshi Taisha, and Fushimi Inari Taisha.

Emperor’s Greeting

Head to the Tokyo Imperial Palace on January 2 to take a tour of the palace’s inner grounds and witness the Emperor’s public appearance from a glass-enclosed balcony of the palace.

If you are planning on spending the New Year in Tokyo, then be prepared for days of celebration and paying homage to the old and new years. Plan ahead, keeping in mind that many businesses will be closed, the streets will be packed, and transportation will be hard to find during this most important time of year.

Are you a student preparing to study abroad? Consider Mobiloans and other forms of lending to help you get your affairs in order before you leave.

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!

Tsukiji Central Fish Market. You’ll have to get up bright and early for this one – the market opens around five in the morning – but it’s well worth it to watch Tokyo’s world-famous, bustling marketplace come alive. Practically everything that lives in the sea is sold in this market, so Tsukiji really does offer a fascinating feast for the eyes, from giant octopi to tanks of live exotic fish.

Akihabara Electric Town. This is the largest electronics store in Tokyo, but is it also so much more. Akihabara is a testing place for the newest technological gadgetry – much of which is even yet to hit the market – so touring this store is an unforgettable hands-on experience.

Ueno Park. This is the oldest public park in Tokyo, and is a great change of pace if you want to escape the frenetic pace of the city. Ueno Park is definitely a day-long excursion, as it is not just a park, but rather more of a city within a city, featuring museums, art galleries, shrines, pagodas and temples that take you through Japan’s fascinating history.

Tokyo Dome City and the Tokyo Dome Attractions. The Tokyo Dome is a massive, awe-inspiring work of architecture that serves as a gaming and event stadium, as well as the central hub to the variety of amusement parks and attractions that make up Tokyo Dome City. Purchase a pass to explore the multitude of experiences the Dome City has to offer, from Parachute Land to LaQua – a natural hot springs complex.

Your trip to Tokyo will be packed full of experiences that you will never forget. Use this lists as a guide to take in Tokyo’s best.

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.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. This super skyscraper has two observation galleries on the forty-fifth floor, where you can take in a breathtaking view of the Tokyo skyline, as well as Mount Fiji and Yokohama.

Yoyogi Park. Pack a picnic lunch and plan to spend an entire Sunday taking in the sights at this free park, home to numerous street performers and bands that provide a wide variety of free entertainment all day long. You might even be lucky enough to stumble into a rave or join in on a drum circle.

Harajuku District. This world famous voyeur’s delight is the perfect place to go if Japanese pop culture and people watching are your thing. Take in the sights of the Cos-play-zoku (“Costume Play Gang”) and eat some authentic Japanese fare at one of the charming street-side bistros.

Akihabara. Japan is known for being a technological leader, so you can’t exactly visit Tokyo without taking in the latest technology Japan has to offer. Akihabara is Tokyo’s largest electronics store, and is a real feast for the senses. Browse the aisles and tickle your imagination by trying out all of the unique gadgets and gizmos Japan has to offer. When you have tired out, visit the furniture department for a free massage – from a high-tech massage chair.

Tokyo, Japan is an exciting world of fast-moving images and eccentric characters. Make the most of your Tokyo vacation by taking in Tokyo’s many colors – and do it for free – by exploring these fascinating Tokyo tourist attractions. And don’t forget your camera!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.