Kodai-ji and Entoku-in Spring Light-up (Picture Book)

Entrance to Kodai-ji at night

Giving in to the magical pull of Japan’s old capital also during our current stay, we spent once more a (too short!) weekend in Kyoto. If my counting is not off, this has been our tenth visit! (And no, you cannot go too many times.)
Something not to be missed are the various night visits, special openings and Light-ups of Kyoto gardens during spring and autumn time. In spring, most of them are Sakura Light-ups, however the illuminations of Kodai-ji (高台時) and Entoku-in (圓徳院) last until early May.

Dry landscape garden of Entoku-in at night

Read Full Post »

Asakusa Yabusame

On the third Saturday in April, traditional Japanese archery demonstrations are held in Asakusa. The road along the Sumida river in the Sumida River Park is roped off, benches for paid seats are put up and in the center of the road, a track is prepared with sand for the horses to run on. Three targets are placed along the road.

Read Full Post »

Tanabata – The Star Festival

The decorated Kappabashi-hondori, with the Sky Tree behind

Around the 7th of July, Kappabashi-hondori, a street lined with small shops leading up to Kappabashi-dori bursts into vivid colors with floating paper streamers and all sorts of decorations. The Tanabata (七夕), or Star Festival is approaching.
It is based on an old Chinese tale of two stars being able to meet only once per year, on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. In modern Japan, people write their wishes on small colored strips of paper (the tanzaku) which are attached to bamboo stalks which are erected along with the other decorations. Like other summer festivals such as obon and the summer fireworks, it is a good occasion to dress up in a summer kimono (the yukata) and take a stroll through the decorated streets.

Tanzaku paper strips

Read Full Post »

A Feast of Colors – The Nezu Shrine Azalea Festival

Until I picked up a flier for its Azalea Festival (Tsutsuji Matsuri, つつじ祭), I never even knew about the existence of Nezu Shrine (根津神社), which is not far from the main campus of the University of Tokyo in Tokyo’s Bunkyo-ku.

Read Full Post »

Kyoto Sakura Light-up (Picture Book)

Central Shidare-Sakura in Maruyama Park

Cherry blossom viewing is not restricted to the daylight hours. A number of places in Kyoto have special Light-ups for this purpose. Some of them, like Maruyama Park and the Shirakawa River are publicly accessible, while for the Light-ups on the grounds of Kiyomizudera, Kodaiji, or Nijo Castle, you have to buy a ticket. The Sakura Light-ups are often spectacular and afford a different view of the Sakura. In short, they are not to be missed!

Lit gate at Kiyomizudera

Read Full Post »

Greetings from the Emperor

Another Japanese New Year’s tradition is going to see the emperor. The Imperial Palace in Tokyo is closed to the public 363 days per year, but on the Emperor’s birthday (Dec. 23) and on January 2nd, the public is allowed into the grounds to see the Tenno and his family. On January 2nd, the emperor makes five appearances every 50 minutes to say a few words for the New Year. Of course we couldn’t miss it!

Read Full Post »

New Year in Japan

After having spent New Year in Europe for the last two years, we finally wanted to experience it in Japan. After all, it’s the most important holiday here!
So what do you do here for the New Year?

1. Get a New Year’s Decoration.

Japanese New Year's Decorations

It should contain bamboo and pine. Also rice straw and plum blossom ornaments are very common. Shops and restaurants commonly display them at their entrance, and from the size of the decoration you can judge how much it’s gonna cost you to eat there .

Read Full Post »

The Asakusa Tori-no-Ichi

Asakusa is home to a number of festivals and events. A very important one takes place on the day of the rooster in November (usually it occurs twice, 12 days apart): the tori-no-ichi (酉の市, rooster market). What is sold is not roosters, but lucky rakes made from bamboo, the kumade (熊手), heavily decorated with various symbols of good luck. The rakes are meant to rake in good fortune. Common decorations are cats (money, business), coins, the mask of the goddess of mirth (happiness), goldfishes (money), cranes (longevity), frogs etc. But beyond that, it seems that anything that could possibly strike your fancy is allowed.

Lucky rakes at the Tori-no-ichi

Read Full Post »

Sumidagawa Hanabi

Yesterday evening, the main summer event of Asakusa took place: The Sumida River Fireworks. Being the fireworks with the longest history in Japan, they had been started in 1733 by the shogunate in order to cheer people up after a period of famine and cholera.
At first, we had entertained the idea of looking for a good vantage point on the river banks, but when we realized at 8am (!) that the good places were already taken and would be guarded all day long (think hanami-party style), we defaulted to our roof.

Read Full Post »

Back to the Wind Bell Market

One year has passed and the Furin-ichi (wind bell market) at the Kawasaki Daishi has come round again. Since we liked it last year, and with the excuse to buy Japanese wind chimes for our families, we could not miss it this year, either. The heat was somewhat overwhelming. Luckily, chilled tea is given out for free, and with every purchase, you also receive a fan.

Read Full Post »