New to Tokyo?　　　　　Enjoy Tokyo!

March 01, 2010

'The Weather News' has predicted the flowering dates of cherry
blossoms.
The best time to view cherry blossoms will be late March to early April.
However, it depends on the weather and temperatures.

As temperatures have been comparatively high this year, the trees
will begin blooming several days earlier than usual, around March 22
in Tokyo and Yokohama according to The Weather News.

Here is a list of popular locations for cherry blossoms:

TOKYO

AOYAMA REIEN (AOYAMA CEMETARY)
Address	2-32-2 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Open Hours	All day every day
Trees	Over 400, mainly Somei-yoshino
Entrance Fee	Free
Comments	Total area 26 hectares. There is an antique market in Nogi Jinja (Nogi Shrine) which is about 10-minute walk from Nogizaka station. It is held on second Sundays every month exept November.
Getting There	10-minute walk from Gaien-mae Station (Ginza Line), or Nogizaka Station. (Chiyoda Line)
URL	-
ARK HILLS
Address		Ark Hills
Open Hours		All day every day
Trees		150 Somei Yoshino trees
Entrance Fee		Free
Comments		Behind Suntory Hall at Ark Hills and all along the Spanish Embassy's wall, 150 Somei Yoshino trees from a 700 meter-long archway of blossoms. While the Cherries are full bloom they are lit up from sunset until 10pm. A cherry blossom festival is also held at Ark Hills Karajan.
Getting There		1-minute walk from Exit 13 of Tameike-Sanno Station (Namboku Line or Ginza Line) 1-minute walk from Roppongi 1-chome Station. (Namboku Line)
URL		-

For information about Real Estate in Tokyo, click here.
For information about Furniture Lease & Sales in Tokyo, click here.

Tag: Cherry blossoms hanami Tokyo YOKOHAMA

(16:38)

Major Events in Japan

CHERRY BLOSSOMS 2010 -LIST 2-

LIST 2

TOKYO

CHIDORI-GA-FUCHI MINAKAMI PARK
Address	2-3, Kudan-Minami, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Open Hours	All day every day
Trees	About 300, mainly Somei-yoshino
Entrance Fee	Free
Comments	Chidori-ga-fuchi is one of the moats of a former Edo Castle and one of the more famous cherry blossom viewing spots in Tokyo. Enjoy a boat ride along the moat, surrounded by cherry trees that are lit up in the evening. Yasukuni Shrine is nearby and you can enjoy cherry blossoms there are well. If you walk a little further, you will be able to get to Higashi-Gyoen (the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace). A Sakura Festival is held every April.
Getting There	5-minute walk from Kudanshita Station. (Hanzo-mon, To-zai, or Toei Shinjuku Lines)
URL
HAMA RIKYU ONSHI-TEIEN
Address	1-1, Hama Rikyu Teien, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Open Hours	9:00 - 17:00 (Last admission 16:30)
Trees	About 100
Entrance Fee	300 yen
Comments	This beautiful Japanese Garden is kept by charging entrance fee to keep the crowds down. No pets.
Getting There	A short walk from Tsukiji Shijo Station. (Toei Oedo Line)
URL	http://www.tokyo-park.or.jp/english/park/detail_04.html

For information about Real Estate in Tokyo, click here.
For information about Furniture Lease & Sales in Tokyo, click here.

Tag: Cherry blossoms hanami Tokyo YOKOHAMA

(16:37)

Major Events in Japan

CHERRY BLOSSOMS 2010 -LIST 3-

LIST 3

TOKYO

INOKASHIRA PARK
Address	1, Goten-yama, Musashino City, Tokyo
Open Hours	All day every day
Trees	630
Entrance Fee	Free
Comments	Many cherry trees are around the Inokashira pond and there is a boat ride available on the pond. Three different boats are available with different prices. Be prepared for a long wait in cherry blossoms season.
Getting There	5-minute walk from Kichijoji Station South Exit (JR Chuo Line, Sobu Line, or Keio Line)
URL	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inokashira_Park
JINGU GAIEN (Meiji Jingu outer gardens)
Address	1-1, Kasumigaoka-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Open Hours	9:00 - 16:30 every day
Trees	About 500
Entrance Fee	Free
Comments	There's no toilet. Drinking party is prohibited
Getting There	5-minute walk from Gaien-mae Station (Ginza Line), or Shinanomachi Station (JR)
URL	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meiji_Shrine

For information about Real Estate in Tokyo, click here.
For information about Furniture Lease & Sales in Tokyo, click here.

Tag: Cherry blossoms hanami Tokyo YOKOHAMA

(16:36)

Major Events in Japan

CHERRY BLOSSOMS 2010 -LIST 4-

LIST 4

TOKYO

SHIBA KOEN / ZOJO-JI TEMPLE
Address		4-7-35, Shiba Koen, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Open Hours		All day every day
Trees		About 100
Entrance Fee		Free
Comments		A nice place to visit with the temple as a backdrop to the beautiful cherry trees in bloom.
Getting There		3-minute walk from Onarimon Station (Toei Mita Line), 5-minute walk from Daimon Station (Toei Asakusa Line or Oedo Line)
URL		http://www.zojoji.or.jp/en/index.html
SHINJUKU GYOEN
Address	11, Naito-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Open Hours	9:00 - 16:30 (last admission 16:00)
Trees	75 types and more than 1,500 trees, including the yaezakura (double-blossoming cherry tree)
Entrance Fee	200 yen
Comments	This garden near the shopping district of Shinjuku has many types of cherry and plum trees.
Getting There	5-minute walk from Shinjuku Gyoen Station (Marunouchi Line), or Sendagaya Station (JR Line)
URL	http://www.env.go.jp/garden/shinjukugyoen/english/index.html

For information about Real Estate in Tokyo, click here.
For information about Furniture Lease & Sales in Tokyo, click here.

Tag: Cherry blossoms hanami Tokyo YOKOHAMA

(16:35)

Major Events in Japan

CHERRY BLOSSOMS 2010 -LIST 5-

LIST 5

TOKYO

SUMIDA PARK
Address	Sumida Park, on the banks of the Sumida River near Asakusa
Open Hours	All day every day
Trees	More than 1,000
Entrance Fee	Free
Comments	This is one of the most famous cherry blossom viewing spots in Tokyo. The park has about a 1-kilometer row of trees along the Sumida river on the side of Taito-ku. There is also a park across the river in Sumida-ku where there is a Sakura Matsuri in April and a monthly antique market.
Getting There	2-minute walk from Asakusa Station (Ginza Line or Asakusa Line)
URL	-
UENO PARK
Address		5-20, Ueno Koen, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Open Hours		All day every day
Trees		About 1,200
Entrance Fee		Free
Comments		This park not only has 1,200 cherry trees, but also features historical, art museum, shrine, pond, and zoo. In Sakura season, many people have parties in the evening, so it's recommended that you go in daytime if you prefer a quiet atmosphere. Sakura Matsuri (Cherry Blossom Festival) is held in April, and Natsu Matsuri (Summer Festival) is held in July-August every year.
Getting There		2-3 minutes walk from Ueno Station (JR, Hibiya, or Ginza Lines)
URL		http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ueno_Park

For information about Real Estate in Tokyo, click here.
For information about Furniture Lease & Sales in Tokyo, click here.

Tag: Cherry blossoms hanami Tokyo YOKOHAMA

(16:34)

Major Events in Japan

CHERRY BLOSSOMS 2010 -LIST 9-

LIST 9

YOKOHAMA

HONMOKU SANCHO PARK
Address	Honmoku Sancho Park
Open Hours	All day every day
Entrance Fee	Free
Location	Close to Yokohama Country & Athletic Club
MOTOMACHI KOEN (MOTOMACHI PARK)
Address	Motomachi Koen
Open Hours	All day every day
Entrance Fee	Free
Location	Ablove Motomachi Shopping Street, on the way to Bluff Main Raod.

KAMON YAMA PARK
Address	Kamonyama Koen
Open Hours	All day every day
Entrance Fee	Free
URL	http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3206.html

SHINRIN KOEN (Negishi Forest Park)
Address	Negishi Shinrin Koen
Open Hours	All day every day
Entrance Fee	Free
URL	http://www.welcome.city.yokohama.jp/eng/tourism/spot/spot1080.html

For information about Real Estate in Tokyo, click here.
For information about Furniture Lease & Sales in Tokyo, click here.

Tag: Cherry blossoms hanami Tokyo YOKOHAMA

(15:57)

Major Events in Japan

CHERRY BLOSSOMS 2010 -LIST 8-

LIST 8

YOKOHAMA

YOKOHAMA SANKEIEN GARDEN
58-1, Honmoku-Sannotani, Naka-ku, Yokohama
9:00 - 17:00 (last admission 16:30)
500 yen
http://www.sankeien.or.jp/pdf/guidemap_english.pdf
THE OOKAGAWA RIVER CHERRY BLOSSOM
Between Sakuragawa-bashi & Sakae-bashi
All day every day
Free
http://mymapofjapan.com/transit/stations/view/2700129
HONMOKU DORI (HONMOKU STREET)
Honmoku Sakura-michi road
All day every day
Free

For information about Real Estate in Tokyo, click here.
For information about Furniture Lease & Sales in Tokyo, click here.

Tag: Cherry blossoms hanami Tokyo YOKOHAMA

(15:48)

Major Events in Japan

CHERRY BLOSSOMS 2010 -LIST 7-

LIST 7

OTHER AREAS

Keio Mogusaen	http://www.keio.co.jp/english/local/index.html
Jindai Shokubutsu Koen	http://www.tvnet.co.jp/ai-guide/jindaiji.html
Yushima Tenjin	http://www.yushimatenjin.or.jp/pc/eng-page/english2.htm
Asukayama Park	http://www.city.kita.tokyo.jp/misc/profile/intro/intro.htm
Setagaya Hanegi Park	http://www.city.setagaya.tokyo.jp/english/LifeinSetagaya/en/pdf/95.pdf
Koishikawa Botanical Gardens	http://www.bg.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/koishikawa/eigo/e.html
Shinjuku area	http://www.city.shinjuku.lg.jp/foreign/english/

There are many more parks in Tokyo. Please visit here
for more information.

Tag: Cherry blossoms hanami Tokyo YOKOHAMA

(15:05)

Major Events in Japan

CHERRY BLOSSOMS 2010 -LIST 6-

LIST 6

TOKYO

YASUKUNI SHRINE
Address	3-1-1, Kudan-kita, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Open Hours	6:00 - 19:00 (-18:00 in Winter season)
Trees	About 1,000
Entrance Fee	Free
Comments	This shrine is famous for the three cherry trees which are the standard by which the Meteorological Agency announces the official timing of cherry blossoms blooming in Tokyo. There is a Sakura Matsuri at the beginning of April. About 300,000 people attend and there are a lot of street stalls. Also check out the many cherry blossoms that line the nearby Imperial Palace moat.
Getting There	3-minute walk from Kudanshita Station (Hanzo- mon Line, To-zai Line, and Shinjuku Lines)
URL	-
YOYOGI PARK
Address	2-1, Yoyogi-Kamisono-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Open Hours	5:00 - 17:00 every day
Trees	About 100
Entrance Fee	Free
Comments	Sakurano-sono (cherry blossom garden) is beautiful. It is located between the South gate and the Shibuya gate. There is a lot of space to wander around. A flea market is held every month.
Getting There	5-minute walk from Harajuku Station (JR Yamanote Line)
URL	-

For information about Real Estate in Tokyo, click here.
For information about Furniture Lease & Sales in Tokyo, click here.

Tag: Cherry blossoms hanami Tokyo YOKOHAMA

(15:02)

February 23, 2010

Commuting / Transportation in Japan

Daily Living Tokyo

Maternity Mark

Have you ever seen this mark?

mark 2

It says a “baby is inside tummy”.

It’s called ‘Maternity Mark’, and
was officially announced by the
Ministry of Health, Labor and
Welfare in March, 2006, in an
effort to help create a friendly
environment for pregnant
women.

It is difficult to recognize women
in the early stages of pregnancy, especially here in
Japan where maternity fashions that hide swollen
tummies are very popular. It was created in response
from comments by pregnant women who desired to get
‘assistance at staircases’ and be “offered a seat on
public transportion”. This mark also makes it easier to
give assistance or your seat to women displaying this
mark. One does not want to offend a young woman for
misjudgment from her appearance alone.

This item can be obtained from your local ward office
(kuyakusho) when reporting pregnancy to obtain a
‘Maternity and Child Health Handbook’.

Check the website below for more symbols for
priority seats:

http://www.ecomo.or.jp/barrierfree/pictogram/data/seats%20data.pdf

For information about Real Estate in Tokyo, click here.
For information about Furniture Lease & Sales in Tokyo, click here.

Tag: maternity MARK priority courtesy seat

(09:47)

Home Search	About Tokyo	Alien Registration	Commuting / Transportation
Daily Living	Driving	Emergency	English Speaking Service
Food, Drink, Recipe & Restaurants	Furniture Lease & Sales	Japanese Culture	Japanese Language
Living in Japan with pets	Major Events in Japan	Media & Communications	Place to go in Tokyo
Places of Interest for Children	Shopping in Tokyo	Sports	Travel
Useful Information