Place to go
June 18, 2008
FIREWORKS (HANABI) FESTIVAL
IN 
Fireworks displays and events are held various places
in
Japanese pyrotechnics are very famous all over the world
and even have been used to light up Olympic ceremonies.
20th of July, Sunday
Yokohama Bay Memorial Minato Festival
The International Fireworks
Over water in front of Yamashita Koen Park
19:30~20:40
Place: Aka Renga (Red Brick)Park, Yamashita Park,
Rinkou (Harbor) Park
Access: Every stations on JR Negishi Line or Minato-Mirai Lines.
6,000 displays
24th of July, Thursday
The 30th Adachi Fireworks
19:15~20:45
Place: Arakawa River Area
Access: 15 min. from Kitasenju Station
12,000 displays
26th of July, Saturday
The 31st Sumida Fireworks
19:10~20:30 (Opening attraction starts from 18:15)
Area 1: 15 min. walk from Asakusa Station
North Exit on Tobu-Isezaki Line or
15 min. walk from Asakusa Station Exit 5
on Ginza Line/Toei Asakusa Line.
Area 2: 5 min. walk from Asakusa Station
Exit A2 on Toei Asakusa Line, or
5 min. walk from Kuramae Station Exit A7
on Toei Oedo Line.
22,000 displays
26th of July, Saturday
Hachioji Fireworks
19:00~21:00
Place: Hachioji Shimin Kyujo
Access: 15 min. walk from Yamada Station on Keio-Takao Line
15 min. walk from Nishi-Hachioji Station on JR Line.
3,500 displays
1st of August, Friday
The 23rd Kanagawa Newspaper Fireworks
19:15~20:30
Place: Over water opposite to the Yokohama
Minato-Mirai 21 Bldg. Rinko Park
Access: 15 min. walk from Yokohama Station East Exit
or Sakuragicho Station on JR Line, or
10 min. walk from Minato-Mirai Station on Minato-Mirai Line.
8,000 displays
2nd of August, Saturday
Exciting Fireworks 2008 /
The 33nd Edogawa & The 24th Ichikawa Fireworks Festival
This festival is held around Edogawa river area.
In first 5 seconds, about 1,000 displays of fireworks will be
displayed from 10 different locations in Edogawa side (
and Ichikawa-shi side (
19:15~20:30
Place:
Access: 15 min. walk from Shinozaki Station on Toei Shinjuku Line.
14,000 displays
2nd of August, Saturday
2008 Yokosuka Kaikoku Fireworks Festival
19:30~20:10
Place: Umikaze Park, Mikasa Park
Access: 15 min. from Yokosuka Chuo Station East Exit
on Keihin-Kyuko Honsen Line, or
15 min. from Yokosuka Station on JR Yokosuka Line.
10,000 displays
7th of August, Thursday
Jingu-Gaien Fireworks Festival
19:30~20:30
Place: 4 different Parks in Gaien
-Jingu Kyujo Ballpark
-National Kasumigaoka Athletic Field
-Chichibu-no-miya Rugby Field
-Soft-Ball Park
Access: Sendagaya Station or Shinanomachi Station on
JR Sobu Line; Gaienmae Station, Aoyama 1-chome Station,
or Omotesando Station on Subways; and
Kokuritsu Kyogijyo Station on Toei Oedo Line.
10,000 displays
*Must purchase tickets to enter each venue.
10th of August, Sunday
The 21st Tokyo Bay Fireworks Festival
19:00~20:20
Place: Harumi Event Area (Harumi Athletic Field
5-9, Harumi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo)
Access: 15 min. walk from Kachidoki Station on Toei Oedo Line, or
20 min. walk from Toyosu Station on Yurakucho Line.
12,000 displays
Please note:
*In case of bad weather, fireworks will be rescheduled to the next day.
*For Tokyo Bay Fireworks Festival 2008, if it's cancelled
by bad weather it won't be rescheduled to any
other day.
*Details may change without any notice.
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January 10, 2008
At the New Year in Japan, 'HATSUMODE' is the custom
to worship at temples and shrines. We pray for the family
well-being, prosperous business, and so on.
Most people go on New Year's Eve and the first of January.
If you were in Japan on those days you probably saw
thousands of people walking towards temples and shrines.
One of the most wide spread poplular religious
beliefs among the Japanese is devotion to Inari.
Shrines honoring this god are to be found all over the
country.
The main shrine is Fushimi Inari at Fushimi in Kyoto.
It is famous for the Torii (sacred gates) donated by
believers in such numbers that they form a veritable tunnel.
Inari shrines are dedicated to Inari Daimyojin (the Great
God Inari), and the god of grain, Uganomitama no Kami.
The derivation of the name Inari goes back to legends of
the god appearing carring a bundle of rice plants on his back.
(Rice plant in Japanese is 'INE'; 'RI' means burden.)
This shows that rice cultivation was a very important
undertaking to the Japanese in ancient times.
In the Middle Ages, with advances in commerce and
industry, merchants and artisans joined the farmers in
their devotion to Inari; the god came to be widely
worshipped as a god that brings good fortune.
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July 25, 2007
Tokyo Dome is Japan's first domed stadium opened in 1988.
Baseball games and various other events such as international
sports events, rock concerts and exhibitions.
Tokyo Dome is the franchise stadium for the Yomiuri Giants,
hosting more than 60 games yearly.
There are other facilities in the area called 'LaQua',
the building with spa, shops and restaurants. Also you can enjoy
the attractions include the ride of 'Thunder Dolphin' roller-coaster,
just outside of LaQua building.
Spa is natural hot springs bubbling up from a level of 1,700 meters
underground.
There is a restaurant called 'UNBALANCE' which is produced by
the former Sumo Wrestler Konishiki.
The entrance is only one, but when you go in to the right,
it's 'Chanko' Restaurant, and to the left it's Hawaiian.
Tokyo Dome Hotel is located right next to the dome and LaQua.
This total area is called 'Tokyo Dome City'.
It' s fun to stay there all day. You can ride on the roller-coaster
in the morning, have lunch, shopping in the afternoon, then
enjoy the baseball game at night!!
Tokyo Dome City
Address: 1-3-61, Koraku, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
Access: 1 min. walk from Korakuen Station on
Marunouchi Subway Line or Namboku Subway Line.
5 min. walk from Suidobashi Station on JR Sobu Line.
Tel: 03-5800-9999
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July 23, 2007
Naomi Lawrence is a well known artist in Europe,
based in Munich, Germany.
Now she is coming for her first Exhibition in Tokyo!
She draws many kind of animals.
Most have a hint of bitterness hidden behind cute characters.
You might find what is hidden behind in Tokyo!
Workshop with Naomi herself will be there and you can
also purchase original goods of her cute characters!!
Naomi Lawrence in Tokyo Exhibition
Date: August 5, 2007 (Sun.) - September 2, 2007 (Sun.)
Hours: 13:00 - 20:00 (Mon. - Fri.)
11:00 - 18:00 (Sat. & Sun.)
Address: +Case Gallery
Court Annex 1F., 18-23 Oyama-cho
Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Tel: 03-5452-3171
Access: 5 min. walk from Yoyogi-Uehara Station on
Odakyu Line or Chiyoda Line.
*No admission charge
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July 03, 2007
The winter cherry or Chinese lantern plant grows about
70cm (27.5 in.) tall and is related to the eggplant.
It bears white flowers from June to July; thereafter the
sepals grow together into a sack 4-5 cm (1.5-1.9 in.) long
enfolding the fruit.
These turn a bright orange-red when ripe.
The fruit inside is about 2 cm (0.8 in.) in diameter.
They just look like a lot of little red lamps hanging among
the green leaves.
There's Hozuki Fair every year on July 9th and 10th at
Sensoji Temple in Asakusa. The 10th is called '46,000 Day',
and visiting the temple then is supposed to bring as much
spiritual merit as 46,000 ordinary visits.
On that day the temple grounds are packed with worshippers
and people who come to buy Hozuki.
In the old days people believed that Hozuki would dispel
children's crankiness and women's cramps. So the throngs
that came to pray at the temple on '46,000 Day' all bought
Hozuki.
Children play with them, too. Inside the lantern is a soft
fruit. You loosen the seeds by squeezing it gently, and
carefully press them out. Then inside your mouth, blow air
into the empty skin and flatten it with your tongue to make
a noise.
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June 22, 2007
FIREWORKS (HANABI) FESTIVAL
IN 
Fireworks were brought to Japan by the Portuguese in the
latter half of the 16th Century. In the Edo period,
fireworks specialty firms such as Kagiya and Tamaya were
founded, and many skyrockets were made.
The famous Sumida River Fireworks Display in Tokyo
has been held since the Edo period.
Fireworks displays and events are held various places
in
Japanese pyrotechnics are very famous all over the world
and even were used to light up Olympic ceremonies.
15th of July, Sunday
Yokohama Bay Memorial Minato Festival
The 52nd International Fireworks Festival
Over water in front of Yamashita Koen Park
19:30~20:40
Place: Aka Renga (Red Brick)Park, Yamashita Park,
Rinkou (Harbor) Park
Access: Every stations on JR Negishi Line or
Minato-Mirai Lines.
6,000 displays
26th of July, Thursday
The 29th Adachi Fireworks Festival
19:15~20:45
Place: Arakawa River Area
Access: 15 min. from Kitasenju Station
12,000 displays
28th of July, Saturday
The 30th Sumida Fireworks Festival
19:10~20:30 (Opening attraction starts from 18:15)
Area 1: 15 min. walk from Asakusa Station
North Exit on Tobu-Isezaki Line or
15 min. walk from Asakusa Station Exit 5
on Ginza Line/Toei Asakusa Line.
Area 2: 5 min. walk from Asakusa Station
Exit A2 on Toei Asakusa Line, or
5 min. walk from Kuramae Station Exit A7
22,000 displays
*Please note:
For Sumida Fireworks Festival 2007, if it's cancelled
by bad weather it won't be rescheduled to the
next day due to the Upper House Election Day
on the 29th of July. It won't be rescheduled to any
other day for this year.
Hachioji Fireworks Festival
19:00~20:30
Place: Hachioji Shimin Kyujo
Access: 15 min. walk from Yamada Station on
Keio-Takao Line
15 min. walk from Nishi-Hachioji Station on
JR Line.
3,500 displays
1st of August, Wednesday
The 22nd Kanagawa Newspaper Fireworks Festival
19:15~20:30
Place: Over water opposite to the
Minato-Mirai 21 Bldg. Rinko Park
Access: 15 min. walk from Yokohama Station East Exit
or Sakuragicho Station on JR Line, or
10 min. walk from Minato-Mirai Station
on Minato-Mirai Line.
8,000 displays
4th of August, Saturday
'Exciting Fireworks 2007'
The 32nd Edogawa & The 23rd
This festival is held around Edogawa river area.
In first 5 seconds, about 1,000 rounds of fireworks will be
displayed from 10 different locations in
Edogawa side (
at the same time.
19:15~20:30
Place: Edogawa River Area
Access: 15 min. walk from Shinozaki Station on
Toei Shinjuku Line.
14,000 displays
2007 Yokosuka Kaikoku Fireworks Festival
19:30~20:10
Place: Umikaze Park, Mikasa Park
Access: 15 min. from Yokosuka Chuo Station East Exit
on Keihin-Kyuko Honsen Line, or 15 min. from
Yokosuka Station on JR Yokosuka Line.
10,000 displays
11th of August, Saturday
The 20th Tokyo Bay Fireworks Festival
19:00~20:20
Place: Harumi Event Area (Harumi Athletic Field
5-9, Harumi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo)
Access: 15 min. walk from Kachidoki Station
on Toei Oedo Line, or 20 min. walk from
Toyosu Station on Yurakucho Line.
12,000 displays
16th of August, Thursday
Jingu-Gaien Fireworks Festival
19:30~20:30 *Must purchase tickets to enter each venue.
Place: 4 different Parks in Gaien
-Jingu Kyujo Ballpark
-National Kasumigaoka Athletic Field
-Chichibu-no-miya Rugby Field
-Soft-Ball Park
Access: Sendagaya Station or Shinanomachi Station on
JR Sobu Line; Gaienmae Station,
Aoyama 1-chome Station, or Omotesando Station
on Subways; and Kokuritsu Kyogijyo Station
on Toei Oedo Line.
10,000 displays
*In case of bad weather, fireworks will be rescheduled to the next day.
*Details may change without any notice.
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June 11, 2007
Sacred
tallest mountain, but has been cherished by the
Japanese since antiquity for its beauty as well.
On the border between
prefectures, its handsome form can be seen from
by eruptions repeated over tens of thousands of years.
Although it has been dormant for the past 300 years,
a future eruption is said to be inevitable.
Since ancient times, fear of
hand in hand with veneration.
From the middle ages on, belief in
Asama shrines dedicated to the mountain deity were
erected in various regions. Lodgings were built on the
mountain in the
fellow-members of religious associations.
Thus the tourist practice of climbing
originates in a religious belief.
There’re cabins open in summer, and the average person
can climb
road to the halfway point, and a number of paths from
there to the top, so even a family can make it if they take
their time climbing. Still the air is thin, so you have to watch
out for altitude sickness. And summer nights are as cold as
cold as
please make sure to be properly equipped.
Many people climb at night to reverently watch the
sunrise from the summit. At night the path is a glowing
stream of climbers' flashlights. If you begin the climb
in the afternoon, nap in a mountain cabin, and then start
walking again before dawn, you reach the top just before
sunrise.
May 28, 2007
5th of June is the 'World Environment Day (Sekai-Kankyo-Dei)'.
OZE MARSHLAND is located in Nikko National Park,
boder among three prefectures; Fukushima, Niigata, and Gunma.
In 1953, Oze was designated as 'National Park Preservation District'
and in 1960, it was designated as 'Special National Treasure'.
This marshland is well known for various species of
plants such as Mizu Basho (skunk cabbages) ,
Nikko Kisuge (yellow alpine lilies), and Watasuge (cotton grass).
Now, this OZE MARSHLAND is coming to Ginza!!
This 'LITTLE OZE' will be set up in Sony Square in Ginza
just for 10 days from the 1st of June, 2007.
You can walk through and enjoy this beautiful clean,
fresh atmosphere in busy shopping district.
Place: Sony Building 1F., Sony Square (outside event space)
Address: 5-3-1, Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Tel: 03-3573-2371
Access: 1-min. walk from Ginza Station on Ginza,
Hibiya, or Marunouchi Line.
Open hours: 11:00am - 7:00pm
*Admission free.
May 22, 2007
Japanese popular general merchandising store
'UNIQLO' opened a new unique shop in Harajuku.
It is called 'UT STORE HARAJUKU.'. (UT = Uniqlo T-shirt)
What is so unique about?
All T-shirts are sold in individual plastic bottles.
The way they display them is very interesting too.
They just look like bottles in a fridge of convenience store.
When you pull 1 bottle out, next one comes to the front.
There are about 500 different designs.
First you go inside of the shop, you will find
sample T-shirts displayed in the middle of the floor.
When you find your favorite design and size,
the sample T-shirt has a tag of rack number to tell you
where you can find the shirt in a bottle.
It has 4 levels, shops are from 1st - 3rd floors,
and the 4th floor is a gallery. On the 3rd floor, you will find
computers which you can use to search your favorite T-shirt.
You can search by color and style, and it tells you
which floor you should go and find it!
It's fun just going inside and browse, so when you go to
Harajuku area, look for UT STORE!
UT STORE HARAJUKU.
Address: 6-10-8, Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Tel: 03-5468-7313
Open: 11:00 - 21:00 (everyday)
Access: 2-minute walk from Meiji-Jingumae Station on Chiyoda Line.
5-minute walk from Harajuku Station on JR Yamanote Line.
May 08, 2007
Major Annual Events in May (Tokyo)
Kanda Matsuri
10th of May - 15th of May, 2007
During the festival, a lot of Mikoshi (portable shrine)
is carried with people and paraded throughout Kanda & Nihonbashi.
Where: Kanda Myojin Shrine
http://www.kandamyoujin.or.jp/english/e03.html
Access: 5 minutes walk from Ochanomizu Station
on Chuo Line and Sobu Line
7 minutes walk from Akihabara Station on
Yamanote Line, Keihin-Tohoku Line,
Tsukuba Express Line or Hibiya Line.
Sanja Matsuri
18th of May - 20th of May, 2007
One of the most famous festivals in Japan.
Where: Asakusa Jinja Shrine
Access: 7 minutes walk from Asakusa Station on
Toei Asakusa Line, Ginza Line, or Tobu Isesaki Line.
