Tokyo Sky Tree: 東京スカイツリー

If you go to Asakusa, Don't miss a new tourist spot in Tokyo, Tokyo Sky Tree

Tokyo Sky Tree (東京スカイツリー) is a broadcasting, restaurant, and observation tower in Sumida, Tokyo.

It became the tallest structure in Japan with its full height of 634.0 metres (2,080 ft).

It is now the tallest tower in the world and the second tallest structure in the world after Burj Khalifa (829.84 m/2,723 ft).

The design is no unique and cool.

Its shape starts with triangle from the bottom, but it rotates to cirle shape at the height at 320 meters.

so depends on where you see it, you can see the tower curves like Japanese Soard "Katana". 

Designed by Kiichi Sumikawa, a famous sculptor

Its color is so Japanese as well.

They use Japanese traditional white calls Aijiro "藍白"

And  the illumination is cool, too.

They use two special colors LEDs.

One is "Miyabi" and the other is "Iki".

"雅：Miyabi", means "Elegance". it describes Elegance of Edo culture.

it is color is somewhere between Purple and Pink

"粋: Iki", means "Coolness". it describes the color of Sumida River and the toughness of Edo-Japanese People.

Those two illumination alternately changes each day.

Its illumination is designed by "Hirohito Totsune"

You can cool images in following blog.

http://si-ichigoichie.seesaa.net/article/162017374.html

You will see a cool Harmony of Edo's atmosphere and the latest Japanese Technologies and designs.  

http://www.tokyo-skytree.jp/en/

Senou-ji: 浅草寺 (Senso-Ji)

Too bad we are missing season of Cherry blossoms but Spring season has just begun.

I visited Senso-Ji, a famous temple in Asakusa in Eastern Tokyo.

You can learn history of Senso-Ji in following web site.

http://www.senso-ji.jp/info/lightup/index_e.html

I am sure that You will find yourself time slipped to Edo-Era.

Why don't you take a nice ride with traditional cab?



Welcome to Senso-Ji!

You are entering the gate.



After worship, let's just enjoy shopping arcade

Taylor your Kimono or Yukata

or find some cool Festival uniform for your self or souvenir

nice and fine Tenugui... Very nice!

What is that tall tower there?

That is Tokyo Sky Tree.

Let's take a walk there.

I will post a walk to Tokyo Sky Tree in Next. 

Oh, By the way, Don't miss Ningyo-Yaki, a famous snack in Asakusa erea.

Real Mario Cart : リアルマリオカート

When you are in Tokyo,

Where do you wish to go?

Harajuku?

Shibuya?

Omoto-Sando?

Yes! You are in the rigtht place!!

If you are lucky, you may see "Real Super Mario" on his Cart.

Wave your hands to famous heros!!

Lanterns: 灯篭 (Lanterns made by stone)

Lanterns are those such as the frame was enclosed in a stone so that fire does not disappear with some wind.

Lanterns brought over with the introduction of Buddhism, many came to be made ​​from the Nara period. Many monks use was to be used as a votive light of the shrine and throughout the Heian period.

When you came to Japan, you can see the various lanterns in the gardens of traditional Japanese houses and shrines.

This is one of the unique objets in Japan history. 

Chrerry Blossoms in Gion, Kyoto: 京都・祇園の桜 (Kyoto, Gion no Sakura)

Please Enjoy some of the nice photos of illuminated Sakura in

Gion, Kyoto

*please do not Copy, duplicate or modify.

*please do not Copy, duplicate or modify.

I wish I could have fine Sake in such a traditional restaurant under the tree....

When you are in Kyoto next year, go check below web site. (Sorry Japanese only)

They hold the lit-up event in Gion.

You can take a photo with Geisha & Geiko. 

http://www.gion-nawate.com/sakura/shousai.html

http://www.gion-nawate.com/sakura/map.html

Cherry Blossoms: 桜 (Sakura)

Many of Japanese feel the advent of Spring by the Cherry Blossoms.

Since last weekend, Cherry Blossoms in Tokyo have been in bloom.

Sakura, Cherry Blossoms takes hold in our life in Japan.

It is a national Flower.

When you have a chance to see 100yen coin, there is a Cherry Blossom.

Lots of people go to see its bloom and enjoy wonderful moment under the tree.

That is called "Hanami", means Picnic under the cherry blossoms.

You can Hanami with your family with Bonto Box,

You can Hanami to Party,

You can Hanami for Date with illuminated Bloom in the night.....

Let me introduce some of the popular spots for Hanami in Tokyo.

1. Meguro River:

From Meguro to Ikejiri, you can enjoy 800 trees in the length of 2.5 miles.

There many cafes by the river.

2. Chidori-ga-fuchi

You can enjoy about 250 trees from Chidori-ga-fuchi to Imperial Palace.

This spot is so popular and crowded.

3. Tokyo Cruise

It is 45 minutes trip on a boat.

They have a good package.

2,500 yen, it comes with a little bento, one drink

https://www.suijobus.co.jp/event_cru/index.html

4. Park near you

This is it! This is my favorite!

You can find many Cherry Blossom trees in the park near you.

If you did, just bring Bento Box with favorite beverage.

No need to take train, no need to take subway,

not crowded...

Lots of Hanami spots have festivals during the Bloom.

You can find a bunch of information about Hanami by the web site below.

Sorry in Japanese only but it has a good quality of info.

http://hanami.walkerplus.com/

Come to Japan to see Cherry Blossoms!

The Hakone Open-Air Museum: 箱根彫刻の森美術館 (Hakone Chokoku-no mori Bijyutsukan)

I visited Hakone Chokoku-no mori Bijyutsukan, The Open-Air Museum in Hakone, one of famous place for Onsen, Hot Spring.

There are 5 pavilions and approximately 120 works in the Open-Air

It was a wonderful day.

Please enjoy some photos of the works.

Taro Okamoto's "L'Homme Vegetal"



Anthony Gormley's "Close"

Picasso Pavilion

Cafe by the Picasso Pavilion

Carl Milles's "Man and Pegasus" 

Fran Xavier & Claude Lalanne's "La Pleureuse"

http://www.hakone-oam.or.jp/english/

http://www.hakone-oam.or.jp/english/sculpturegarden.html

If you are Tokyo metropolitan are and are interested in Arts or Onsen, or both, ^^

Come and Enjoy Hakone!

We ensure your wonderful moments in here!

Decorative Paper Ball: 久寿玉 (Kusudama)

Deecorative Paper Ball, "Kusu-Dama"

One of the seven essential "Sendai Tanabata" decoration is "吹き流し" (fukinagashi); Fukinagashi; is like a "streamers" you know might be. Its size are very big about several meters high, albeit you feel like that it is small by picture.

The one interesting point is;  this has the papar ball at the top of it.
"Paper ball" is that "Goro Mori" was first devised by. Two stuck together in a beautiful basket of paper flowers Kyoto in 1946. it is the start of decorative paper ball is decorated in round.

This decoration have the spiritual images to respect human life especially after 3.11.

Originally this is very big size; but we have smaller one. And some people use this as interior in the room and enjoy it.

If you are interested to buy this, please let us know. We can help that.
wahoo0311@gmail.com

Thank you,

Chopstick and Chopsticks rest: 箸と箸置き (Hashi to Hashi-Oki)

I went to Suntory Museum in Mid-Town Tower in Roppongi a few days ago.

http://www.suntory.com/culture-sports/sma/

http://www.tokyo-midtown.com/en/

I found a cute Chopstick shop during window shopping

For daily use to high end ones.. Variety of Chop Sticks.

High end ones made by  famous craftsmen

the highest value one I could find was 75,600JPY. (800USD)

Centre one is decorated with Swarovski

This was given to Lady Gaga as souvenir during her tour in Japan

 

In addition to Hashi, there are so many pretty Hashi-Okis.

Umm... Ukiyoe ones are nice for souvenir

I really liked Cherry Blossom and Dango on Stick ones.

I bought these four for my family

cannot wait to enjoy meal with these items....

 

Come to Midtown Tower!

you can dine, shop and enjoy arts here!

http://www.tokyo-midtown.com/en/

PS: I found a cool iPhone jacket in the other store 

Very Wahoo!









Sendai Tanabata Festival: 仙台七夕祭り (Sendai Tanabata Matsuri)

Sendai Tanabata Festival, August 07, is a month delay in the July 07 every year, be held over three days from August 06, 08.

The decorations are said to be from lowest to highest total of 3,000 throughout the individual parts of the city such as home decoration, such as stores and will color the city as "Tanabata".



This "Tanabata Festival" is counted in one of the biggest festivals in the three northeastern, more than two million visitors a year.



Tanabata decorations are made for large and small around the mall at the same time, such as municipalities around the city of Sendai.
Moreover, there is also suppliers to create a decorative Tanabata stations and airports, and companies such as the metropolitan area there may also have effects on the "Tanabata Festival" throughout the country, continues to be export all over the decoration of its luxury.

Kagurazaka: 神楽坂 (Kagurazaka Fun-Run)

It was fine whether last Tuesday and I ran to Kaguzrazaka, one of the the neighborhoods where you can find modern and antique atmosphere in Tokyo.

"Kagura" means Shinto Music and Dancing and "Saka" menas Hill (uphill).

In the alleys in Kagurazaka, you could find your self  "Time-Slipped" to Edo Era...

From Setagaya, ran thru Shibuya, Gaien, Akasaka, Yotsuya and Kagurazaka, and back to Shinjuku.

Please enjoy photos I took during 9 miles fun-run.

Aoyama Dori and Omote-Sando,

Then Gaien, a beautiful park

http://www.meijijingugaien.jp/

http://www.meijijingugaien.jp/english/

Then Imperial Palace in Akasaka,

Then The State Guest House,

Finally get to the destination, Kagurazaka

Cool! Very Edo!
Forget about your time.

You can get lost on your own initiative...^_^

There are many nice and neat modern restaurants in the alleys.

Too bad I did not have chance to see Geisha and Geiko,

But I wish I could have nice Sake and fine food with Geisha in this type of restaurants someday...

After taking a walk, I enjoyed Zenzai, Japanese traditional Sweet.

I had Green Tea Bavaroise and Sweet Beans.

in nice atmosphere Cafe.

Then I ran back to Shinjuku and took Bus and Cab back to residence... Cheater!

I heard  a footstep of Spring....