Odakyu Electric Railway is one of the main railway companies based in Japanese metropolis. Very popular rail routes are operated by Odakyu’s Romancecar and certainly many tourists in Tokyo have boarded this limited express train for Hakone, Odawara and Enoshima. As of April 2021, Romancecar has its own museum beside Ebina station (Odakyu Line) in […]
Tayasu-mon (田安門) is located at the northern part of the old Edo Castle (the site of current Imperial Palace). It is the north gate of Kitanomaru Garden. The exact date of construction is unknown, although according to some historical texts, this gate was already in existence in 1607. The present gate was re-constructed in 1636. […]
June brings the rainy season (tsuyu) and its symbol, Hydrangea flowers. Hakusan Jinja (白山神社) is a popular place for enjoying more than 3000 hydrangeas (ajisai) in full bloom. The shinto shrine founded in 948 and moved to its current location in 1655, is located at Bunkyo-ku one of Tokyo’s 23 wards. Hakusan Jinja is home […]
Ogushi Jinja (小梳神社) is a Shinto shrine in Shizuoka city. It is one of the oldest shrines in Shizuoka with a history of more than 400 years. Before moving to the current location, it was located in Sunpu Castle and worshiped as the guardian of it. The shrine is related to Tokugawa Ieyasu. It is […]
Yayoi Museum (弥生美術館) was established in 1984 by Takumi Kano in order to exhibit the works of Takabatake Kasho (高畠華宵, 1888-1966), a nihonga artist and illustrator especially famous in 1920s-30s. The 3rd floor of the museum is devoted to his works. The first two floors hold every three months exhibitions of illustrations, magazines, manga, and […]
Yumeji Takehisa (竹久 夢二, 1884-1934), born in Okayama prefecture, was a painter, print artist, poet, writer, bookbinder and illustrator. He is considered a representative figure of the Taisho era (1912–26), combining Western romanticism with Japanese styles. He is known foremost for his illustrations of bijin, beautiful women and girls, though he also produced a wide […]
Shinjuku Gyoen is one of the best places for hanami (cherry blossom viewing) in Tokyo. This year in order to avoid queues at the entrance gates and as prevention measure against new coronavirus infection, Shinjuku Gyoen has introduced online advance booking during cherry blossom season from Tue. March 23 to Sun. April 25. Also, bringing and drinking […]
Cherry trees in Tokyo are in bloom and one of the best spots for viewing them is Chidorigafuchi (千鳥ヶ淵), the moat of the former Edo Castle northwest of the Imperial Palace. Seize the opportunity and immerse yourself among 260 blossoming cherry trees by walking along the 700m Chidorigafuchi Ryokudo. Alternatively you can rent a boat […]
From late 19th century, department stores in Japan contributed significantly to the development and promotion of Japanese painting as well as the evolution of commercial design, commissioning works by painters to be used for marketing purposes in Japan and abroad in order to enhance their presence in domestic and foreign markets. One of these patrons […]
Tokyo Michiterasu is the year-end illumination event at the Marunouchi side of Tokyo Station and Gyoko-dori, the pedestrian street that connects the station with the Outer Garden of Imperial Palace. This year the event opens up the future, shines a light of hope and sends a message of support and gratitude to everyone on the […]
Located in Bunkyo ward, Rikugien (六義園) is one of the most beautiful Japanese landscape gardens in Tokyo. It was built around 1700 for 5th shogun Tsunayoshi Tokugawa by his confidant samurai Yoshiyasu Yanagisawa. Rikugien literally means “Garden of Six Poems” and Yanagisawa designed the grounds to depict 88 scenes represented in a selection of six […]
Kyu-Furukawa Gardens (旧古河庭園) is a Tokyo metropolitan park in Nishigahara, Kita ward. In 2006 it was designated by the Japanese Government as a place of scenic beauty, as an example of an extant modern-period garden that has been extremely well preserved. It was completed in 1919 as the main residence of the Furukawa family, owner […]
