Thank you for the early birds hopping on our tour for this morning!! It was our first time to conduct a tour on Saturday morning and was such a great pleasure to meet around 10 guests as a nice weekend start. As the season is gradually changing, the weather during this week was unstable causing a lot of rain and wind. But the spring storm has finally gone away! No matter it was a little bit chilly outside, we were happy to take you to Marunouchi and the East Garden of the Imperial palace within the fresh air. The main species of SAKURA called “Someiyoshino” is coming soon but it is also nice viewing early blooming SAKURA in the East Garden. Every spring, many parks and river banks get crowded with viewers. You can also see many street stalls in these spots. In one word, this activity is called “OHANA-MI” which literally means “Flower-viewing”. Although, “OHANA-MI” does not just mean viewing. It includes chatting, eating, drinking, singing, sometimes even playing music instruments under the SAKURA with friends, families or co-workers. As many Japanese prefer, the scenery I like the best is “Japanese castle and SAKURA”. Famous castles even extend their […]
Thank you for joining our Tokyo Free Walking Tour in Harajuku area. On that day, March 4, we were honored to welcome 14 guests to our walking tour. Those people came from different corners of the world, including Israel, Canada, U.S.A, Argentina, Spain and Sweden. We were greeted by an amazingly warmer temperature than the previous days. There was a breakthrough in the cool temperature and the weather seemed to have finally improved. Our tour started in front of a Tori or a Shinto Shrine gate. It has welcomed and looked down upon us, 14 Harajuku lovers and the guides, as we started off our 90-minute walking tour. By the time we have concluded that day’s Harajuku walking tour, the temperature seemingly ended up reaching around 20 degrees. When it comes to Ume, or Japanese apricot, Yushima Tenmangu is one of the most notable Shinto shrines in Tokyo, Japan. It is easily accessible from the Harajuku areas. It also just takes 30 minutes via a train from our guide spot to the said shrine. This shrine is dedicated to the “God of Learning” and many believers visit this sacred place to give offerings and receive blessings from the divine […]
A big thank you to all who participated in our tour at the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace on March 3. The number of the guests were 22 from 13 countries of UK, Germany, Hungary, Portugal, Ukraine, Netherlands, France, Austria, Israel, America, Canada, Australia and Taiwan. The group was divided into five. I hope all of you enjoyed walking in lovely Spring weather. Back in 1600 the Dutch ship named De Leifde stranded on the coast of Oita, kyushu, Japan’s southernmost main island. The year of 1600 is one of the most unsettled period in the Japanese history. The ship members wanted to develop a new trading route in Asia. Then the two crews of the ship became a personal adviser to the founder and first Shogun of the Edo period, Ieyasu Tokugawa. It is astonishing that there were two European Samurai in the history of Japan. (Sailing Route) (De Leifde) Firstly William Adams, the English navigator known as Anjin Miura was capable and familiar with shipbuilding, astronomy and mathematics. He taught Ieyasu geography and the basic knowledge of mathmatics, and constructed several ships on the European model for him. Ieyasu rewarded him with a fief, a residence in […]
Thank you very much for joining our tour on Feb 28th. We welcomed 9 guests from Australia, Argentina, Malaysia and Italy. 8 guests out of 9 dropped in our tour on the halfway to the Imperial Palace East Gardens. All of us enjoyed strolling together in the park, where early-flowering cherry trees “KAWAZUZAKURA” were in full bloom with cute deep pink petals. From the end of March to the beginning of April in Tokyo, you will find light-pink “SOMEIYOSHINO”, the most popular and gorgeous cherry blossoms. Please check the CHERRY BLOSSOM FORECAST on the Internet. (Images from https://sakura.weathermap.jp/, Pinterest) You are always welcomed to drop in this tour anywhere along the tour course. Find our flag and join us! The tour to the Imperial Palace East Gardens starts from TOKYO STATION MARUNOUCHI CENTRAL GATE. We are looking forward to seeing you!! ========== Tokyo Free Walking Tour holds regular tours every Saturday & Sunday, and irregular tours in weekdays. If you are in Tokyo, why not come and join us? Visit our website for the latest schedule!
Thank you very much for joining our weekday tour to the Imperial Palace East Gardens on February 27th. The tour welcomed 8 guests from Austria, Canada, Romania and Argentina. We divided us into two groups ― group A and B. It was a slightly chilly day, but the sunshine of early spring made us warm and cheerful. On the way to the Imperial Palace East Gardens, group A happened to meet 4 horses being trained along the large avenue. These 4 horses, owned by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, were practicing leading a coach parade for the Ceremony of the Presentation of Credentials (see a report below on January 18). Generally, horses are very coward, because they do not have any ‘weapons’ like horns or fangs. All they can do is to run away from enemies as quickly as possible. So, they always have to be sensitive to their circumstances ― sound, smell or movement of other horses. Nevertheless, when a parade is held, horses are surrounded by a crowd of people. Some children might scream; some cars might honk a beep. Horses in the parade must be endurable and obedient to riders during the ceremony. That is why they […]
