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2018年

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Tour Report: January 18, 2018 (The East Garden of the Imperial Palace)

  • 2018.01.22

We thank all guests joining our East garden of Imperial Palace tour on Jan.18. We welcomed 11 guests from U.K., Germany, Australia, and Argentina. It was nice and comfortable day like spring. Some plum flowers started to come out! In Japan we can enjoy the plum blossoms in  February. The most famous plum blossoms is at Kairakuen in Mito-City which is a Japanese Traditional Circuit Style Garden where a lot of plum trees. Kairakuen was established in 1842 by Tokugawa Nariaki. It takes one and half hour long from Ueno Station to Kairakuen by express train and Bus. Please go there if you have a chance. Especially in February!   By the way,  we saw the Coach Parade at the Tokyo Station on that day. We were so happy to see it. The Coach Parade is offered when the newly appointed foreign Ambassador visits the Emperor to present a credential letter. The newly appointed foreign Ambassador can choose the way to travel to the Imperial Palace by carriage or by car. It is said that almost all of newly appointed Ambassador choose carriage because it is memorable and wonderful experience for them. Only a few countries offer it, for example […]

TOUR REPORT: JANUARY 14, 2018 IN ASAKUSA

  • 2018.01.16

Thank you for joining our first Asakusa tour this 2018. On the day of the tour, 14th of January, with cold temperature and clear sunny skies, we welcomed ten guests from South Korea, Hong Kong, U.S.A., Canada, and Argentina. Not surprisingly, the cold winter weather did not chase the visitors of Asakusa away. We were able to greet enthusiastic visitors not only from every corner of the district, but from other countries as well, despite the weather conditions in Japan. As usual, after greeting everyone and introducing ourselves, we made our regular tour in Asakusa for 90 minutes. Starting at the red painted gate, called Thunder Gate, we proceeded to the last spot,  Asakusa Shinto Shrine. Despite the cold weather, the Sensoji Buddhist Temple compound where we started our tour was full of people. Looking around the huge temple grounds, we can see that it was jam-packed with visitors who were happily shopping for souvenirs and eating delicious food from stalls in the compound. Known for its’ religious areas like Buddhist Temples and Shinto Shrines; big historical events; short cruises along the Sumida River; and delicious food available from street stalls; Asakusa is one of Japan’s most iconic and must-see […]

Tour Report on 13-January, 2018, the East Garden of the Imperial Palace

  • 2018.01.14

We thank many guests joining this tour on that day. We welcomed 20 guests from USA, Philippines, Hong Kong, Canada, Spain, Hungary, Argentina, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand. The sky was blue, but it was very cold day. We could enjoy Japanese apricot (Ume) blossom. Ume blooms earlier than any trees in the winter and has a variety of flowers of white, red or pink, single or double-flowered. It has been considered as symbol of “energy of life” and “good omen”. In addition, the fruit will be used for Ume-boshi(pickled plums) and Ume-shu(plums liquor).Both of them are very popular as healthy food or drink, because it contains a lot of organic acid including citric acid. Most of Japanese wear western clothes everyday, and it is not easy even for Japanese to put a Kimono on by oneself. However, Japanese still wear Kimono on special occasions and seasonal events, such as wedding, funeral of family member, as well as Coming of Age Day, Shichi-go-san (a festival day for children of three, five and seven years of age), and New Year’s Day. Formal Kimono made of pure silk is very expensive, but can be worn from generation to generation. It is often the […]

Tour Report: January 7, 2018 (Meiji Shrine and Harajuku)

  • 2018.01.11

Thank you for joining our first Meiji Shrine and Harajuku tour of the year! This year marks the 150th anniversary of the Meiji Restoration, or the transition of political power from the Tokugawa Shogunate to the Meiji Constitutional Monarchy. The Shoguns had virtually closed down the country for over 250 years, until in the year 1868 when the Emperor took over and eventually opened the county to learn modern technology and culture from western powers. I, among many other people, find this transition very interesting, and it is something I like to share with guests who join our tour. Meiji Shrine built to commemorate the Meiji Emperor is an ideal location for such conversation. It being the final days of the New Year season, there were still many people at the Meiji Shrine for “Hatsu Moude” or the first visit of the year to shrines to wish for good luck. There were also various food stalls out that we don’t normally see, and our guests were quick to try some bites. On the second leg of the tour we strolled around Takeshita-dori street and Omote Sando street. This area has long been where the latest pop culture are born. There is always something new to find […]

Tour Report : January 6, 2018 (The East Garden of the Imperial Palace)

  • 2018.01.10

Thank you very much for joining our first tour of the year 2018!  We 16 guides welcomed 24 guests from Australia, US, Netherlands, Canada and Germany, and divided into 5 groups.  Fortunately it was clear and not so cold, and the best day for walking outside.  We hope all our guests enjoyed all the spots of the tour.     Anyways, I heard that many foreign tourists spent this new year holiday in Japan.  Did you try to visit to the shrines or temples at the midnight of January 1 for “Hatsu-moude” or  first visiting to there for good luck of the new year? Or did you try to eat the special meals for the new year called “Osechi” ?  Osechi are special dishes for the New Year holidays.  A variety of ingredients such as fish, black beans, rolled kelp, and vegetables are prepared and arranged artfully lacquer boxes.  And we also drink New Year’s spiced sake called “Otoso” in the hope of being healthy.   And there is another traditional custom of eating rice porridge with seven kinds of spring herbs, or “Nanakusa-gayu”, on January 7.  This is very healthy as these herbs are abundant in fiber and minerals, […]

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