Discover Tokyo’s Summer Charm
Hi everyone! Summer greetings to all of you.
How are you enjoying these bright and hot summer days in Tokyo? I’m Junko, and I’d love to share a little about Japan’s beautiful summer traditions and our Tokyo free walking tour.
I really love my country’s beautiful four seasons—especially summer. I lived in Sapporo, Hokkaido, for many years, where people eagerly look forward to summer because almost half the year feels like winter. I loved the gentle summers there. And now, I’m really enjoying Tokyo’s summer!
Every August, Japan celebrates the Bon Festival, a time when we welcome the spirits of our ancestors back home. Families decorate their houses, enjoy special meals together, and at the end of the festival, gently send the spirits back by floating lanterns on rivers. It’s a heartfelt tradition that connects us deeply with our roots.
As a matter of fact, I went back to my parents’ house in Nikko City. I enjoyed my mother’s delicious cooking and chatting with her. I also had some good Japanese Sake my father. Although my mother rarely drinks, this time she poured herself a glass of Japanese Sake and enjoyed it, influenced by my father’s cheerful mood. The next morning, we visited and cleaned my grandparents’ graves with chrysanthemums. That is the way many Japanese families spend time during the Bon Festival.
Anyway, why not enjoy Tokyo this summer with a wonderful walking tour in the East Garden of the Imperial Palace? Our free Tokyo walking tour usually welcomes foreign visitors to the East Garden, which used to be the site of Edo Castle. During the Edo period, the Tokugawa family conducted governmental affairs there, leading to over 200 years of peace thanks to their leadership.
Today, August 16, we welcomed guests from the U.S., France, the UK, Turkey, Mexico, and Indonesia, and enjoyed a tour of the East Garden together. Although it was a hot and humid day, our guests’ curiosity and enthusiasm were stronger than the heat. We even had another guest join our tour halfway through. I was really pleased that they chose our tour. Thank you very much to today’s wonderful guests!
Warm regards,
Junko
For more information about our tour, please visit our web site at
or Tokyo Free Walking Tour at https://www.tripadvisor.jp/ .