Many thanks for joining us on our tours at Asakusa in the morning and Ueno Park in the afternoon on August 27th. We welcomed 44 guests from the USA, Spain, Germany, Argentina, Australia, India, Indonesia, Denmark, Estonia, Singapore, and Croatia. It was a tremendous opportunity for us to meet wonderful guests from many countries and share interesting conversations. Also, it was really nice seeing some of you on both tours. As promised, group photos and snapshots are attached so that you can remember the fun times we had during the tour. Occasional rain was predicted, but we could avoid it. It was extremely humid, so staying hydrated was crucial. Some guests even bought shaved ice and soft-serve ice cream during our tour. <Asakusa-AM> <Asakusa-PM> <Ueno Park> In Japan, summer vacation for most students usually ends in late August. Common summer assignments for elementary students consist of doing projects on their own, writing book reports, and creating illustrated diaries. Students often take on “independent research,” often in the field of science, where they can pick their own topics. A “book report” involves writing an essay about a book given by the teacher. An “illustrated diary” is when you use words and […]
Thank you for choosing our tour at The East Garden of The Imperial Palace on 26th August. We welcomed 7 guests from Singapore, Australia, Italy, and Lithuania. Before we started the tour, we were caught in a slight shower. However, the rain stopped and we were able to start the tour as usual. It was a little bit hot and humid but got better. I hope all of you enjoyed and shared interesting conversations with us during the tour. As promised, group photos and snapshots are attached to remember the fun times we had. Now the weather forecasts on TV predict the course of a latest Typhoon every day. For Japanese checking the course of Typhoon is very important to make plan in summer vacation season. Recently many Typhoons come across Japan. They bring heavy rain, strong wind, and natural disaster. To avoid damage from Typhoon, Japanese railway company (especially each JR) may decide to suspend their services in advance. If so, you won’t go anywhere. This is called “ planned suspension.” Two weeks ago we had a big trouble of Shinkansen for three days after planned suspension. Many foreign tourists also got in trouble as well as Japanese […]
On behalf of our guides, I just wanted to send a few words of gratitude. Thank you forjoining our tour at Meiji Shrine and Harajuku on Aug 20th. We welcomed 8 guestsfrom Bulgaria, Italy, USA, Spain and Philippines. It was right after the “Obon” Holiday in Japan and still very hot and humid. I hope all of you enjoyed the fresh forest bathe in Meiji Shrine and the bright city area.We’ve posted group photos and snapshots so that you can look back on the fun times we had. During the tour, we talked about happy numbers in Japan and in each country. In Japan, there are special days other than numbers. One of them is called “Rokuyo”, which literally means six days. It is a calendar of Chinese origin, and a day is represented by six patterns of auspicious signs. Although we usually don’t think about it, we sometimes choose a specific date for important events such as the founding of a company, weddings, and funerals. Today is a day named “Taian” that is said to be auspicious for all things. In fact, there were eight weddings at Meiji Jingu. We wish our guests a lucky day too. We always […]
Many thanks for joining us on our tours at Imperial Palace in the afternoon on August 19th. We welcomed 11 guests from Philippines, Argentina, UK, Mexico, and USA. It was a tremendous opportunity for us to meet wonderful guests from many countries and to share interesting conversations. We’ve posted group photos and snapshots so that you can look back on the fun times we had. It is now Obon season in Japan. “Obon” is a significant summer event in Japan where families honor their ancestors’ spirits. It typically takes place over a few days in mid-August. During this time, families clean and decorate their ancestors’ graves, and often a special table is set up at home with offerings of food and incense. People also participate in traditional dances called “Bon Odori” to celebrate the occasion. The event is a time for family reunions and reflection on one’s heritage, fostering a strong sense of community and remembrance. That’s why many Japanese people take their summer holidays during this period. Once again, thank you so much for joining us on our tour. We always make efforts to improve our tours and highly appreciate your feedback on our TripAdvisor/Facebook etc. Your comments motivate […]
Many thanks to the guests who joined the tour on the extremely hot day. The temperature reached the record high of that date. At Tokyo Station square, where we meet, water was sprinkled on the ground. We hosted 12 guests from USA, Belgium, Germany, Austria and U.K. We hope all of you enjoyed and shared interesting conversations with us during the tour. As promised, group photos and snapshots are attached to remember the fun times we had. Although it was very hot, luckily wind blew constantly so we could endure the heat and humidity during the tour. You might wonder how Japanese in the old days spent summer days in such hot and humid weather without air-conditioning. We happened to see one of the items of traditional cooling methods, a wind chime, so called “Furin” in the tour course. There was an exhibition of numerous wind chimes. Wind chimes ring sounds that make people feel cool by hearing them. But that is in fact phycological effect. How did they physically feel cool? The above photo is a typical summer dessert in Japan so called “Kakigoori”, shaved ice with a flavor on top. But you might wonder if making ice was […]
Thank you for joining the tours of that day. On that day, at Asakusa, we hosted 9 guests from Singapore, Czech Republic, USA, Brazil, and India in the morning, and 5 guest from Singapore and Spain in the afternoon, and at Ueno Park, we hosted 5 guests from Sweden and Belgium including a very adorable child. I hope all of you enjoyed and shared interesting conversations with us during the tour. As promised, group photos and snapshots are attached to remember the fun times we had. It was very hot so we endured the scorching weather during the tour. When you visit Japan summertime, don’t forget to go out with a hat and something to drink with you. The two tour locations we hosted on that day are connected by the subway (underground) route which was Japan’s first subway route opened in 1927. We mainly describe the spots in the tours as Japanese traditional objects such as temples, shrines, prayer, and fortune telling but Asakusa and Ueno are the very places innovation took place. In Asakusa, you can view the world tallest independent televising tower, Sky Tree whose height is 634 meters. But Asakusa had Japan’s tallest tower building until […]
Thank you for choosing our tour at the East Garden of the Imperial Palace on July 22, 2023. We welcomed 9 guests from USA, UK, and Belgium. I hope all of you enjoyed and shared interesting conversations with us during the tour. As promised, group photos and snapshots are attached to remember the fun times we had. Most schools in Japan have summer vacation for about 40 days from the end of July to the end of August. We travel to the sea and mountains. When I was a student, I looked forward to summer vacation. We, Tokyo Free Walking Tour, will also take a summer vacation. By the way, do you know Obon? Obon is an important annual event to honor ancestors. The Obon period is generally four days from August 13th to 16th every year. It is believed that the spirits of ancestors return to this world. We visit family graves, clean gravestones, and lay flowers. Since most people go home, the Shinkansen, airplanes, highways, everything is very congested. Guests traveling to Japan during this period should plan well in advance. Tokyo’s summer tradition, “The Sumida River Fireworks Festival”, which had been canceled due to the influence of […]
Thank you for joining the tour of that day. We were honoured to host 9 guests from USA, UK, Ireland, Canada, and Sweden. As promised, group photos and snapshots are posted for the remembrance of the fun time we spent together. The weather was fine but extremely hot. The temperature rose to nearly 40 centigrade (100 Fahrenheit). The problem of Japan’s hot summer is not only heat but humidity which makes a real-feel temperature higher than a recorded one, especially for those from dry climate regions. To deal with such humidity and heat, we would like to advise our guests the following things. In addition to the above, it is recommended to bring a hand-fan or some kind of cooling device like one of the guides was wearing in the tour. A neck cooler that can blow the air around your head by a motor inside. Or just a hand-held type of it. Or a neck cooling ring which you keep in the refrigerator before using it. You can purchase it at any electric device shop in Tokyo. Such an item can become a good souvenir from Japan. Why not try? We always strive to give high-quality tours. Your feedback […]
Thank you for choosing our Meiji Shrine and Harajuku tour on July 16th, 2023. We welcomed 23 guests from USA, Puerto Rico, Philippines, Netherlands, Spain, and Belgium. I hope all of you enjoyed and shared interesting conversations with us during the tour. As promised, group photos and snapshots are attached to remember the fun times we had. Heat stroke warnings had been issued in Tokyo. Nonetheless, we are grateful to our guests for joining us on our tour. Although the end of the rainy season called Tsuyu has not been officially declared, we are beginning to hear the voice of cicadas, a typical summer sound in Japan. We hope you enjoy your summer vacation in Japan, but please feel free to take it easy when you are tired, drink plenty of water, and be careful not to suffer from heat stroke. July 17th is a national holiday called “Marine Day”. Emperor Meiji was a reformer of modern Japan. In 1876, he made a tour of the Tohoku region and returned to Yokohama on July 20th from Aomori via Hakodate on the lighthouse patrol ship, Meiji Maru. This day had been called “Marine Memorial Day”. In 1995, “Marine Day” was established […]
The next Ueno Park tour on July 23. The Shinobazu Pond lotus flowers are in full bloom now. As we reported on July 2, the Ueno Park Shinobazu Pond lotus flowers are now in full bloom. The pink flower field is expected to bloom until mid-August. Since the Edo period (1603-1868), people have admired the lotus flowers in the pond. Fans and photographers can’t wait for summer when they bloom.As advised the most important thing in lotus flower viewing is timing. The lotus buds flower in the early morning and close its petals in the afternoon. A lotus flower’s life is fleeting. It blooms on and off for three days and drops its petals on the fourth day. Flowers that bloom in the early morning of the second day seem to be most beautiful. These pictures were taken on July 16, 2023 at around 9am. The Shinobazu Pond was the inlet of Tokyo Bay about 10,000 years ago. After a thousand years of marine regression, what’s left of it is a natural pond. The lotus flowers in the pond were planted during the Edo period (1603-1868) which are depicted in an ukiyo-e woodblock print. The Shinobazu Pond consists of three […]
