According to Chinese legend, there once was a weaver princess named Orihime, the daughter of the Sky King, and a cow herder prince named Hikoboshi. They fell in love and they began neglecting their work.  Orihime ceased weaving cloth, and Hikoboshi allowed his cows to wander all around the skies. This angered the king, so as punishment he separated the two lovers across the “heaven river” the Milky Way. The king allowed Orihime and Hikoboshi to see each other once a year on the seventh day of th...

Nagoshi-no-Ooharae　（summer grand purification ritual） A shinto ritual ‘’Ooharae (grand purification) are conducted on the last day of June and December, i.e. mid-year and end of year, to exorcise the sins and the impurity accumulated in the six months. Originally this ritual was held at the imperial court, today it is held at shrines nationwide while most popular in Kyoto. Harae is the general term for rituals of purification in Shinto. On the day, people visit shrines and scrub themselves with ...

Ginza is located south of Tokyo Station, the starting point of our East Garden of Imperial Palace tour, and is one of Japan's most prominent downtown areas. A lot of brand shops and large department stores are lined up, and it becomes a pedestrian paradise on weekends, and it is also a place where people including foreign guests can relax. This pedestrian paradise in Ginza was suspended on March 28 due to Covid 19, but finally resumed on June 13. The photo is as of June 27. You can see that peop...

Tokyo Now #4 features Asakusa, one of our walking tour routes. SENSOU-JI Temple in the rain Sensou-ji temple in Asakusa is the oldest temple in Tokyo, established in 628. It is also one of the popular places for visitors from foreign countries and other area in Japan and its main gate, Kaminari-mon, is the symbol of Tokyo today. Due to Covid 19, Almost all shopping stores in Nakamise in Sensou-ji temple were closed in Apr and May. May festival in this area is postponed to October. However, not a...

By just 90- to 120- minute train ride from centeral Tokyo, you can enjoy such rich nature in Japan. And that you are still in Tokyo. Tokyo Now #3 focuses on Mitake Ravine, located in the west of Tokyo. Located in the upper reaches of the Tama River, Mitake Ravine is a picturesque area selected as one of the Japan’s 100 Exquisite and Well Conserved Waters. Just strolling the ravine promenade, seeing & listening to nature, you will feel relaxed and are fulfilled. Near by art museum and sake brewer...

It is almost the season of Japanese iris. The Ninomaru Garden in the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace is one of the most recommended viewing spot. The Ninomaru Garden is one of the main attractions of TFWT’s “East Gardens of the Imperial Palace” route tour. With the lift of the state of emergency, the public opening of the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace has been resumed from Tuesday, June 2, the first time in two month since March 28. Let’s switch to the next route “Meiji Shrine and Hara...

Thank you for your visiting our website. In Japan, the state of emergency over the coronavirus was fully lifted on May 25 about a week earlier than scheduled. We are entering into the new phase for a "new normal" of living with the novel coronavirus but carefully and gradually. Until we can welcome you to Japan again, let us occasionally introduce you “Tokyo Now” , i.e. seasonal feature, beauty of nature, sweets & dishes, etc. Probably starting from each TFWT members neighborhood areas then area...