Thank you for joining our Tokyo Free Walking Tour in Asakusa areas. With the sunny and occasional cloudy weather, we welcomed around ten people from different parts of the world like Germany, Singapore, U.S.A., and Canada. After the brief introduction, we went to Asakusa Information Center to look at the breathtaking view of the historical site from its rooftop. Then, we went through Kaminarimon Gate, or Thunder Gate and proceeded to Nakamise Street. Nakamise street is the shopping road and the approach to Sensoji Buddhist temple, which have been main landmark in Asakusa for a long time. When we arrived at the commercial street, it was already crowded with tourist while walking through the prominent street. A lot of sign boards hanging above this lovely street truly display the atmosphere associated with the new-year season in Japan. Another interesting topic that we talked about the upcoming New Year is “Shichifukujin” Shichifukujin it is a compound word made up of the words “Shichi” which means “seven” and “fukujin” that translates to “lucky gods” in English. These gods are believed to have arrived aboard a ship full of treasures and their tasks are to bring people good fortune when it comes to […]
・Date/Time : Wed. Dec. 20, 2017 ( 10:00―12:00 ) ・Meeting Place : Tokyo Station Marunouchi Central Gate (ground floor) ・We leave at 10:00. Please take care to arrive on time ! ・Participation Fee : Free ・Reservation : Not required ・Participants : Foreign tourists and residents, and their accompanying Japanese friends, families, etc. For more information on our tour please visit our website, facebook, And TripAdvisor page. We are looking forward to seeing you soon!
Thank you for joining our tour on this day. We welcomed over 25 guests from UK, Malaysia, Canada, USA, Germany, Argentina, Australia, Taiwan and Singapore. We divided into 5 groups. The weather was cold but very clear so the sunshine was strong. It was a historic tour since it was the first time in 10 years of our guide history that the square in front of Tokyo Station became fully open. So no more fences and no construction yards that blocks straight-forward tour route to get out of the station. When we launched this volunteer tour, renovation construction was already underway. Guides and guests had to gather in a narrow space surrounded by fences. We now have bigger spaces to gather after the completion of renovation. On one corner of the station square, a statue was placed. It is the statue of INOUE Masaru, which had been displaced for years due to the renovation construction. This man is called “Father of Japan’s railways”, who was a minister of railway and contributed to establishment of Japan’s railway network from late 19th to early 20 th century. That was a time Tokyo Station building was established. He studied railway management in England […]
We thank all guests joining our East Gardens of Imperial Palace tour on Dec. 2. Number of guests counted 23 from 13 countries all over the world. It was a lovely warm day and our guests enjoyed the tour under blue sky. Autumn foliage around the tour route were still on season. Red and yellow colored leaves and falling leaves were shining. If you stay in Tokyo this week, recommend you to visit the limited time only events at the Imperial Palace. The Imperial Palace opens Inui Street to the public for the first time in a year and a half to let people view its autumn leaves. Visitors can walk along the 750-meter road, which runs from the entrance, Sakashita Gate, to the Inui Gate between 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. from Dec. 2 until Dec. 10. The Imperial Household stated the visitor count on the first day reached approx. 21,000 people. Following the street, you can see a part of Imperial Palace where the royal family greet to public twice a year (Emperor’s birthday and new year on Jan. 2. In addition to that, there are lots of view point, e.g. classic wood and stone walls, authentic gate, […]
Thank you for joining the Tokyo Free Walking Tour. December 3rd had a fairly pleasant weather and moderate temperature. We welcomed around 15 guests coming from different corners of the world — USA, Germany, China, Australia and Singapore. This is the fourth tour in the locations of Meiji Jingu and Takeshita Street, which is still held on trial basis. We, from the Tokyo Walking Tour, greatly appreciate your attendance, which is steadily increasing in number. Majestically nested in an evergreen forest and enclosed by fresh air, the Meiji Jingu or Meiji Shrine is one of the most notable shrines in the city of Tokyo. Although it is easily accessible from Tokyo’s busiest districts like Shinjuku and Shibuya, this location remains as a truly peaceful and sacred place of worship. However, during the month of December, the otherwise serene Meiji Jingu transforms into a busy area, as it is the season to prepare in welcoming visitors for Hatsumode. Hatsumode literally means “the first visit to a Buddhist temple or Shinto Shrine in the first few days of the new year”. It is a tradition among Japanese people to visit these religious buildings and to pray to deities in hopes of good […]
Thank you very much to all the guests joining the tour. We had lovely sunny morning and we welcomed 18 guests from US, Australia, Spain, Philippines, Singapore, Canada, Malaysia and India. We divided into 3 groups. It was very sunny and warm day as at this time of the year, and while walking we had to remove the jacket by the end of the tour!! The East Garden is very beautiful with autumn leaves with multiple colors, -green, yellow, orange and red. Although we don’t see flowers in Ninomaru Garden, which is famous for various flowers, still it is one of the best seasons with autumn leaves. It’s now December!, probably the busiest time of the year. We enjoy Christmas, but more important for Japanese is cerebrating New Year. Before welcoming new year, people may have many opportunities to have “forget the year” party with friends, colleagues and community, and so on. We have drink together to forget all the past (and bad) things and wish and commit for coming year, but for some people, this is just excuse for drinking!?? and some people may have party consecutive nights! We also prepare Christmas presents for family and friends, at the same time prepare […]
Thank you for joining our tour in Asakusa on November 26. We had 20 guests from America, Canada, Chile, Holland, Germany, Israel, and Singapore. I hope all of you enjoyed our tour in the old part of Tokyo in spite of congestion. It will be a fresh experience for you to take a boat cruise and watch a different angle of Tokyo on Sumida river. There are a few routes from Asakusa. I recommend the cruise to Hama-Rikyu Gardens for autumn color viewing. It takes about 30 minutes. The boat rolls but little. The departing area of the boat around Azumabashi Bridge commands a nice view of Tokyo Sky Tree and the beer mug-shaped building of Asahi Beer company, a major Japanese beverage company. One of the beauties of Sumida River is a bridge. Every bridge has a different shape and color. The original Ryogoku bridge was constructed after the Meireki Great Fire in 1657 when a huge number of people drowned in the river. Eitai Bridge is famous for 50 mikoshi(portable shrines) passing on the occasion of nearby Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine Festival. From this bridge high-rise condominium buildings are seen on the island where the shipbuilding industry started. The last […]
We thank many guests who participated in the tour. On that day we welcomed over 42 people from Australia, USA, Norway, Austria, UK, Indonesia, Germany, Israel, Malaysia, Mexico, and Nederland. We divided into 5 groups. The weather was very clear. It was a best autumn day. The East Garden turned autumn colors already so we could enjoy beautiful scenes with red and yellow leaves. Not only in Tokyo but in Japan’s old capital, Kyoto was in autumn leaf viewing season. The middle age temples and gardens were crowded with tourists viewing the leaves. Some temples held light-up of the leaves at night. Light-up was magnificent. Hotels were already packed so no reservation for a room was available. In Japan people enjoy viewing these leaves as one of autumn events, which we call “Momiji-gari.” It literally means hunting autumn leaves. But we do not hunt them but just view and enjoy the scenaries. Unlike cherry blossoms season, we do not do picnic under the trees because temperature is low. But some enjoy tea ceremony under the trees. One of the guides attended tea ceremony hosted by a Canadian tea ceremony master, Randy Channell Soei at Chionji Temple last Thursday. Having […]
・Date/Time : Wed. Nov. 29 , 2017 ( 10:00―12:00 ) ・Meeting Place : Tokyo Station Marunouchi Central Gate (ground floor) [more on where to find us] ・We leave at 10:00. Please take care to arrive on time ! ・Participation Fee : Free ・Reservation : Not required ・Participants : Foreign tourists and residents, and their accompanying Japanese friends, families, etc. For more information on our tour please visit our website, facebook, And TripAdvisor page !
We thank all guests joining our East garden of the Imperial Palace tour on Nov.18. We welcomed 34 guests from 15 countries all over the world. Unfortunately it was rain, a little bit cold and windy. In this condition, we always worried about the way of tour because our tour is all outside. Now Gingko trees along the Gyoko Street colored yellow. We enjoyed it. Speaking of Gingko trees, do you know Meiji Jingu Gaien? Meiji Jingu Gaien is one of the park in Tokyo and was made in 1923. It is known as the street lined with Gingko trees. Gingko trees of Meiji Jingu Gaien are planted in perspective. So we can see the beautiful landscape like paintings. Especially in autumn, Gingko leaves change color from green to yellow. After that yellow Gingko leaves fall down and cover the ground. It looks like the golden carpet. Around Meiji Jingu Gaien, there are a lot of nice café restaurants. I think it is the best place to stroll and eat out in autumn. I went there last week and enjoyed beautiful landscape. It was so nice! (posted by Y. Hino)
