Thank you for joining our tour! We welcomed 22 guests from U.K, U.S, Mexico, Singapore, India, Canada, Kazakhstan, India, Taiwan and Hong Kong.
The winter has finally kicked in. We thank each of our wonderful guests for sticking with us under the cold weather.
Many of us enjoyed the last glimpse of the autumn colors too.
Speaking of colors, I’ve been asked by some guests on why many Japanese wear dark monotone colors. Indeed we noticed many people were wearing black, navy, brown and grey throughout our walk. I myself tend to dress in black as it has the “slimming “effect. But looking at our history it seems like there are more reasons to why we prefer basic colors over primary colors.
1. Safety First:
You may have heard the Japanese saying: “The nail that sticks out gets hammered down.” That’s basically the golden rule here. Wearing the same thing as everyone else and basic color feels “safe.” You know you aren’t breaking any social rules and standing out.
2.”Iki” (Japanese Chic/cool):
Back in the Edo samurai days, the government banned common people from wearing flashy colors like bright red or purple because they were considered “luxury.” So, people got creative and started enjoying tiny differences in brown and grey. They say there were “48 shades of brown and 100 shades of grey.” We developed a sense of style called “Iki” (chic/cool), which finds beauty in being subtle rather than flashy. That DNA is still in us today.
3. Climate and light:
Japan is super humid. Because of the moisture in the air, the sunlight here is soft and diffused. So unlike California where the sun is strong, basic earth tones blend in better with the Japanese landscape.
4.Skin Tone:
Many Japanese people have yellow-based skin. Pure vivid colors can sometimes make us look washed out. But maroon and khaki colors look great. It’s not that Japanese people hate color. It’s just that we view vivid colors as “difficult” to wear.
In conclusion, most of us prefer harmony. We want to blend in with the scenery and the people around us. It’s a very Japanese kind of beauty—quiet, subtle, and perhaps, shy.
Once again, thank you for choosing Tokyo Free Walking Tour during your stay in Tokyo. Your feedback is important and helpful to us. If you enjoyed our tour, please consider posting a review on our TripAdvisor/Facebook etc. Your comments will help contribute to higher-quality tours.
And for anyone planning a trip to Tokyo, be the next to join our friendly guides and together explore the old & new of Tokyo!
Posted by Asako
For more information about our tour, please visit our website at https:https://tfwt.jp/east-gardens-of-the-imperial-palace/, https://www.facebook.com/TokyoFWT or Tokyo Free Walking Tour at https://www.tripadvisor.jp/.