Thank you for joining our East Garden of the Imperial Palace tour on February 7th.
On this day, we welcomed 11 guests from the United States, Australia, Canada, the UK, France, and Taiwan. We truly hope you enjoyed the tour and the many interesting conversations we shared along the way. As promised, we have attached group photos and snapshots to help you remember the fun time we spent together.
Tour photos
Group A
Group B
Group C
A light snow was drifting in the wind that day, and it was quite chilly. Even so, we found many plum trees in full bloom throughout the garden. Some blossoms were soft pink, while others were pure white, creating a beautiful contrast against the winter landscape. We were also lucky to spot Japanese white-eyes hopping among the plum branches, as if they were gently announcing the arrival of spring.
In Japan, February 3rd is called Setsubun, meaning “the day before spring.” The following day, February 4th, is known as Risshun, or “the beginning of spring.” On Setsubun, people throw roasted soybeans while chanting, “Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi”—“Out with evil, in with good fortune.”
This traditional custom, which originated in China, dates back around 600 years, even before the Edo period. People in ancient times believed that evil spirits appeared during times of seasonal change, so this ritual was practiced to drive them away.
After Setsubun, spring is said to arrive gradually, with cold days and warmer days alternating. The day of our tour happened to be one of those colder days.
Even so, we were delighted to share this subtle transition of the season in nature with our enthusiastic guests, while also exploring the layers of Japanese history together.
Once again, thank you for choosing our tour during your precious time in Tokyo.
We are always striving to improve our tours, and we sincerely appreciate your feedback on TripAdvisor, Google, and other platforms. Your kind comments motivate us to continue our volunteer activities. Please feel free to share your experience with your family and friends. And next time you are in Tokyo, we hope you will join us on another tour—we would love to see you again.
If you want more info about our tour, check out our website, Facebook, or “Tokyo Free Walking Tour” on Tripadvisor.
(Posted by Mari)