The Fukagawa Hachiman Matsuri is one of the three biggest festivals held in Tokyo, along with Sanja Matsuri and Kanda Matsuri. Nicknamed mizu-kake matsuri, literally water throwing festival, you will soon understand its meaning, where people throw wa..
Commemorating Ota-ku’s declaration of itself as Peace City, a firework festival is held on August 15th every year, the date that marks the end of WWII in Japan. The 7,000 fireworks sparkling above the Tama River are a spectacular site to behold..
This August, see thousands of dancers converge in over 100 dance squads in Harajuku for some stunning performances. Yosakoi is a Japanese dance style that combines traditionnal and modern elements in the music and dance moves, but also in the colorfu..
A 35-minute train ride away from Shinjuku, Machida provides a respite from the chaos in downtown Tokyo. The town offers a mix of traditional charms and modern entertainment to keep visitors busy. Animal lovers can head straight for Squirrel Park, where 100 squirrels roam and can be fed. For farming ..
Step into the world of youth subculture and quirky fashion in Harajuku, where you will be greeted by groups of teenagers in the wildest outfits. This is one of Tokyo's vibrant towns — a combination of an urban facade and traditional attractions. There is much to do in Harajuku, starting fr..
Once the first stop on the long road from Tokyo to Kyoto, today Shinagawa is one of Japan's busiest neighborhoods, filled with shopping, entertainment and activities. Located in the heart of Tokyo near Haneda Airport with direct connections to Narita Airport, Shinagawa is much more than a conven..
Visitors to Japan may expect that, Tokyo being a big Asian city, it will inevitably have street food. It’s true that Tokyo does have some street vendor fare. A visitor can satisfy their sweet tooth with crepes, taiyaki or yakisoba. Or for those..
No Meat No Life is a yakiniku (barbecue) chain restaurant, and after sampling some of their dishes, you will know that this establishment lives up to their name. They have counter seats for those who are dining alone. Of course, they also have tables..
Gyoza (pot stickers) are small dumplings filled with ingredients such as minced pork and vegetables. They can be cooked a number of ways, including pan-fried, known as ‘yaki gyoza’ which is the most popular way of preparing it in Japan. T..
Faced with a late night and early next-day departure from Tokyo one time, I decided (as I often do) that it would be easier to stay in town rather than go home then get up early and come back in again for my bus. Not needing luxury I looked for somew..
Located minutes from the Imperial Palace grounds near Takebashi station, Nine Hours opened its sixth location in March 2018 continuing the expansion of this capsule hotel chain. The capsule hotel concept has fascinated yet also bemused many a travele..
Guesthouse Sensu is a fascinating and cozy place, and its owner, who goes by the name Toshi, has a rather interesting background. He was born and raised in Ota City and has been practicing tea ceremony—known in Japanese as ‘sado’ (t..
"The obsession with running is really an obsession with the potential for more and more life." – Running legend, George Sheehan And so is the obsession with travel. If you’re a runner, pretty much any city you visit becomes your..
If you have time for only one run in Tokyo, you must do the Imperial Palace course. Home to the most famous family in Japan, the palace lies at the heart of the capital. The 5 km circuit around the palace is extremely popular among runners, and many ..
Tokyo Tower is an iconic symbol of Tokyo built shortly after the post-war reconstruction era. An incredibly popular sightseeing destination for those looking to get a central view of Tokyo's skyline from 333 meters high. Designed similar to the E..
