Sumo Training Stable Tour in January

We will have a special tour on January 5, Saturday, visiting a Sumo training stable in Koto-ku, Tokyo. We have room for 3 more people.

If you would like to join, send us email to koto.guide@gmail.com, with your name, gender, nationality, number of participants and your contact number. 
If we get inquiries for more than 3 people, we will handle them on first-come, first-served basis.

The tour starts at 7:45am, watch the morning training session in a sumo stable. Later, we will guide you throug to Fukagawa Edo Museum.

Experience the Traditional Japanese New Year

Kado-matsu

Want to experience the traditional new year in Japan?
Then Fukagawa Edo Museum in Koto-ku, Tokyo, is one of the best places to visit.

Celebrating new year is traditionally the most important event in a year for Japanese people. And at the museum, special exhibition started today, Decembet 26, in which you will find full of new year decorations and performances.

At the entrance of exhibition floor, the spectacular kado-matsu (literally means "gate pine") in front of the merchant house will greets you. It consists of tall bamboo trees and pine leaves, both the symbol of longevity. Smaller kado-matsu are also placed in front of other buildings.

Kagami-mochi

In the boathouses, don't miss the big luxurious Kagami-mochi, layers of round shaped rice cakes decorated with seaweeds and lobster.  In some rooms of Nagaya  (apartment houses), you will find Zouni, a typical new year's soup style meal consists of rice cakes and vegetables. Even pair of special chopsticks are arranged.

If you have a chance to visit the museum on January 2 or 3, you will be very lucky because on these days, they have Shishi-mai (lion dance) performance along with Ohayashi (festival music) performance. It is said that if the lion bites you (well, don't worry, it actually means to put your head into the lion mask's big mouth), you will have a good luck that year!
The performance time : 11am, 1pm, 3pm, January 2 and 3.


New year exhibition of Fukagawa Edo Museum: December 26 - January 14 (museum closed from December 29 to January 1)
On January 2 and 3, the first 50 visitors each will get a special new year's gift from the museum. It opens 9:30 am.

Fukagawa Edo Museum :
The mid-19th century town of Edo (old Tokyo) has been reproduced in real size. You can walk through the street, touch and feel the buildings and tools of 1840's.
Access: 3 minutes- walk from Kiyosumi Shirakawa Station, Oedo Line (Toei Subway) / Hanzomon Line (Tokyo Metro)
Address: 1-3-28 Shirakawa, Koto-ku, Tokyo
Admission: Adults-400yen, Children-50yen (Child or children must be accompanied by parent or guardian ) 

*photos provided by Fukagawa Edo Museum

Next tour: November 24, Saturday

Our next free volunteer-guided walking tours will be held on November 24, Saturday. Click here for  details. 

Next tour: October 27, Saturday

golden phoenix on top of Mikoshi, Tomioka Hachimangu shrine

October was once called "Kanna-zuki"（神無月）, meaning "no god month" in Japanese old calendar. It is said that in this month, gods from all over Japan go to Izumo Taisha shrine in Shimane prefecture, western Japan, for an annual gathering, so they are absent from their shrines.

Well, even if gods are absent, we still have a beautiful shrine, spectacular Mikoshi (mobile shrine), golden phoenix and lots more. Lets find out in our monthly tours. Click here for for details. 

Next tour: September 29, Saturday

Kiyosumi garden

Interested in experiencing the mysterious ritual of fire in Buddhist temple? Or feel like taking a walk in a beautiful Japanese garden to enjoy the beginning of autumn? Our next free volunteer-guided walking tours will be held on September 29, Saturday. Click here for for details. 

Once-in-3-Year Mikoshi Parade to Come This Weekend!

Two spectacular mikoshi parades will take place in the Fukagawa area in eastern Tokyo this weekend as part of a once-in-three-year big summer festival at Tomioka-Hachimangu Shrine.

Especially this year, they include the famous water throwing parade which was due last year but postponed to this summer because of the earthquake.

The festival will start on Saturday, 11th of August, when the large luxurious Mikoshi (portable shrine) from Hachimangu shrine parades through the streets. It is said that the spirit of the god rides on the Mikoshi, wishing for peace and happiness of the people. The Mikoshi is  accompanied by priests and dancing priestesses.

The water throwing parade is on Sunday, 12th of August. 54 beautiful Mikoshis from each community of Fukagawa take part in the parade. Each mikoshi is carried by dozens or even hundreds of locals with thunderous "Wasshoi" calls. The parade will start from  Hachimangu shrine at 7:30am.

People along the street pour water using buckets, hoses and even fire-extinguishing vehicles on Mikoshis and on their carriers, for purification purpose and also for refreshment in a hot, burning summer day.
If you get closer to the parade, you are sure to get soaked. Don't forget to bring plastic bag to protect your phone or camera from water.


Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine: 1-20-3 Tomioka, Koto-ku, Tokyo.
3 to 6 minutes walk from Monzen Nakacho station, on Tozai line (Tokyo Metro) or Oed Line (Toei Subway).

Sumo training stable tour on Friday

We have a special tour this Friday, 10th of August, visiting a Sumo training stable in Koto-ku, Tokyo and watching their morning training session.

The tour starts at 8:30 7:45am. If you would like to join, send us email to koto.guide@gmail.com, with your name, gender, nationality, number of participants and your contact number.
After the sumo stable, we will guide you through to Fukagawa Edo Museum.

Next tour: July 28, Saturday

You can choose from Course A:visiting a Shinto shrine and a Buddhist temple, or Course B: visiting Haiku (the world’s shortest poem) museum of Basho and a beautiful Japanese Garden. Click here for for details. 

It's summertime! but you should take your hat off in the room of the Buddha

Make a wish upon a star on July 7 : Tanabata

July 7 is the day of Tanabata, or the Star Festival. Japanese children write down their wishes on strips of paper and put them on bamboo trees with colourful ornaments, believing that the stars could make their wishes come true.

During the Edo period (1603 - 1867), Tanabata especially used to be one of the biggest events that people enjoyed most.
At that time, the stars looked so beautiful even in Tokyo that people thought if they put the bamboo trees high up in the sky, they could reach the stars.
So, families and children decorated a bamboo tree with a lot of colourful ornaments, and the town was full of those trees. Each of them were more than 10 meters high. It's like hundreds of big Christmas trees in town.

You can have the spectacular experience of the good old Tanabata in Fukagawa Edo Museum right now. English speaking guides are available in the museum, including members from KEV. The Tanabata exhibition is until July 8th. Don't miss!


Fukagawa Edo Museum :
The mid-19th century town of Edo (old Tokyo) has been reproduced in real size. You can walk throuth the street, touch and feel the buildings and tools of 1840's.
Access: 3 minutes- walk from Kiyosumi Shirakawa Station, Oedo Line (Toei Subway) / Hanzomon Line (Tokyo Metro)
Address: 1-3-28 Shirakawa, Koto-ku, Tokyo
Admission: Adults-300yen, Children-50yen (Child or children must be accompanied by parent or guardian ) 

Course B on 23rd June 2012



At Yokozuna street, we happened to meet one of trainees at Kitanoumi sumo trainig house.

Second person from left.

His name is Hakuai and kindly took a picture with tour participants.

Course B on 23rd June 2012



Tour course B includes Basho museum, memorial park, Basho inari...

A lot of Basho related sightseeing spots.

We took a picture in front of Basho statue at his memorial park.

Next tour: June 30, Saturday (or the date of your choice)

The rainy season has begun in Tokyo.
Did you know that the precious stones in Kiyosumi garden look more beautiful when it rains?
Take part in our tours to find out. Click here for for tour details.

Free tours, last Saturday of every month (or the date of your choice)

Here in Koto-ku, east part of Tokyo, the friendly atmosphere of Edo Shitamachi (Tokyo’s old town) with the history and culture of Edo era (early 17th − mid 19th century) still lives. Enjoy free walking tours, have a glimpse of Shitamachi and discover a local traditional Japanese culture.  Friendly, English speaking locals are your guides.

【Course A】

Find the difference between Shinto shrines & Buddhist temples. Experience the mysterious Goma Fire Ritual in Esoteric Buddhism.
Tour dates & time: The last Saturday of every month.2:00 pm – 4:00 pm (2 hours) 
*The date is negotiable, but allow us at least 2 weeks for arrangement
Visit: Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine and Fukagawa Fudoson Temple
Meet at: Red gate outside from the No.1 exit of Monzen-nakacho station on the subway Tozai line.
Tour fee: Free of charge
                                                                                             

【Course B】

Learn about Basho, the founder of Haiku, the world’s shortest poems. Take a scenic walk in a Japanese Garden.

Tour dates & time: The last Saturday of every month. 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm (2 hours) *The date is negotiable, but allow us at least 2 weeks for arrangement.

Visit: Basho Kinen-kan Memorial Museum and Kiyosumi Garden Park

Meet at: Basho Memorial Museum (7 minute-walk from Morishita Station on Toei Shinjuku-Line or Oedo Subway Lines :  see the map )

Admission: 200 yen for Basho Memorial Museum and 150 yen for Kiyosumi Garden (pay at the gate)

Tour fee: Free of charge

                                                                                                  

【Course C】 Customized course:
Please feel free to consult us concerning other options.
* Contact us  at least 2 weeks in advance  

for tour arrangement.

Examples:

●Katori Shinto Shrine

You can find two of the Seven Deities of Good Fortune.

●Kameido Tenjin

Let's visit Tenjin, the patron saint of scholarship.

●Fukagawa Edo Museum

Here, you can get a feel for what life was like in Tokyo’s old town in Edo period.
Admission: 400 yen

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　                

For application: Please select your desired course and e-mail to : koto.guide (a) gmail.com -- replace (a) with @--, with the subject "Koto City Walking Tour", and your name, gender, nationality, number of participants and your contact number in message body*. We will reply to your e-mail as soon as possible.

*We require this information to understand your needs and provide you with a better service. We will never sell, distribute or lease your personal information to third parties. 

Next tour: May 26, Saturday

Our next free volunteer-guided walking tours will be held on May 26, Saturday.
It's the best season for walking and sightseeing.
Click here for tour details.

Free tours, last Saturday of every month

We have free volunteer-guided walking tours on the last Saturday of every month (except December). You can choose among the following tours:

new statue of Fudomyoo

【Course A】
“Find the difference between Shinto shrines &
Buddhist temples. Experience the mysterious Goma Fire Ritual in Esoteric Buddhism."

Tour dates & time : the last Saturday of every month, 2:00 pm– 4:00 pm (2 hours)
Visit: Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine and Fukagawa Fudoson Temple
Meet at: Torii gate of Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine (3 minute-walk from Monzen nakacho station on the Tozai Subway Line: see the map)
Tour fee: Free of charge

【Course B】

Kiyosumi Teien garden

“Learn about Basho, the founder of Haiku, the world’s shortest poems; 

Take a scenic walk in a 

Japanese Garden.”

Tour date & time: the last Saturday of every month, 1:00 -3:00 pm
Visit: Basho Kinen-kan Memorial Museum and Kiyosumi Garden Park
Meet at: Basho Memorial Museum(7minute-walk from Morishita Station on Toei Shinjuku-Line or Oedo Subway Lines : see the map)
Admission: 100 yen for Basho Memorial Museum and 150 yen for Kiyosumi Garden Park (pay at the gate)
Tour fee: Free of charge


【Course C】— Customized course
Please feel free to consult us concerning other courses and their dates as well.

*Inquire at least two weeks in advance for tour arrangement.

Examples:

●Fukagawa Edo Museum

Here, you can get a feel for what life was like in Tokyo’s old town in Edo period.
●Sumo stables
You may have a rare opportunity to watch a powerful Sumo wrestlers’ morning training session.
●Edo wood carving
You can admire a skilled artisan’s precious traditional crafts.

For application: Please select your desired course and e-mail to : koto.guide (a) gmail.com -- replace (a) with @--, with the subject "Koto City Walking Tour", and your name, gender, nationality, number of participants and your contact number in message body*. We will reply to your e-mail as soon as possible.

*We require this information to understand your needs and provide you with a better service. We will never sell, distribute or lease your personal information to third parties.

Next tour: April 28, Saturday

We have free volunteer-guided walking tours on the last Saturday of every month.
Next tours will be on  April 28, Saturday. You can choose from two courses: Course A, find the different religions and experience the mysterious Ritual of Fire, or Course B, enjoy walking in a Japanese garden and learn about Haiku and Basho. Click here for details.

Next tour: April 7, Saturday

We have free volunteer-guided walking tours on the last Saturday of every month.
Next tours will be on March 31, April 7, Saturday, in Course A. Find  the difference between two major Japanese religions. Meet at 2PM in front of Torii gate of Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine (3 minute-walk from Monzen nakacho station on the Tozai Subway Line: see the map). Click here for tour detail.

KEV Tour on 28th Jan 2012

At Kiyosumi Garden, Son san, Huong san are feeding wild birds and carps.

KEV Tour on 28th Jan 2012

On 28th Jan 2012, we had a tour from Basho museum to Kiyosumi garden.

Doan Son san, Pham thi xuan huong san took part in our tour.

At Basho landscape park, we took a photo together. 



Next tour: February 25, Saturday

inside Fukagawa Fudodo Buddhist temple

We have free volunteer-guided walking tours on the last Saturday of every month.
Next tours will be on February 25. Saturday. Click here for details.

Next tour: January 28, Saturday

Our next free volunteer-guided walking tours will be held on January 28, Saturday.
Best season for bird watching in Kiyosumi Garden.
Click here for tour details.