Our next free volunteer-guided walking tours will be held on May 28, Saturday.
It's a beautiful season in Tokyo. Enjoy tours, have a glimpse of Shitamachi (Tokyo’s old town) and discover a local traditional Japanese culture with your friends. (Inquire about custom tours and days.)
【Course A】
“See the mysterious Ritual of Fire, find the difference between Shinto shrines & Buddhist temples.”
Tour dates & time : May 28, Saturday, 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】
“Learn about Basho, the founder of Haiku, the world’s shortest poems; See a Japanese Garden.”
Tour date & time: May 28, Saturday, 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
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.
May 20, 2011
May 11, 2011
Why cancel the Fukagawa Festival?
Soon after the big earthquake on 3.11, Tomioka Hachimangu shrine in Koto-ku, Tokyo, decided to cancel this year's Fukagawa Festival, which is one of the big three festivals in Tokyo and held only once every three years.
But local people are not convinced why it has to be cancelled. Cancellation doesn't make sense, they think.
As the Festival attracts half a million onlookers, we could use the chance to help such activities as fundraising for the people affected and also to help revitalising the economy, their website says.
They have started collecting signatures appealing for holding the Festival. If you agree with them, you can contribute by sending e-mail to : fukagawa_2011@mail.goo.ne.jp, with the subject "Kaisai Sando"(in favor of holding the festival) , and your name and address (only state / prefecture is OK) in message body.
Fukagawa Festival: Held every three years in August, also called "water-throwing festival", as spectators throw water on the mikoshi carriers. More than 50 spectacular Mikoshis, or mobile shrines, parade through the town with Tokyo's traditional calling out "Wa-sshoi". The water helps both cooling them down and making people more and more excited.
But local people are not convinced why it has to be cancelled. Cancellation doesn't make sense, they think.
As the Festival attracts half a million onlookers, we could use the chance to help such activities as fundraising for the people affected and also to help revitalising the economy, their website says.
They have started collecting signatures appealing for holding the Festival. If you agree with them, you can contribute by sending e-mail to : fukagawa_2011@mail.goo.ne.jp, with the subject "Kaisai Sando"(in favor of holding the festival) , and your name and address (only state / prefecture is OK) in message body.
Fukagawa Festival: Held every three years in August, also called "water-throwing festival", as spectators throw water on the mikoshi carriers. More than 50 spectacular Mikoshis, or mobile shrines, parade through the town with Tokyo's traditional calling out "Wa-sshoi". The water helps both cooling them down and making people more and more excited.
April 19, 2011
Next tour: April 30, Saturday
We will be holding free volunteer-guided walking tours on April 30, Saturday, as scheduled.
It's one of the best seasons for walking tour in Tokyo.
【Course A】
“See the mysterious Ritual of Fire, find the difference between Shinto shrines & Buddhist temples.”
Tour dates & time : April 30, Saturday, 1:00 pm– 3:00 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
For application: Please select your desired course and e-mail to <koto.guide (a) gmail.com> -- replace (a) with @-- (subject: Koto City Walking Tour) with your name, gender, nationality, number of participants and your contact number. We will reply to your e-mail as soon as possible.
It's one of the best seasons for walking tour in Tokyo.
 |
| Fukagawa Fudoson |
“See the mysterious Ritual of Fire, find the difference between Shinto shrines & Buddhist temples.”
Tour dates & time : April 30, Saturday, 1:00 pm– 3:00 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
For application: Please select your desired course and e-mail to <koto.guide (a) gmail.com> -- replace (a) with @-- (subject: Koto City Walking Tour) with your name, gender, nationality, number of participants and your contact number. We will reply to your e-mail as soon as possible.
Back To Normal
Worrying about visiting or going out in Japan?
In Tokyo, everything has got back to normal and people here are enjoying sunny beautiful days of spring as usual.
Why don't you get out and attend our free walking tour?
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| Family and children enjoy Hanami, cherry blossom watching, in Kiba-koen park, Koto-ku, Tokyo |
February 9, 2011
Valuable Stones in Kiyosumi Garden
Did you know that Kiyosumi garden has a big collection of rare, valuable stones? No other Japanese garden in Tokyo, or maybe in Japan, has such collection of stones of this size and variety.
It was made possible because the garden was built by Iwasaki Yataro, the founder of Mitsubishi-- one of the biggest conglomerate in Japan. As a millionaire in the beginning of modern Japan, Iwasaki collected famous stones and rocks from all over Japan and brought them to Kiyosumi, using his company's ships. They were placed by the pond, along the path, or used as stepping stones.
Next time you visit Kiyosumi garden, look for different colors, shapes, placements of various stones. When it rains, some of them look more beautiful.
Want to know more about these stones and Kiyosumi garden? We have free English guided tours for you!
Sado Akadama-ishi (red stone)
Perhaps the most rare, precious stone in this garden.
Used to be popular for rich Samurai gardens. This type of stones were yielded only in a limited area in Sado Island, Niigata. Unfortunately, almost all of them have had been mined out, and no more left to be yielded. That's why it is so valuable.
Soshu Manazuru-ishi
It took thousands of years for a stone to become a natural basin like this.
Kishu Ao-ishi (blue stone)
There are a lot of blue stones in various part of the garden. They have different colours, shapes and surfaces.
This three Ao-ishi stones represent Buddhist statues. Small stones at the bottom represent water.
Stepping stones
Natural stones are placed as stepping stones to cross the pond, instead of bridges.
Sazare-ishi
Weathered stone covered with moss.
Kiyosumi Teien
Beautiful Japanese strolling garden in Koto-ku, Tokyo. Built in 1878 and contributed to the city of Tokyo in 1932. Appointed as Place of scenic beauty of Tokyo Prefecture in 1979.
It was made possible because the garden was built by Iwasaki Yataro, the founder of Mitsubishi-- one of the biggest conglomerate in Japan. As a millionaire in the beginning of modern Japan, Iwasaki collected famous stones and rocks from all over Japan and brought them to Kiyosumi, using his company's ships. They were placed by the pond, along the path, or used as stepping stones.
Next time you visit Kiyosumi garden, look for different colors, shapes, placements of various stones. When it rains, some of them look more beautiful.
Want to know more about these stones and Kiyosumi garden? We have free English guided tours for you!
Perhaps the most rare, precious stone in this garden.
Used to be popular for rich Samurai gardens. This type of stones were yielded only in a limited area in Sado Island, Niigata. Unfortunately, almost all of them have had been mined out, and no more left to be yielded. That's why it is so valuable.
It took thousands of years for a stone to become a natural basin like this.
There are a lot of blue stones in various part of the garden. They have different colours, shapes and surfaces.
Natural stones are placed as stepping stones to cross the pond, instead of bridges.
Weathered stone covered with moss.
Kiyosumi Teien
Beautiful Japanese strolling garden in Koto-ku, Tokyo. Built in 1878 and contributed to the city of Tokyo in 1932. Appointed as Place of scenic beauty of Tokyo Prefecture in 1979.
January 13, 2011
Free tours : January - March
We have the following free volunteer-guided walking tours in January, February and March.
Enjoy the friendly atmosphere of Edo Shitamachi (Tokyo’s old town) where the history and culture of Edo era (early 17th − mid 19th century) still lives. Friendly, English speaking locals are your guides.
【Course A】
“See the difference between Shinto shrines & Buddhist temples.”
Tour dates & time : (Saturday) January 29, February 26, March 26 / 13:00 – 15:00 (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】
“Learn about Basho, the founder of Haiku, the world’s shortest poems; See a Japanese Garden.”
Tour dates & time: (Saturday) January 29, February 26, March 26 / 13:00 – 15:00 (2 hours)
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 (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.
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 @-- (subject: Koto City Walking Tour) with your name, gender, nationality, number of participants and your contact number. We will reply to your e-mail as soon as possible.
Enjoy the friendly atmosphere of Edo Shitamachi (Tokyo’s old town) where the history and culture of Edo era (early 17th − mid 19th century) still lives. Friendly, English speaking locals are your guides.
 |
| Fudomyoo, God of Fire |
【Course A】
“See the difference between Shinto shrines & Buddhist temples.”
Tour dates & time : (Saturday) January 29, February 26, March 26 / 13:00 – 15:00 (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 Garden |
Tour dates & time: (Saturday) January 29, February 26, March 26 / 13:00 – 15:00 (2 hours)
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 (pay at the gate)
Tour fee: Free of charge
Please feel free to consult us concerning other courses and their dates as well.
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 @-- (subject: Koto City Walking Tour) with your name, gender, nationality, number of participants and your contact number. We will reply to your e-mail as soon as possible.
December 24, 2010
KEV Year-end party 2010 !!
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