Next tour: March 30, Saturday

In Tokyo, cherry blossom season officially started, with The Japan Meteorological Agency declared that the first flower bloomed on Saturday. That's 10 days earlier than average and I wonder if the blossoms will last until our next tour, which is on March 30, Saturday.
Anyway, it is definitely the best season to join our walking tour to enjoy the spring. Click here for details.

Next tour: February 23, Saturday

This month, we will have the Course B tour, visiting Basho Haiku museum and a beautiful Japanese garden. Click here for for detail.

Kiyosumi garden covered with snow

Next time it snows, you should definitely

 visit Kiyosumi garden.

                                                                                                    Photos by Ishii-san

Next tour: January 26, Saturday

Have you visited shrine to start the new year? Not yet? Then how about joining our tour, visiting a Shinto shrine and a Buddhist temple to make a wish for a happy year in Japanese style?  Or you can choose the tour to Basho Haiku museum and a beautiful Japanese garden. Click here for for details.  

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.