Rain

In Japan we have a rainy season between spring and summer and in Tokyo it usually begins in early June and lasts until the end of July. During a rainy season dark gray sky and humidity may annoy you almost every day… But does rain depress you?

Rain grows hedges.

  

Rain washes away dirt and refreshes green.

Rain creates illusions.  

     

Rain inspired Hiroshige Utagawa (1797-1858), one of the ukiyo-e (color woodblock print) masters of the late Edo period (mid-19^th century), to create a masterpiece “Shower on Ohashi Bridge at Atake” which surprised people: Oh, rain is depict-able!

  

Rain relayed inspiration to Vincent van Gogh to make a copy.  

Rain still falls on the bridge of today which is now called Shin Ohashi Bridge and spans the Sumida-gawa River viewing toward the opposite bank of Fukagawa area of Koto City once called “Atake”.

Rain comforts sorrow and reminds us of gratitude for sunshine.

And now the rainy season is over and shiny summer has just begun.    by A.M. 

Hot and humid summer has come in Japan.

Would you like to visit koto city and enjoy sightseeing during summer vacation? 

If so, please join our free walking tours!

Summer party at Kiyosumi Garden

Ryotei at Kiyosumi Garden 

Kiyosumi Garden park is one of the most famous scenic spots in Tokyo.

It is said that this garden is used to be a property of famous merchant, Kinokuniya Bunzaemon , then later become a residence area of feudal lord in 1878. In 19^th century, the founder of Mitsubishi　zaibatsu, one of the greatest financial conglomerates, Iwasaki Yataro bought this property for providing to his employees as one of welfare purpose or treat the important guests. After the time of re-design and construction, the garden opened to the public and named Fukagawa Shinbokuen.

A view from terrace of Ryotei

 In 1979, this garden is designated as the famous sightseeing spot by Tokyo government, as a Kiyosumi garden.

This garden is famous for its design, strolling style tree filled design. As many typical strolling style garden, Kiyosumi garden feature a central pond with rocks and trees arranged around it. 

A view from terrace of Ryotei

Some strolling style gardens have a rest house for relaxing, having tea break, enjoying a cool breeze or moon-viewing. 

A view of Mt. Fuji

A view from terrace of Ryotei

Preparation for party

At Kiyosumi garden, the house “Ryotei” was originally built in purpose for rest house, though it is opened to public to promote peoples communication chance, such as meeting, gathering or party.

From the terrace of Ryotei, you can overlook 360 degree of Kiyosumi garden.

For our party, we brought our own foods and drinks. Once entering Ryotei, we started setting the tables, zabuton (Japanese cushion) for relaxing, eating and chatting.

The room is large enough for 23 of us.

At the end of party, we took our pictures as a good memory in summer vacation.

by A.C

It’s hot and humid at middle summer in Japan.

Would you like to visit koto city and enjoy cool breezing at Kiyosumi Garden ? 

If so, please join our free walking tours!

Suggestions for Having Fun in the Rainy Season

In the beginning of June, the rainy season has started in Tokyo.  Please do not hesitate to go out because we have some suggestions on where to go in Koto City on a rainy day.

The flower of the rainy season, hydrangea

Refreshing waterfall

1.  Yume-no-shima Tropical Greenhouse Dome

As you enter the big dome, lots of green plants 

and the waterfall make you think that you are taking a walk in the tropical rain forest far away from Tokyo. Yume-no-shima Tropical Greenhouse Dome consists of three domes, 

Tropical plants and flowers

A Dome of the woody fernery, B Dome of the tropical village, and C Dome of the plants in Ogasawara and traveler’s-tree.  You will find various kinds of unique tropical plants as well as seasonal tropical flowers and fruits.  Inside the dome, comfortable temperature is maintained throughout the year.

Tropical plants and flowers

The energy necessary for heating and air-conditioning the dome is produced by the nearby waste incineration plant.  The high temperature water (125Cº) made by the incinerating heat of the garbage is drawn to the dome and then converted to energy using heat converter and absorbent-type freezer.

The chimney of the waste incineration plant

There are more exhibits of the plants outside the three domes including the insectivorous plants (plants that consume insects), the Australian plants and the herb garden.







YUME-NO-SHIMA TROPICAL GREENHOUSE DOME

Open hours:  9:30am to 5:00pm (Last Admission 4:00pm), Closed on Mondays

Location and Access: 

Yume-no-shima 2-1-2 Koto-ku, Tokyo

15 minutes walk from Shin-kiba station on the JR Keiyo Line / the Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line / Rinkai Line.

2. Bird Café

Are you getting tired of taking a break at regular coffee shops that are almost everywhere in Tokyo?  If so, how about visiting a café at which “birds” are in the staff members.

Staff birds” at work

 There are about 20 kinds of “staff birds” including owls, parakeets, and parrots.  The staff members change from time to time, and sometimes baby birds join them.  They are kept in the cage, and you are free to take pictures.  If you want to put an owl on your arm (wearing a protective glove) and feel its feathers, you can do so with an extra charge of 500 yen.

Even the desserts look like birds

TORI NO IRU CAFÉ

Open hours:  Weekdays 1pm to 8pm (Closed on Wednesdays), Weekends 11am to 8pm

Location and Access:  2-6-7 Kiba, Tokyo

5 minutes walk from Exit 4A of Kiba station on Tokyo Metro Tozai Line or 10 minutes walk from Exit 2 of Monzen-nakacho station on the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line / Oedo Line. by K.S.

It’s a good time to visit Japan before it gets so hot in the summer.

Are you interested in visiting unique spots in Koto City? 

If so, please join our free walking tours!

Volunteer tour guide Tokyo-tourism

An opening ceremony was held on 19th June at the Tokyo

Metropolitan office hall and that kicked off Sightseeing Guides

in the street. At the ceremony Mr.Masuzoe said when he went

sightseeing in Seoul, Korea he was guided by a tour guide. He

was very impressed by her manner and spoken English that he

really wanted to bring that to Tokyo. 

The next day on the 20th, I was in the Ueno Area. From 2 o'clock

in the afternoon, I and another tour guide walked a decided tour

route wearing our uniform which displayed on big writing [Tokyo

Omotenashi] on the back of our shirts and on our hats.

Omotenashi shirt

  

As we were walking, a few tourists asked us some touring questions.

(Where is the Ueno Park?)

(Where is the Hato Bus?)

We led them to the JR Ueno station and showed them which line led

to Tokyo station.

(I'd like to go to the Narita Airport.)

The tourist said. He had a ticket from Joumou Kougen (in Gunma) to

Narita Airport by JR. He was in front of the Keisei Skyliner's Station.

I said that with this ticket, you can't get on this line. Only two minutes

remained before his train departed, so he quickly bought the correct

ticket and got on the skyliner.

These days, at lest once a month, I guide tourists in Ueno area.

Sometimes I feel like a consultant rather than a guide.

I don't know what kind of unexpected questions I will encounter but

I do my best to prepare for anything.

I'm a member of Ueno Area sightseeing guide in the street.　by M.S

Would you like to stroll sightseeing spots or food stalls at downtown in Tokyo ?

If so, please join our free walking tours!

Sumo stable tour this Thursday

We well have a sumo stable tour to watch their practice in the morning of this Thursday, June 11, in Kiyosumi-Shirakawa area, Koto-ku, Tokyo. 

We have room for up to 3 people for this tour. If you want to join us, please send us a request by e-mail, under the subject of "sumo tour on June 11". Please include your name, number of participants, nationality, gender, age and your contact number*. Request must be sent by 8:00pm, June 10, Wednesday.
Our e-mail address: koto.guide@gmail.com

We will take your request on a first come, first served basis and send the detailed information to the person / people who can join us.

If you will not get reply from us by midnight Wednesday, it means that we can not meet your request this time. Please wait for the next chance.
Good luck!

*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.

Let's take a walk around Fukagawa area !

Spring is one of the best seasons to do something in Japan since it’s neither too hot nor too cold. Why don’t you take a walk in best season in Japan? Well, I highly recommend that you take a walk around Fukagawa area, Koto-Ward, Tokyo. 

These days this area turned cool spot! Former warehouses were reborn as cool shops, restaurants, cafes and the like. 

Stylish ones opened one after another in this area recently. Actually, since the early 17th century, this area has developed as a warehouse district and residential area of common people, and flourished well. 

Nowadays, these shops and cafes quietly have been popular among Tokyoites. So it must be fun to make a tour of cool ones in comfortable climate in Japan!

Also, I recommend that you visit Fukagawa Edo Mueum if you would like to experience the atmosphere of this area 200 years ago. You can enjoy cool spots now and the past, and must be able to get good memories of Tokyo. So let’s take a walk around Fukagawa area!                   by K.E








It is almost rainy season in Japan.
Would you like to take a walk to visit cool spots in Koto city ?
If so, please join our  free walking tours!

Wisteria Festival at Kameido Tenjin shrine

Wisteria Festival at Kameido Tenjin shrine is very popular.  It is held from late April to the early May (around "Golden Week").  There will be full of Lavender colored flowers at the shrine, and it is really beautiful especially when they are dangled from wisteria trellises.

At the pond, you can also find many small tortoises.  "Kameido" means  "the door of tortoises," so they keep tortoises there.

You can enjoy the view of wisteria with Tokyo Skytree! 

The nearest stations are Tokyo Metro Hanzomon line "Kinsicho," JR Sobu line "Kinshicho" and "Kameido."  From Tokyo or Akihabara, I recommend you to get off at Kinshicho since you can watch Tokyo Skytree while walking to Kameido Tenjin shrine. 

by M.G

Early summer is the best season to visit Japan.
Would you like to enjoy flower blooming ?
If so, please join our  free walking tours!