Standing 333 meters high in the centre of Tokyo, Tokyo Tower (東京タワー) is the world’s tallest, self-supported steel tower and 13 meters taller than its model, the Eiffel Tower. A symbol of Japan’s post-war rebirth as a major economic power, Tokyo Tower was the country’s tallest structure from its completion in 1958 until 2012 when it was surpassed by the Tokyo Skytree. In addition to being a popular tourist spot, Tokyo Tower serves as a broadcast antenna. (Image by hans-johnson via https://www.flickr.com/photos/hansjohnson/31846804332/) Tokyo Tower’s History With the start of NHK, Japan’s national broadcaster, in 1953, the Tokyo area needed a large broadcasting tower. Simultaneously, the government wanted to make a … 続きを読む

Modelled after a traditional Edo raised storehouse, from the outside the Edo Tokyo Museum looks like an enormous spaceship crossed with a luxury cruise ship. As the train pulls into the Ryogoku district where the museum is located, you can see the building hovering over the Kokugikan sumo stadium about to beam up all of the wrestlers. This museum is Japan’s premier museum dedicated to the history of Japan’s capital city, Tokyo. (Image by fletcherjcm via https://www.flickr.com/photos/maryandjc/3977068202/) What is Edo Tokyo Museum? Before becoming “Tokyo” in 1869, this area used to be referred to as Edo. At the Edo Tokyo Museum, you can learn all about the fascinating history of … 続きを読む

Discover a world full of wonder and beauty with a ticket to teamLab Borderless Digital Art Museum. The museum uses digital projectors to create animated artworks which move on the walls, floors, and ceiling. Interact with these stunning pieces and watch as they move and respond to you. What is teamLab? teamLab is an art collective widely renowned in Japan for their immersive digital art exhibitions. The collective is composed of professionals from various fields, not only in the arts, such as programmers, engineers, mathematicians, and architects. They have also been recognised in different parts of the world for their ground-breaking representation of modern art. teamLab has been holding art … 続きを読む

The distinctive white building is a modern-day icon, beautiful in its simplicity and minimalism. It was designed by architect firm Kume Sekkei and makes the most of the relative lack of space: there’s only 200sqm of floor space to play with here. To make up for it, they’ve created a structure of stacked ‘cubes’, with windows at alternate angles to let natural light seep in and give each floor a sense of airiness. Getting tickets has proved to be akin to juggling underwater, and all tickets for the inaugural exhibition have sold out. Whether you managed to bag some and are curious about what you’ll see or are weeping in … 続きを読む

Relax In One of The Famous Japanese Hot Springs in Tokyo Many foreign tourists come to Japan with a to-do list and it is highly likely that having an onsen experience is in it! However, most people think that they could only experience this activity in the rural areas of Japan, and that is definitely not true! Foreign tourists now can also experience this in cities, such as Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. In Tokyo though, there is one which is rather popular in the Shinjuku ward, which is called Thermae-yu. Natural Hot Spring From Shizuoka Thermae-yu is a hot spring facility in Tokyo’s Kabukicho, and is reputed to be the … 続きを読む

Immerse Yourself In Traditional Japanese Performing Arts! Discover Japanese Performing Arts at this Historic Institution Noh and Kabuki might not do it for everyone, but whether you’re an avid theatre geek or a complete novice, the National Theatre provides an enigmatic introduction. Located in Chiyoda-ku, easily accessible on the Tokyo subway, the National Theatre puts on regular shows and workshops year-round. The National Theatre in Hayabusacho near Nagatacho is one of several national theatres in Japan. These include the National Engei Hall (part of the National Theatre complex), the National Noh Theatre in Shibuya, the National Bunraku Theatre in Osaka, the National Theatre Okinawa in Urasoe, Okinawa and the New … 続きを読む

Get behind the scenes at Japan’s national broadcaster Not a lot of us will have an opportunity to star in TV programs produced by NHK–Japan’s leading public broadcasting organization–but you can experience being a cast member in the NHK Studio Park. Get here by taking a 12-minute walk after exiting Shibuya or Harajuku Stations. What is NHK Studio Park? Nippon Hoso Kyokai or NHK is Japan’s national broadcaster, filling TV screens and radio waves across the nation. Incredibly influential, the network has been around for over 90 years now, having made it first radio broadcast back in 1925. NHK Studio Park is part of the NHK complex, and it is … 続きを読む

The Rise and Fall of Ukiyo-e (Source: https://bit.ly/2Dz0nif) When asked to name a piece of classical Japanese art, the first image that springs to mind for many people is The Great Wave off Kanazawa by Hokusai Katsushika. This print, first published in the 1830s, is an example of the precise, colourful wood block prints, or ukiyo-e, for which Japan is justly renowned. Ukiyo-e and its related genres developed over the course of about three hundred years, from the 17th through the 19th centuries. Known for strong lines, beautiful colours, and stylised forms, the prints are one of the earliest forms of mass-produced, commercial artwork. During the form’s heyday, common subjects … 続きを読む

Unlike Any Other Parks in Japan (Source: https://bit.ly/2NqqU1w) Tokyo has a multitude of parks, but not all parks attract the same kind of visitors. For instance, Shinjuku Gyoen doesn’t allow alcohol, so it’s recommended for families, or garden/parks like Koishikawa Korakuen are more for those who want to appreciate nature quietly—no picnics or anything, just strolling and taking photos. So where do you go if you’re looking for a hip, fun park? Yoyogi Park—that’s where! Located near the JR Line’s Harajuku or Yoyogi Station, or Tokyo Metro’s Meiji-Jingumae Station, Yoyogi Park is one of Tokyo’s largest parks at 54.1 hectares. Although it was officially created as a park in 1967, … 続きを読む

The Brilliance of Kengo Kuma A bamboo screen, a driveway lined with pebbles, and a wall with warm colours invites visitors into another world, away from the nearby bustle and ostentatious signs. The two-story museum building was rebuilt in 2006, and is a large airy, atmospheric space where selections of the Museum’s approximately 7,400 pieces can be enjoyed in periodically changing general exhibitions, and where special exhibitions are also held. After three and a half years of closure, the museum, a true urban oasis, was revamped and reopened in October 2009. The architect Kengo Kuma has created a natural wonder of a building with glass walls supporting an impressive tiled … 続きを読む