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

A City Within A City Yebisu Garden Place is a “city within a city” entertainment, retail and office development located in the Ebisu district of Tokyo one train stop south of fashionable Shibuya. (Source: https://bit.ly/2lIsOP1) The site was previously the huge Yebisu Beer brewery and is inspired by the look of an old European city, with plazas, passages, symmetrical gardens and faux-ancient architecture – yet with decidedly modern facilities and conveniences. Among its numerous buildings and attractions are a beer museum, a photography museum, a cinema, a department store, an international hotel, and numerous dining opportunities including a Michelin 3-star restaurant. (Source: https://bit.ly/2yT8FyT) The Central Square has a magnificent arch … 続きを読む