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The Senso-ji temple in Asakusa
Many of us have heard of this Buddhist temple, which is the most visited temple in Tokyo, and the most popular among tourists. It is located in the Asakusa district that became a tourist landmark. There is a huge shopping street called Nakamise-dôri leading to the temple and that is full of stalls and small gift shops. Many people know this temple, but few of them know about its history and what makes it one of the most important temples in Japan… The Senso-ji temple is actually the oldest one in Tokyo: its history goes back a long time ago. It was built in 645, during the Asuka period, when…
Trip to Nara
The famous city of Nara is located in the central part of the main island of Honshu. Nara is the capital of Nara Prefecture, and it is surrounded by hills, forests and wide fields. Nara was the first capital of Japan from 710 (written Heijō (平城) but also pronounced Nara at the time). In 784 Emperor Kammu had his residence moved from Nara to Nagaoka in order to remove politics from the great infulence of the Buddhist priests. After this Nara lost its political significance, but has remained Japan’s most significant cultural site to this day. Over time the city’s area has shifted eastwards so that the historical city is…
Pay by cash in Japan
It can be very surprising to pay by cash all the time in a country at the cutting edge of technology. Hopefully, Japan is one of the safest country in the world, so don’t worry to carry a large amount of cash! Before arriving in Japan, don’t forget to check your withdrawal limit per day or per week because all is paid by cash, even your rent, so you can reach your withdrawal limit very quickly! There is no need to buy Japanese yens before arriving in Japan because the commission (about 3%) is higher than in the airports and ATMs. In Japan, there are few ATMs that accept international…
A well hidden little attraction that is not to be missed if in Tokyo, The Golden Gai.
Golden Gai, Shinjuku, Tokyo Golden Gai located just a few minutes’ walk from the East Exit of Shinjuku Station, it is located between Shinjuku City Office and the Hanazono Shrine. Golden Gai known for its architectural attraction and its nightlife, this is one those experiences in Japan that is a must-see, if it is not on your to do list, make sure it is added! Golden Gai was known for prostitution before 1958, when prostitution became illegal. Since then it has been developed as a drinking area, and some of the bars can trace their origins back to the 1960’s to the 1980’s, many buildings in Tokyo were set on…
The Tokyo International Anime Fair
Like every year, there is going to be the Tokyo International Anime Fair. It is the largest anime trade fair in the world. If you get the chance to be in Tokyo on March 23rd and 24th, have a look at the convention and exhibition center Tokyo Big Sight where it will be held. You will find many booths offering all kinds of animation and character goodies, as well as hundreds of Japanese and foreign companies showing their latest creations. You will also have the opportunity to be part of workshops or to attend shows and lectures given by various artists and voice actors. The Tokyo International Anime Fair, also…
Tokyo Health Industry Show 2013 (13wed.-15fri. March 2013 Tokyo Big Sight )
The rapidly aging population and soaring medical expenses due to an increase in lifestyle diseases are two critical problems facing Japanese society. Preserving health and promoting healthy lifestyles are the focus not only of the government but also of individual consumers. In order to meet growing demand and diversifying consumer needs, buyers and distributors in Japan are actively looking for unique and innovative health products from around the world. This means that the opportunities in the Japanese market for overseas manufacturers and suppliers of health products have never been better – and the strong yen means that the profits to be earned have never been higher! Over the past 30…
French literature in Tokyo? …It’s possible!
Sometimes you may want to read a small book on the train or in our house. Depending on the distance wherever in Japan it is not easy to gain access of a French literature book. You can always order on the Internet but it is relatively expensive or another option is to go to the Japanese library, however the selection is very few. If you are searching for books for yourself or for your children, you will have to make a small tour to Omeisha or the French-Japanese bookshop center in Itabashi. Omeisha is a small French bookshop situated in Iidabashi. In the store, there numerous bookeshelves and they are…
Ghibli Museum!
To all Miyazaki and Ghibli fans in Tokyo! Here is a place you have to visit: the Ghibli Museum. It is a museum dedicated to the Studio Ghibli and located in Mitaka, in the Tokyo area. It was designed by Miyazaki himself and it officially opened on October 1st, 2001. There are two main exhibits: one shows the history and science of animation, with models of Ghibli characters, paintings, etc. There is even a studio (the Saturn Theater) where you can watch short-movies. The second one is a model of an animation studio introducing the process of creating an animated film, with sketches, storyboarding, coloring, paintings, etc. There is also…
Japanese cooking class
Last Tuesday there was a Japanese cooking class in Ôtsuka. The teacher was a really good Japanese cook who even studied French cooking in Paris. She was thus able to introduce Japanese gastronomy in French too, which was really convenient for the French people who were there. There were actually more foreigners than Japanese people. The teacher kindly showed how to make various Japanese meals as onigiri (rice balls), Japanese omelets, or yakitori (roasted chicken). She even taught people how to use the suihanki, the essential appliance to cook Japanese rice, and introduced many simple ingredients to cook with, as soy sauce, sake, or sesame. Finally, the attendants composed bentos…
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