The sheer number of hidden gems in Tokyo never ceases to amaze me. When people dismiss Tokyo as a soulless and grey modern megalopolis, they reveal their own ignorance more than anything else. It’s here more than anywhere else that the duality of Japan is most inescapable – the juxtaposition […] Read more
Nope, not sick of koyo yet… Today brings us to Kitanomaru Kouen, adjacent to Kudanshita Station and part of the old Imperial Palace grounds. The weather was crisp but crystal clear, perfect for coaxing the leaves to full splendor, so I thought it was a good time to check out […] Read more
It’s at the point now where I notice every anniversary in Japan. I went to a couple of Tori no Ichi festivals last November, soon after I arrived in Japan, and did a post on it then. But I decided to check out the big one this year, in Asakusa’s […] Read more
Here’s a bit more koyo for you, this time the famous “Gingko Avenue” near Jingu Gaien, between Gaienmae and Aoyama-Itchome stations (the later being on the routing of my commuter pass, happily). A few days early, I think, but still impressive. Read more
Can it really be my second autumn in Japan already? It’s Koyo season in Japan, when the locals get almost as obsessed with fall colors as they do with cherry blossoms. The weather was perfect yesterday and the season at its peak up in the mountains (we’re still about a […] Read more
There’s nothing like a Shrine visit to break up the routine. It’s strictly a coincidence and nothing to do with Gingitsune, but I paid a visit to Kameido Tenjinja in Eastern Tokyo today. The weather was perfect and I was in dire need of a mental health day, and the […] Read more
Japan really is the sort of place that makes you want to take pictures of lunch. I treated myself to sushi at Manten Zushi today. It’s a small sushi-ya in the Brick Square building, near beautiful Tokyo Station. They offer a terrific value at lunch – an opportunity to experience […] Read more
Japan is everywhere, if you look for it. It’s the first day of Autumn break from school, so I took a long walk in the precincts near my apartment. I wasn’t planning on doing anything but walking and observing, but I happened to have my tablet with me and since […] Read more
Yes, it’s a dance video on the net with no twerking. Exams are over, and now it’s a long weekend (a three-day weekend, in fact – the Autumnal Equinox is a national holiday here. Why are equinoxes holidays in Japan, but not solstices? That’r probably too much text for inside […] Read more
Tokyo – and Japan – never stop surprising me. One of the things I love about living here is that I’m always stumbling on something incredibly cool, be it a tiny Inari Shrine in my neighborhood or a huge temple complex on a busy commercial street that’s not mentioned in […] Read more