2021 Hanami 🌸 Last year around about now, covid-19 was slowly spreading infections and fear around the world. We decided not to go to 花見 (hanami, cherry blossom viewing) as I killed my longing to enjoy the traditional Japanese event so that we and people around us can live. This year, covid-19 is still spreading … Continue reading Sakura 2 ways: view at hanami and taste with wagashi
February 23 is Japanese emperor's birthday which fell on a Tuesday in 2021 and is a public holiday. Many people decided to take Monday off to make a longer weekend.My husband and his brother did so; I were not so lucky but we decided to take this opportunity to explore beyond Tokyo and enjoy the … Continue reading Tokyo weekend getaway: Karuizawa, Nagano
Monday was a Mountain Day, another public holiday in Japan so we headed 2 hours north west from central Tokyo to 奥多摩 (Okutama) for some cooling riverside air and openness, while still being within Tokyo. 🌳🌳🌳 So much greenery! 🌳 🌳🌳 Riding the rapid Chuo line took us to the most outer edge of Tokyo … Continue reading Is this really Tokyo? Cooling off in Okutama
Last year in 2019, I attempted twice to visit Sumo in Tokyo but both time, the tickets were sold out. As January Tokyo season was coming to an end, the only option seemed to be heading to 両国国技館 (Ryogoku Kokugikan) on the day of the tournament to try my luck at the day ticket release. … Continue reading Back to the future: Slip back to Edo then back to Tokyo at Edo Tokyo Museum
The temperature has dropped to the low single digits in Tokyo in the morning and at night these days. When the sun shone through our curtain on Sunday morning, we decided to warm up by hopping on our bikes to 白金台 (Shirokanedai), with Institute for Nature Study as our destination. A little bit about Institute … Continue reading Lush centuries-old forest in Tokyo: the Institute for Nature Study
From 1st of March, Japan is in spring. Oh these pink bursts in front of this shrine? No, these beautiful blossoms aren’t cherry blossoms – they are plum blossoms. Spring is in the air Not known to many foreigners, plum blossoms end the Japanese winter and kicks off the spring season between mid-February to the … Continue reading Bring on spring!
Native Expat 