The Ultimate Guide To Tokyo
Big, traditional Japanese printing companies offer awesome quality printing at awesome (as in huge) prices. 30,000 yen for a set of business cards is not unusual. This is exactly why they are getting slaughtered by low-cost competitors. The …
From here on out, there are winter markets happening pretty much wherever there is space. Apparently, the Project Eat More Mushrooms people would like you to eat more mushrooms, especially on the first Saturday of each month, which they have …
With all these winter illuminations going on you have to do a bit more to get some attention - like blow things up. One such explosive event is the Odaiba Rainbow Fireworks. If all the fairy lights and the giant Gundam robot isn't enough for …
Although you might be forgiven for thinking we've skipped Autumn and gone straight to Christmas, there are various events around for enjoying the season known as 'kouyou' in Japanese - the season of changing leaves. Rikugien Gardens in the …
Choco Ball - or more correctly, 'Choko Boru' is what it says on the pack - a box of chocolate balls for a mere 70 to 74yen. Although there isn't a 'salty' flavour (South Park reference: check) there is a big variety of flavours including …
The Tokyo Ramen Show gets underway on Friday, November the 15th at Komazawa Olympic Park. It's a bit of a trek from central Tokyo, but ramen paradise awaits. The event, broken into two parts - each with a completely different line-up of vendors …
The Centurion Hotel Grand is a centrally located city hotel in the lively backstreets of Akasaka. Good if passing through, but not necessarily the place to spend more than a couple of nights. What’s the hotel like? With a small tropical garden …
This weekend, the Shibuya Music Festival will be adding to the general din at various spots spread throughout Shibuya. Venues include Shibuya Hikarie, Marui City Shibuya, Shibuya 109, Dogenzaka-dori, and Miyamasu Mitake Shrine and Shibuya …
With those pesky typhoons out of the way, at last we have a weekend we can enjoy in full. With two major events taking place within a few hundred meters of each other, Odaiba looks like the place to be. The bi-annual (as in twice a year) Design …
If you're a cheapo, there's nothing better than getting things for cheap or for free just because it's your birthday. There used to be a few better deals but you can still get a little something for nothing on the day you turn a year older. 1. …
Store permanently closed. Sometimes eating needs to be about more than just sustaining yourself. At its best, it can be a complete sensory experience - leaving lasting memories and an urge to return as soon as possible. With this in mind, lunch …
OK, let's start with the obvious - none of these are technically 'beer'. Under Japan's anachronistic liquor taxing laws, drinks with a high malt content (ie. beer) are taxed at a higher rate. The consequence is what you see above - new classes …
Anyone who says Halloween isn't a Japanese tradition has probably failed to notice the black cats, bats and pumpkins adorning shops since the end of August. Aside from the madness that is Roppongi at this time of year, there are a couple of big …
Yudetaro is yet another one of the soba noodle chains that proliferate through Tokyo. I'm not saying that like it's a bad thing either - soba noodles are the ultimate cheapo fallback when you're in a hurry, you want something cheap and you don't …
This weekend sees a spectacular range of autumn festivals in and around Tokyo starting with the Koto Ward Citizen's Festival which takes place at Kiba Park. As shown in the image above, the festival features a form of entertainment …
One of the most visually spectacular festivals in Tokyo happens this week at the Ikegami Honmonji temple near Ikegami Station in the southeast art of Tokyo. The Oeshiki Festival runs over all three days of the long weekend. The highlight is a …
Harajuku is ground zero for Japan's kawaii fashion trends and so a natural venue to host "Harajuku Kawaii Fes" - a celebration of all things cute. Entry to this two day festival is free - but you have to pre-register (in Japanese) on their …
Onigiri (rice balls) are to Japanese as sandwiches are to westerners - a quick, cheap, healthy and portable source of nourishment. Also like the humble sandwich, in recent times they have had a "premium" makeover. Unlike the premium sandwiches, …
Namaste India - one of the biggest Indian festivals in Japan - comes to the Yoyogi Park event square this weekend. The festival will feature 32 stalls serving a range of delicious Indian food and drinks. More details here. Just down the road in …
Tsurumaru Udon is a chain of udon noodle shops located throughout Tokyo. Despite having udon in the name, they are surprisingly soba friendly, with a soba variant of all dishes available. The menu (with tiny English text!) offers up 12 …
Before you get your pervy hopes up, the Ohara Naked Festival (Ohara hadaka matsuri) would be more aptly named the Ohara “semi naked” Festival. The dancers costumes are actually quite modest with only (male) chests, shoulders and buttocks bared. …
On a public holiday with a typhoon crawling it's way towards Tokyo, and my regular freelancer's 'hot desk' closed for the day, I decided to try out Takarajima 24 - an internet cafe that advertises completely private rooms and that it "competes …
Store closed: Sadly, Happy Salada closed its doors at the end of November, 2014. When I visit Happy Salada in Akasaka, owner Raphael and his multinational staff are flat out preparing salads for the lunch rush. The store itself is very squeezy, …
Thanks to "Respect for the aged" day, we have a long weekend - that's three for the price of two! In terms of free events, there is something for everyone. For matsuri lovers, there is the Akasaka Hikawa Festival and its closely connected Ark …
