Tokyo is the epitome of a modern-day Japan. Sushi comes straight to your table, bullet trains are (almost) never late, and who needs a full-sized hotel room when you can sleep in a capsule? But, if you are looking for a trip back in time, Tokyo Edo Week in Ueno is your chance.
This celebration will bring you back to the Edo period in Tokyo with geisha, autumn yukata (casual kimono), and rakugo (Japanese storytelling). Tokyo Edo Week is the self-declared largest celebration of Japanese culture in traditional Japanese clothes. Their goal is to share Japan’s traditional aesthetics and values and make the people who visit the festival feel as though they have traveled in time.
Tokyo Edo Week also emphasizes that they are very foreigner friendly. They are eager to share traditional Japanese culture with people from all around the world. The festival boasts old-fashioned crafts, food, and events to learn about kimono.
One of the main events of this week is instructing people on how to wear autumn yukata. This is a new style developed to allow people to wear yukata more comfortably into the fall season. There are three steps to putting on this style of yukata that include the collar, yukata, and the obi (belt).
If you’d like to show up in a yukata of your own, the event site offers an instructional video and a step-by-step guide for both men and women.
The site also provides a sneak peek at some traditional-style activities that you can find at Tokyo Edo Week. There are videos explaining Setta (Japanese-style, leather-soled sandals), the ways of the tea ceremony, and Japanese sweets known as rakugen.
Edo Week runs from Thursday September 22, 2016 through Sunday the 25th. It is going to be held in Ueno Park, with the main stage located at the Fountain Park. Tickets can be purchased at the venue or at a convenience store ahead of time.
