Archive for '50 reasons why Tokyo is the greatest city in the world | Map' Category

“TOKYO LINE SHIBUYA station park~Three Days of Arigato and Sayounara”

In the event the ex-Tokyo Line’s building was decorated as a festvitie’s venue of a “green park”, hosting  various programs such as jazz live concerts,  exhibitions of plarail  dioramas, and others.  the area was regarded as a green park and  visitors were allowed to pick stones used for the railroad tracks in token. A lot of  visitors including  fans of  Toyoko line, railroads, Shibuya and others enjoyed themselves with the items and events for a salute to the old Toyoko line building with “Arigato”(thank you) and “Sayounara”(good bye).

some rails and parts of the old tracks actually used were sold. Memorial plaques of old parts were made as well.

The 120th anniversary of pearl- cuturing technology

This year 2013, the pearl industry commemorates the 120th anniversary of  pearl-culturing technology. 

 

Koukichi Mikimoto, the founder of  MIKIMOTO (http://www.mikimoto.com/jp/) whose flagship store is located in Ginza Tokyo succeeded in culturing pearls as the first case in the world in 1893.  Since then Koukichi was called “The King of Pearl”.

On this 30th  MIKIMOTO released a special accessory with pearls and jewels called “MIKIMOTO Pearl Crown “DREAMS&PEARLS”- twelve pearls and dreams”.

the item can change its form between a “crown” and a” necklace” and  has a shape of  12 flower blossoms made of big natural pearls of 5 different types and 3400 diamonds.  The designers took more than 2 years to complete this breathtaking and splendid pearl treasure.

To tell the truth, I am a distant relative of koukichi Mikimoto and recently on 18th this month, I learned a basic concept of pearls  at a  lecture program for tour guides jointly hosted by JGA(Japan Guide Association), the oldest and biggest guide- interpreters organization, and  TASAKI, a major pearl and jewelry store company like MIKIMOTO.  (http://www.tasaki.co.jp/)

Therefore, I am so happy I learned ABC of the concept of pearls in this special year to pearl industry.

 

IMF/WBG Annual Meetings in Tokyo

IMF(International Monetary Fund) and WBG(World bank Group) Annual meetings were held in Tokyo  for the first time in 48 years Oct.9-14.(http://www.imf-wb.2012tokyo.mof.go.jp/en/index.html)

Japan hosted such meetings 48 years ago which was the very same year that Japan  hosted Tokyo Olympics, which was a remarkable symbolic event of Japan’s successful recovery form the economic recession due to the post war aftermaths of WW2. Now, the Japan’s economic, political, and social positions and international community’s situations have drastically changed as well. This time the second  time’s phases have shown the historic exaltation of the country.

There were four venues of the event, namely, TIF(Tokyo International Forum),IM(Imperial Hotel),Hotel Okura, and  TCCI (Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry), all of which are located in the very center of this capital of Japan .    Totally official participants were from 187 countries and registered visitors and participants , their dependents amounted to about 20,000.   Top economic leaders of the world got together and Tokyo soaked in the heat and excitement of  the great festivity.  On the 12th, the plenary and official banquet hosted by Noda, the prime minister of Japan were held.

There were about 20 official hotels designated as official accommodation for the participants and dependents and  special hospitality programs were prepared which provided them with  various short trips such as on-day visit to Yokohama,  visiting Tsukiji  Fish Market,  Tokyo Sky Tree just built in this year, shopping at depachika (basement floors in  department stores ),cultural experience tour such as a tea ceremony,  learning how to wear kimono, and so forth. A lot of  participants and other registered visitors enjoyed those short tours or traditional Japanese cultural experiencing events.

The local host of the Annual Meetings were MOF (Minister of Finance) and Bank of Japan, Tokyo Metropolitan Government ,and so many people including volunteer staffers,  pro tour guides, escorts and others attended the visitors from all over the world.  The hosts, the government, and  others say more than 10 billion yen  revenue can be expected from this greatly worldwide financial series of events.  We hope this has influenced  betterment of Japanese economy, tourism, and society as a whole.

Tokyo Sky Tree Grand Open today !

Tokyo Sky Tree , the newest popular tourists’ destination of Japan at the moment finally hosted its Grand Opening  and started its operation today May 22nd 2012.http://www.tokyo-skytree.jp/en/

 

Lucky 9,000 winners of the admission tickets of the obsevatories and other visitors visited the highestand newest tower in Japan.  Only one out of 335 applicants won the ticket to the First Obsevatory(350m high) for the entry there in daytime of the 22nd.

All the tickets to the First Observatory(/天望デッキ, Tenbou Deck) up to those for  Jul.10th can be purchased by advance reservation only.  The reserved tickets prices are;  Adult: 2,500 yen, Junior or Senior high school student: 2,000 yen, Elementary pupil: 1,400 yen, and  Infant: 1,100. From the Jul.11th and on, current- day tickets will be available and the prices will be;  Adult:2,000 yen,  Junior or Senior Student: 1,500 yen, Elementary Pupil:900 yen, and Infant: 600 yen. (1$≒80 yen, 1€≒102 yen)  In order to go up to the Second Obsevatory(/天望回廊, Tenbou Kairou) , surcharges are necessary (Adult:1,000 yen, Junior or Senior Student:800 yen, Elementary Pupil:500 yen, and Infant:300 yen).

It was, unfortunately, raining today 22nd, and as  strong winds began to blow in the evening, the elevator between the two observatories suspended its operation temporarily at around 17:30 and the Second Obsevatory closed at 19:30, which had orginally been planned to keep open until 22:00. Still, the illumination service started at 7:00 as originally planned.

The Tokyo Sky Tree started its history with huge enthusiasm and popularity supporeted by  people, and is expected to function as a new symbol of Japan.

“Tokyo Solamachi” pre-open

Tokyo SkyTree is to grand open tomorrow May 22nd, and today as its eve, “Tokyo Solamachi”(/Tokyo Sky town) is pre-open to press (official grand opening will be on tomorrow with SkyTree).

Solamachi(http://www.tokyo-solamachi.jp/english/) is a huge commercial complex that binds Tokyo SkyTree station and Oshiage area with 400m long (east-west) and  size of 3.69ha including  various shopping malls on the foot of SkyTree. The facility contains 312 stores or restaurants, aquarium, a bird- eye- view observatory, planetarium and other stuff to attract visitors including those from overseas.

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Shibuya Hikarie grand opening

A huge commercial complex called “Shibuya Hikarie” opened on this April 26th. http://www.hikarie.jp/ This new facility is adjacent to Shibuya station in Shibuya Tokyo, which is one of the busiest stations in Tokyo or even Japan.

The facility has 34 floors above ground and 4 below whose total floor space is 144000 ㎡　and consists of “ShinQs”, a commercial area having about 200 various stores and business area with “Theater Orb”, a musical theater, a disaster-prevention center of Shibuya ward, business offices. Some of the stores are restaurants,food shops, and so forth ,at one of which an ex Takarazuka actor gives advice concerning aesthetic matters to customers.

 

At the grand opening ceremony, the three presidents of Tokyu group’s companies that manage and support the facility showed up and conducted a ribbon-cutting and other activities. They are Chihiro Nihashi, president of Tokyu Department Store that manages ShinQs, Hirofumi Nomoto of Tokyu Corporation conducting a big project of  renovating Shibuya town as a whole, Atsushi watanabe of  Tokyu Bunkamura that runs Theater Orb. They have a strong intent to reinvigorate the town by launching this new store institution setting a target of  having 14 million customers in the first year and this is a part of  their “big project of the century” of renovation of Shibuya including constructing five new buildings, which is planned to be complete in 2026. This time’s Shibuya Hikarie is the primary part of the series of the new construction project.

Actually, my mother visited this Hikarie today, the very opening day, and found so many people there which made a surprisingly crazy situation, yet she received a special small gift as a token of  the opening at a Tokyu store near there.

Tokyo Sky Tree has finally become its full height of 634 m

 The Tokyo Sky Tree, the new TV tower in Tokyo under construction, which has sometimes referred to in this site by other writers and myself, finally reached its “planned full height ” of 634m at  13:34 Mar.18th.  http://www.tokyo-skytree.jp/english/

  With this, the tower now has become the tallest building in Japan as well as the highest  radio wave tower in the world !  However, the tower is still under construction and is planned to be complete in the next spring.

At first a ceremony had been prepared to celebrate this “reaching the top 634m high”, but due to the huge damages caused by the earthquake off  the Northeast Pacific Ocean(/東北地方太平洋沖地震) on this 11th.  

Now, the total number of the casualties of this earthquake disaster  has added up to 6,911 as of  19:23  18th, which is higher than the existing highest one from the Hanshin Awaji Earthquake( West Region and Awaji isle. earthquake) in 1995 and now has become the worst casualties number caused by a natural disaster after WW2 in Japan.   In addition, still  more than 10,000 people are missing and more than 380,000 people are suffering from hard lives in temporary evacuation centers in cold and even snowing areas…   A lot of provisions and necessities, medical help and others  have been provided to the sufferers from all over the world with firendships, all of which are welcomed with huge joy and gratitude. the situations are becoming a bit better though stiil very tough.

Therefore,  the news of  the Tokyo Sky Tree’s reaching the planned top height is a shiny bright and positive  information to make us recall the hope and possibilities of our future. I hope this piece of news also consoles the hearts of the sufferes in the damaged areas even if a little.

50. The best riverboat entertainment – yakata-bune

Sumida river is the most beloved river of the shitamachi Tokyo downtown and also home to the yakata-bune — a traditional Japanese boat whose internals look like a typical Japanese pub. Package deals offer a boat and all-you-can-eat-and-drink food and alcohol for large groups, who gorge on beer and okonomiyaki as their vessel plies the current. Read the rest of this entry »

49. The finest art cafés

Tucked on the fifth floor of a nondescript building in the back streets of Aoyama, the A to Z Cafe brings Yoshitomo Nara’s works to life in an imagined recreation of the artist’s atelier.
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48. Vegan restaurants that make even carnivores’ mouths water – Takao Yakuo-in

When it comes to excellent vegan cuisine, look no further than … a Buddhist temple. The monks of  Takao Yakuo-in （高尾山薬王院）　monastery prepare elaborate vegan courses （精進料理）for visitors on a reservation-only basis. The multi-course, multi-plate spreads are a special treat for carnivore and non-carnivore alike. ¥2,500 to¥3,500 per person. Read the rest of this entry »

47. The most fiscally reckless, visually spectacular fireworks displays – Sumida-gawa river

Tokyo has a huge number of major hanabi-taikai, or fireworks festivals, every summer, but the gathering at Asakusa and Mukojima along the Sumida-gawa river has got to be the most spectacular. Over 20,000 individual fireworks are launched every year on average, and in 2009 alone, a whopping 948,000 residents flocked to the area to view the show. Read the rest of this entry »

46. Cocktails are maniacally fresh – Bar Rage

In cocktail-crazy Tokyo, bartenders approach their subject with the artistry and focus of Michelin-starred chefs. The mixologists at Aoyama’s swanky Bar Rage source top-quality, fresh ingredients from around the country for their seasonal drinks. They hunt down the tastiest passion fruits from Okinawa, or the sweetest kumquats from Miyazaki to give classic cocktails a Japanese twist. Read the rest of this entry »

45. You can eat like a sumo wrestler – yoshiba

Sumo wrestlers are always going head-to-head in a fast and furious slapping match against 300-pound opponents, which is why they require a steady diet of chanko nabe （ちゃんこ鍋）stew to keep their stamina up and their butts padded.

Yoshiba （吉葉）is located in a former sumo stable, and you can chow down like a champion at a table right beside the clay ring. Read the rest of this entry »

44. Monumongous supercute mascot characters – Shibuara Water Recycling Center

Talk about hiding in plain sight. When Tokyo’s Bureau of Waterworks decided to paint its official P.R. mascot character ‘Mr. Earth’ atop the roof of their Shibaura facility, they didn’t mess around. Although you can’t see it from street level, it’s actually visible from several kilometers above the Earth’s surface. (東京都下水道局芝浦水再生センター)
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43. Onsen with the best Feng Shui – yukari

Strictly built according to the principles of Feng Shui, Yukari (深大寺温泉ゆかり） is a beautifully appointed hot spring in Tokyo’s western suburbs. The baths are marked with the cardinal directions for proper orientation during soaking. Read the rest of this entry »