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

ＴＥＲＲＹ — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 11:49:22 +0000

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/

Tokyo Sky Tree that has just become 634m in Sumida-ward Tokyo

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

Tenkaijapan — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 04:10:43 +0000

yakaba 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.

okonomiyaki

Read more :www.cnngo.com

Amisei: Kaminarimon 2-1-16, Taito-ku, tel. 03 3844 1869

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49. The finest art cafés

Tenkaijapan — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 02:09:38 +0000

ＡｔｏＺｃａfe

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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A to Z cafe: equbo Building 5F, Minami Aoyama 5-8-3, Minato-ku, tel. 03 5464 0281, 12-11:30pm

AtoZ Cafe

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48. Vegan restaurants that make even carnivores’ mouths water – Takao Yakuo-in

Tenkaijapan — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 09:32:00 +0000

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.

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Takao Yakuo-in Temple: Takao-cho 2177, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo, tel. 042 661 1118

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

Tenkaijapan — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 09:02:19 +0000

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 more :www.cnngo.com

fireworks festival (Sumida-gawa river)

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46. Cocktails are maniacally fresh – Bar Rage

Tenkaijapan — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 23:56:37 +0000

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 more :www.cnngo.com

Bar Rage: 3F Aoyama Jin & IT Bldg, 7-13-13 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, 03-5467 3977

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45. You can eat like a sumo wrestler – yoshiba

Tenkaijapan — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 23:30:52 +0000

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

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.

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Yoshiba（吉葉）: 2-14-5 Yokoami, Sumida-ku, 03 3623 4480, cash only

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44. Monumongous supercute mascot characters – Shibuara Water Recycling Center

Tenkaijapan — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 08:50:04 +0000

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)

Read more :www.cnngo.com

Shibuara Water Recycling Center:

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43. Onsen with the best Feng Shui – yukari

Tenkaijapan — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 08:35:10 +0000

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.

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Jindaiji Onsen Yukari: tel. 042 499 7777, 10am-10pm, closed first Wednesday of every month

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42. You will never see a more expansive sake list – Kuri

Tenkaijapan — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 07:04:35 +0000

kuri

In terms of sheer variety, Tokyo is the best place in the world to try sake, and it’s likely that you’ll be able to find most of it at Kuri （庫裏）in Ginza. The sake menu is a tome that lists over 100 varieties. After the third cup, you might be brave enough to try the hoya no shiokara (fermented sea pineapple guts), which isn’t half as bad as it sounds.

Read more :www.cnngo.com

Kuri　（庫裏）: Tony Bldg 2F, 6-4-15 Ginza, Chuo-ku, tel. 03 3573 8033

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41. The world’s best service -department stores

Tenkaijapan — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 14:16:37 +0000

Isetan Shinjuku

Sure, at some stores around the world, the staff are experts in their field, hoping to wait on your every wish and command. Japanese department stores such as Mitsukoshi and Isetan have that, of course, but they add in a few other perks: an army of uniformed women running automated elevators and bowing greeters at the door. The time-consuming, multi-stage gift wrapping is also unparalleled, perhaps justifying the premium prices.

Read more :www.cnngo.com

Isetan Shinjuku

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40. The most prolific festivals – Three Great Edo Festivals

Tenkaijapan — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 14:02:46 +0000

Kandamatsuri

While festivals of all shapes and sizes are staged throughout the year, any Japanese will tell you that there is no festival like a summer festival. Most well known are the ‘Three Great Edo Festivals’ of Kanda-matsuri in Kanda, Sanno-matsuri in Nagata-cho, and Fukagawa-matsuri in Tomioka, Koto-ku. These get-togethers provide a way for neighbors to bond, celebrate, and wish for continued prosperity. Helping to lubricate the process is — surprise! — a large quantity of alcoholic beverages.

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Tomioka hachimangu

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39. Its red-light district is the least dangerous – Kabukicho

Tenkaijapan — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 13:40:47 +0000

kabukicho

Kabukicho is full of sketchy hostess clubs, airplane-themed ‘showtime cabarets’ and ‘pink salons’ (don’t ask), but also … college students hanging out with acoustic guitars? Yes, the Shinjuku red-light district is not ‘classy,’ but it’s still Tokyo. So feel free to wander through it any time of the day, maybe picking up a cone of Häagen-Dazs on the way.

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Walking distance from the East exit of Shinjuku station.

Kabukicho

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38. It’s home to the world’s best fashion chains

Tenkaijapan — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 04:13:58 +0000

TOKYO CULTUART by BEAMS

Japanese select shops — such as Beams, United Arrows, Ships and Tomorrowland — grew to fame and prominence thanks to the expert curating of the world’s best indie fashion brands. These days, however, their real offering is exquisitely high-quality Japanese-made clothing in the latest styles — at extremely reasonable prices. Each company now also has a wide range of stores catering toward each age bracket and gender, so Beams F is for the suited corporate man while nearby Beams Boy is for dainty preps and stylish ‘mountain girls.’

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TOKYO CULTUART by BEAMS

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37. You have to work for high-end tempura

Tenkaijapan — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 03:52:07 +0000

motoyoshi

It might take a while to find Motoyoshi among the backstreets of Minami-Aoyama, but its GPS-confounding location is part of the fun. The prize for actually arriving is perfectly crisp tempura. The chef is as picky about his ingredients — succulent scallops and tender asparagus in summer, hearty red carrots from Kyoto in winter — as he is about his technique.

Read more :www.cnngo.com

Motoyoshi: 3-2-4 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, 03 3401 0722

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