The Tokyo Metropolitan Area at Night

Tokyo is one of the most exciting cities in the world with the action never stopping day or night. Japan’s energetic capital mixes the modern (neon-lights and skyscrapers) with the traditional (historic temples and zen gardens).

The Greater Tokyo Area is the world’s most populous metropolis consisting of 23 central city wards and approximately 30% of Japan’s total population. It covers an area of 13,500 km2 and includes parts of Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma and Yamanashi prefectures.

One of the best times to explore Tokyo is at night when its amazing architecture and ultramodern buildings really come alive. Pick up a good travel guide for suggestions and the latest up-to-date advice on the must see places destinations and attractions.

The beautiful nighttime cityscape of Tokyo includes Tokyo Tower, the second tallest structure in Japan and the iconic symbol of Tokyo, Tokyo Skytree, the second tallest structure in the world at 634 meters and the new symbol of Tokyo, Odaiba, a high-tech entertainment hub located on a man-made island in Tokyo Bay, and Shinjuku, home to the busiest train station in the world and many of Tokyo’s tallest buildings.

One of the best things to do in Tokyo is to explore the city at night. Luckily you have quite a few options available to you for enjoying the Tokyo nightlife. For the best views, check out one of the many observation decks located in towers or tall buildings. Some of the best are the observation decks at Tokyo Skytree, Tokyo Tower and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.

Rainbow Bridge at Night from Odaiba | Wikimedia Commons

If you are feeling brave and adventurous, you could try a helicopter ride over the city. For those of us that like to take our time and leisurely enjoy the sights, try a boat cruise along Tokyo Bay where you can enjoy the waterfront scenery with the amazing lights of the city.

This short video from Aramadas, a video production company based out of Japan will give you a stunning glimpse from the air of what Tokyo looks like at night. Strap in and enjoy the ride!

Super Cheap Tokyo Book Review

Tokyo is one of the most exciting cities on the planet with its mix of the traditional, from historic temples and colourful shrines to the ultramodern, with neon-lit skyscrapers and pop culture. Tokyo has it all. With so much to see and do in Tokyo, it can be overwhelming trying to plan a travel itinerary without the right travel guide.

The Book’s Content 

 

Super Cheap Tokyo is the ultimate budget travel guide to exploring Japan’s capital on a shoestring budget. The travel guide covers the greater Tokyo metropolis and the surrounding Kanto region on the cheap. Unlike other Tokyo guides, this book shows you exactly how, where and when you can save money.

The book covers a wide range of money saving tips such as how to grab a traditional Japanese meal for only $3, buy clothes in the fashion mecca, Harajuku for under $10, and how to spend next to nothing on a day’s hiking or relaxing in a Japanese garden.

Inside the book you will find:

• Budget food – a comprehensive list of low-cost restaurants, take-outs and supermarkets.
• Budget shopping – the best tax-free shopping, shopping hot-spots and 100-yen stores.
• Highlights and itineraries – based on discount subway and train passes, so you can explore while keeping the costs down.
• Tokyo’s hidden treasures – walking routes to all the hot spots and must see places to visit.
• Cheap accommodation – the best and cheapest hostels, budget hotels, family-friendly hotels, internet cafes, overnight spas and more.

My View 

Why I really like this book? It is compact and easy to use with all the information and tips at your fingertips. I like how the book provides a quick guide on how to use it and some useful information about Tokyo before moving into the travel guide and covering the must-see places. Each area of Tokyo is broken down into a brief intro, a little bit of history about the area, things to do, and getting around, before moving into budget food and shopping.

Tokyo offers countless tourist attractions to visitors, and this book gives you plenty of great travel options to explore without breaking the bank.

It is easy to use with colour maps making it easy and stress-free to get around. The maps use landmarks and walking routes to help get you around and include convenience stores, cheap supermarkets, 100-yen stores, budget accommodation and tourist information. The book covers all the best of the region including the highlights of Tokyo such as the Imperial Palace, Tokyo Skytree, Harajuku, Asakusa, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ueno, Akihabara, and Odaiba, as well as the Kanto region with Mount Fuji, Kamakura, Yokohama, Nikko, Hakone along with many other off-the beaten-track spots.

Shibuya Map

The colour photos in the book add to content giving you a glimpse of the amazing places that you will visit.

This book is perfect for backpackers, budget travelers, families on a tight budget, students and those who just want an amazing time, without blowing all their cash in a day.

About the Writer 

The author, Matthew Baxter is a travel writer living in Tokyo. Having traveled across the country for several years, without much money, he has built up an extensive knowledge of budget travel in the Land of the Rising Sun. He now writes professionally for several websites and publications, such as the Japan National Tourist Association, Japan Visitor and All About Japan. He is the author of Super Cheap Japan.

Super Cheap Tokyo is all you’ll need for a fantastic budget holiday in Tokyo and the surrounding Kanto region. This book gives you some great money-saving tips all in an easy-to-use travel guide. There is no better time to come to Tokyo and Japan than now.

Super Cheap Tokyo is available now from Amazon.

Fuchu - The Mystery City of Tokyo

Fuchu is a hidden destination in Tokyo that is off the beaten track and full of mystery. Located a short 20-minute train ride from Shinjuku and downtown Tokyo on the Keio Line, this charming city will surprise you with all its history, shrines, temples, and fascinating spots to explore that offer you a taste of the real Japan. In fact, it might be Tokyo’s best kept secret.

Fuchu is a town with a long history and cultural tradition dating back to ancient times when it was the capital of Musashi Province (Tokyo, Saitama & Kawasaki and Yokohama in Kanagawa). The area prospered during the samurai age as the region’s center of politics, economy and culture and as a post town on the Koshu Kaido, one of the five routes of the Edo Period.

Fuchu now prides itself as a rugby city with two teams, the Top League’s Suntory Sungoliath and local rivals, Toshiba Brave Lupus based in the city and with its location close to Ajinomoto Stadium (Tokyo Stadium). Fuchu has gained a reputation as a “Sports Town” with many sports teams basing themselves in the city. Ahead of the 2019 Rugby World Cup, both England and France will hold their training camps in Fuchu.

Let’s take a look at some of the places that make Fuchu a must-see destination for anyone looking to avoid the tourist hoards and sample a taste of authentic Japan.

Baba Daimon - Zelkova Tree Street 

An oasis of greenery in metropolitan Tokyo, Baba Daimon no Keyaki Namiki is a zelkova tree lined street, which is a National Natural Monument of Japan. The canopy of trees that form a tunnel over the road are believed to have been donated in 1062 by the samurai general Minamoto no Yoriyoshi (head of the powerful Minamoto clan), and his son, Yoshiie as a prayer of thanks after victory in military campaigns in Mutsu Province (Tohoku Region). Fuchu is famous for horses and this street was the place where the samurai would run their horses to choose the best ones for their samurai warriors. Today, a total of about two hundred trees create a scenic environment that is not only a symbol of Fuchu, but a beautiful entrance to the city.

A statue of Minamoto no Yoshiie | Photo: John Asano

Okunitama Shrine 

At the end of the zelkova tree street you will find Okunitama Shrine, a Shinto shrine dedicated to Okunitama, the god protecting Musashino Province. The shrine is one of Tokyo’s oldest, reportedly established in 111 AD and is a power spot worthy of a visit as one of the five major shrines of Tokyo along with Meiji Jingu, Yasukuni Shrine, Hie Shrine and Tokyo Daijingu. The shrine holds a famous festival every May called the Kurayami Festival (Darkness Festival), which draws 750,000 visitors from across Japan. The festival is one of the three oldest festivals in the Kanto region and features large taiko drums and eight elaborately decorated mikoshi (portable shrines) that house the gods during the festival.

The main shrine gate at Okunitama Shrine | Photo: John Asano

Mikoshi portable shrines at Okunitama Shrine | Photo: John Asano

Furusato Fuchu History Museum 

Located on the grounds of Okunitama Shrine is the Furusato Fuchu History Museum, which is dedicated to the history of the area. The exhibits inside provide you with a sample of the long history of Fuchu and its role during the time it was home to the provincial government office of Musashi Province. If you are lucky, you might just catch a glimpse of Fuchu City’s mascot character, Fuchukoma.

Fuchukoma - the mascot character of Fuchu City | Photo: John Asano

 

Koanji Temple 

Koanji Temple is a small but fascinating Buddhist temple full of charm and little surprises. The historic temple was built in the 12th century with the temple grounds containing a well that is believed to have been used by the legendary samurai warrior, Minamoto Yoshitsune, who stopped by this temple on his way to battle. The most striking part of this temple is the architecturally impressive two-storied main temple gate that is flanked on either side by beautifully carved Nio Guardians. Don’t let them distract you too long as rows of jizo statues (the protector of children, travelers and women) to the side of the gate as well as the colourful lanterns of an annex to the main temple are just two of the many charms of this temple.

The main temple gate at Koanji Temple | Photo: John Asano

Rows of jizo statues at Koanji Temple | Photo: John Asano

 

Sakeza Nakakyuu 

One thing that I have learned in Japan is that anywhere there is a temple or shrine, you are likely to find quality water and Fuchu is no different. The best thing about quality water is that it produces quality rice, which in turn makes for great tasting sake. Sakeza Nakakyuu is a sake brewery in downtown Fuchu that sells a great range of local sake as well as a place where you can sample some of Fuchu’s finest. The café in the old kura (warehouse) has an authentic old time ambience, but head up the steep stairs to the second floor, where you can enjoy a range of different sake from the brewery.

Sake bottles at Sakeza Nakakyuu | Photo: John Asano

 

Suntory Sungoliath Rugby Grounds

The Suntory Sungoliath rugby team along with the Toshiba Brave Lupus are two local rival teams in the top league of Japanese rugby union based in Fuchu. The Suntory Sungoliath’s are as you might have guessed owned by the Suntory beverage company and proudly where the Suntory Premium Malts logo on their team uniforms. The team trains out of the Suntory Sungoliath Rugby Ground in Fuchu which is a modern facility that several teams will use as their pre-camp for the upcoming 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Suntory Sungoliath | Photo: John Asano

Café +64 

Café +64 is a little taste of down under in Fuchu that was started by New Zealand Rugby Union player, Michael Leitch and his Japanese wife. Specializing in breakfast and brunch, I felt like I was back home in Melbourne with meat pies, all-day breakfast and flat white coffee on the menu.

Cafe +64 | Photo: John Asano

Fuchu Kyodo no Mori Museum 

An open-air museum in the heart of Fuchu dedicated to the famous history and culture of the area. The main building houses some interesting exhibits about the local history as well as a planetarium, but the best part is heading outdoors to enjoy the gardens and architecture of the buildings of the open-air museum. The grounds are home to several different buildings from Fuchu’s time as a post town on the Koshu Kaido during the Edo Period (1603-1868). The buildings are spectacular in all the seasons, offering you a different view from plum blossoms in spring, hydrangea in summer and Japanese maples in fall.

Edo Period building at the Fuchu Kyodo no Mori Museum | Photo: John Asano

Musashi Fuchu Kumano Shrine Kofun Ancient Tomb 

The remains of an ancient tomb have been restored here creating a mysterious spot to visit in Fuchu. The tomb is unique with a rectangular base topped with a rounded mound. There is a small two-storey museum located near the tomb that houses pictures and artifacts from the ancient site. Don a helmet and pick up a flashlight and you can explore a replication of the ancient tomb but take care as the entrance is narrow and the tomb is tight.

Musashi Fuchu Kumano Shrine Kofun | Photo: John Asano

 

Dai Tokyo Sogo Oroshiuri Center (Great Tokyo Wholesale Center) 

A wholesale market in Fuchu that sells just about everything imaginable in one place. Built in 1966 by the chairman of a successful telescope company, this market hosts a large number of shops selling everything from food to fashion. This is the ultimate one stop shopping with cheap prices that you will not find at your local supermarket. The best time to visit is first thing in the morning for the best quality meat and fish on offer.

A sample of fresh fish at the Great Tokyo Wholesale Center | Photo: John Asano

 

Sumomo Plum Festival 

Every year on July 20th, the humble Japanese plum (sumomo) gets its hour in the sun at the popular Sumomo Plum Festival at Okunitama Shrine. The legend of the festival traces its roots back to samurai leader Minamoto no Yoriyoshi and his son, who stopped at the shrine to pray to the gods for victory in battle. Minamoto presented a plum as an offering to the gods and it must have worked as the Minamoto Clan were victorious in their military campaign trouncing their rivals. Today, eating a plum at the festival is said to keep away both sickness and evil spirits. The approach to the main shrine building is lined with a variety of food vendors selling all kinds of delicious summer festival food and sweets.

Sumomo plums at the Sumomo Plum Festival | Photo: John Asano

Sumomo kakigori (shaved ice) | Photo: John Asano

If you are interested in getting off the beaten track and exploring Fuchu City for yourself, visit the Fuchu website for more information http://www.kankou-fuchu.com.e.adc.hp.transer.com/ 

https://www.facebook.com/TheMysteryCityFuchu/

Tokyo Geek’s Guide Book Review

Tokyo is ground zero for Japan’s famous “geek” or otaku culture – a phenomenon that has now swept across the globe. In fact, many people are now visiting Japan not only for its famous temples and shrines, but in search of geek hot-spots such as high-tech Akihabara and trendy Harajuku in Tokyo.

Japan’s geek culture comes in many forms, from Japanese manga in bookstores and anime cartoons on TV to giant Gundam transformer toys and video games.

The Book’s Content 

Tokyo Geek's Guide is a comprehensive Japan Travel Guide for those interested in this subculture and Tokyo’s geeky underworld. The book provides a detailed run-down on each major Tokyo district where geeks hang out. Covering 11 of Tokyo’s best geek neighbourhoods (Akihabara, Jimbocho, Harajuku, Shibuya, Shimo-Kitazawa, Shinjuku, Nakano, West-Tokyo, Ikebukuro, Roppongi and Odaiba), this is the most extensive guide to the best places for geeks in Tokyo.

The book provides full details of the iconic shops, restaurants, cafes and clubs in each of the geek hot spots, including directions to each location, maps, urls, and opening hours. If that is not enough, 400 fascinating colour photos bring you around Tokyo on an unforgettable trip of Japanese manga, anime and geek culture.

Insider tips are also provided from interviews with geeks on the street and local otaku experts to give you the best insider tips and insights from those in the know.

My View 

Why I really like this book? It dives right into everything otaku from the start and covers all the bases for everything that you need to know. It takes you on a tour for the best places for restaurants, cafes, shops, clubs, museums, manga, anime, video games, toys, cosplay, festivals and events in Tokyo.

The book is easy to read with its compact A4 size and soft cover. The bright and colourful pictures throughout the 144 pages show you all the things you can do, see and enjoy in the world of otaku culture in Tokyo.

About the Writer 

The author, Gianni Simone is the Japan correspondent for Vogue Italia as well as a regular contributor to The Japan Times. His writings have also appeared on Flash Art and CNN Travel websites and in Zoom Japon and San Francisco Arts Quarterly magazines. Residing in Yokohama with his family, he has around 25 years’ experience living and working in Japan.

Tokyo Geek's Guide is the ultimate guide to Japan’s otaku culture. If you are interested in Japanese manga, anime, gaming, cosplay and idol culture at its very source, this is a must have book for you.

Tokyo Geek’s Guide is available now from Tuttle Publishing.

Top Spots in Tokyo to Eat for Free

Tokyo is a great place to eat out, with a bewildering choice of exciting restaurants and new, surprising flavours. One great way to try out many new flavours without splashing too much money away is to visit places that generously give out small samples to customers. It means you can try many types of food, and take your time to find the right snack or meal for you. It’s also useful for picky eaters, as it means there is less chance of ordering food that won’t get eaten!

With my new book, Super Cheap Japan: Budget Travel in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Hiroshima and Surrounding Areas, I have made a guide to show exactly how you can travel on a budget in Japan. I have been all across Tokyo and collected a list of free sample spots, which I included in the book. Here are some of my top spots for free food!

Walking past the wide number of choices

Shinjuku is a good start to experience a bit of free food. The two main department stores, Isetan and Takashimaya, both have huge food courts on their basement floors. Isetan is a little more upmarket and seems to have an ever changing selection of stalls and shops, so it’s worth visiting more than once. Takashimaya, next to the tax-free Tokyu Hands variety megastore, has a good range of bakery goods and snacks to take home as souvenirs.

Head a few stops down on the Yamanote Line for more options in Shibuya. Tokyu Food Show has lower prices than the above department stores, and also has a few stalls offering free samples. There is also a good choice of western food, as well as Japanese twists on western favourites, such as cheese fondue and pasta dishes. Also located on the lower level, it can be accessed via Shibuya station.

Trying some Kimchi in Hikarie, Shibuya

Another awesome spot for free samples in Shibuya is Hikarie, also connected to the station. Only a few years old, the higher levels are full of fancy items, with prices more reasonable than most department stores. Downstairs there are two fabulous floors, full of many original snack creations, such as a macaron inside a taiyaki! The shops here are still eager to establish themselves, and are very generous with their free samples. You might not even need a proper meal after visiting here…..

Shopping in Isetan, Shinjuku

Outside of Tokyo, Chinatown in Yokohama has several stalls offering free samples to tourists on the main street, as well as to customers lining up. Favourites here are the Nikuman (meat bun) and Gyoza (Chinese dumplings). All the free samples are a great way to save money here, as the restaurants can be a little pricey.

Finally, remember to ask for tax-free shopping if you buy lots of items, as all the shops in this post have tax-free for tourists!

This post was written by Matthew Baxter, author of the new book Super Cheap Japan: Budget Travel in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Hiroshima and Surrounding Areas. It's the ultimate budget travel guide to Japan, full of the most useful, up-to-date information for a cheap holiday in Japan. With extensive tax-free shopping, crazily discounted train passes and an unbelievable exchange rate, there has never been a better time to visit. The book shows you exactly how, where and when you can save money. Go shopping for $4 clothes in Tokyo, enjoy inexpensive hikes in Nikko, or visit Kyoto’s beautiful shrines and gardens on the cheap; all with this super helpful guide.

*** Competition Time ***

To celebrate the release of the new book Super Cheap Japan: Budget Travel in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Hiroshima and Surrounding Areas, we want to know what your best money saving tip is for traveling in Japan. The top idea will get a free copy of this awesome new book! Know a great place to eat on the cheap? A super way to save on accommodation? An unbelievable travel hack to get something for free?

Just leave your tip in the comments and we will select the lucky winner from the responses. Good luck!

Entries close on Sunday, 8 October 2017

MUJI Hotel to Open in Ginza in 2019

MUJI one of Japan’s most popular brands will open its first hotel in Tokyo’s posh Ginza district in spring 2019 ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

MUJI is a Japanese retail company which sells a wide variety of household and consumer goods. Its natural and simple design has made its products popular with not only the Japanese but with people from all over the world. MUJI designs are distinguished by their minimalism with emphasis placed on recycling and the avoidance of waste in production and packaging. It maintains this minimalist approach with a no-logo, or no-brand policy.

The new hotel will be located in a beautiful tree-lined street just a short two-minute walk from the Tokyo Metro Ginza Station. The 10-story building will be home to MUJI’s new global flagship store with the store to occupy one basement floor up to part of the sixth floor. The rest of the building space will be dedicated to a hotel overseen by the company.

Source: The Yomiuri Shimbun

The tentatively named Muji Hotel will be the first of its kind in Japan and will be decked out with all that MUJI furniture and amenities we just love. There are also plans to open two hotels in China in the near future.

The building will be constructed by publisher The Yomiuri Shimbun and real estate developer Mitsui Fudosan Co., MUJI hopes the hotel will become “a place where customers can thoroughly experience MUJI product lineups.”

Official Website 

 

Japan’s Amazing Bike Vaults

Tokyo is one of the world’s great cities offering a huge diversity of attractions and experiences with pretty much something for everyone. One thing that it does lack is space, with over 13 million people living in Tokyo, space is at a premium. Many people rely on public transportation to get around the city, but more and more people are taking to two-wheels to travel. The Japanese Transport Ministry estimates that around 14% of the commuting traffic in Tokyo is on bike. While on the surface biking around may seem like a good idea, it has led to the inconvenience of bicycle’s being parked on already crowded pavements further reducing the already rare and precious space in Tokyo.

Friday Night in Tokyo

One company has come up with an ingenuous solution to help solve this problem by creating high-tech underground bike parking that simply store the bikes 40 feet underground. Dubbed the Eco Cycle, the 23-foot diameter storage facility can house up to 204 bikes. The solution is a win-win for everyone with no more clutter of bikes up on the streets, and owners resting easy with the knowledge that their bikes are locked in a safe place, away from thieves and bad weather.

From street level, an Eco Cycle looks like a small kiosk. In reality, they are gateways to futuristic subterranean parking lots.

The underground storage systems work in a simple but effective way. Place your bike onto the runway, swipe your membership card onto the reader, push a button and stand back as the automated system takes care of the rest. In less than 8 seconds your bike is stored away in its slot, and can be retrieved in around the same time. Membership costs 2,600 yen (USD$25) a month.

Eco Cycle Underground Bicycle Parking

Another key point of the underground bike vaults apart from being a shelter from bad weather is that they are completely safe from earthquakes, a regular occurrence here in Japan.

Today, there are around 50 Eco Cycle Stations across Japan with plans to expand overseas in the near future.

What do you think about Japan’s high-tech bike vaults? Please leave your comments and feelings below in the comment section.

TABICA: A Day with a Bushido Master

Are you looking for a truly unique Japanese experience? If you answered ‘yes’, then I have just the tour for you. TABICA is a Japanese tour company established in 2015 with the vision of “connecting people by trips”. They offer fun and unique cultural experiences that allow you to “dive into the life of locals” and experience the real Japan. Each tour is accompanied by an English interpreter, who helps break down the language barriers between foreign tourists and Japanese local hosts, who are monks, geisha, farmers, chefs, bushido masters and many more.

Some of the many tours on offer include; a day with a Buddhist monk at a temple, a day with a bushido (Japanese sword) master at a dojo, a day working with organic farmers, and a day with a soba making master. The tours are located at various places around Tokyo, all within one hour of the Tokyo Metropolitan area.

Shibuya Scramble Crossing in Tokyo

I was recently invited along to participate in their “A Day with a Bushido Master” tour, which I accepted with open arms as a huge samurai culture and history fan.

After a brisk 90 minute ride on the Nozomi Shinkansen (bullet train) from Gifu, I arrived in Tokyo, where I made my way to the TABICA office located just off the famous Takeshita-dori street in Harajuku, Tokyo.

Takeshita-dori Street in Harajuku

The TABICA staff is available to meet you at their office, or in front of Harajuku Station. The tour heads off as a group with an English speaking interpreter, who is extremely friendly and knowledgeable about the subject matter leading the way. They also speak excellent English which is a big relief especially if you can’t speak a lot of Japanese, or are new to Japan, as a first-time visitor.

We arrived at the dojo (training hall) located near Kudanshita Station on the purple Hanzomon Metro line in the early afternoon. The dojo is located on the second floor of an old building and is full of authentic samurai armour, swords, tsuba (samurai sword guards) and pictures. The oldest piece of samurai armour dates from the 17th century and once belonged to a famous samurai in the Kanto region of Japan.

Samurai Armour from the 17th Century

First, we get dressed in our traditional Japanese clothing, which is called keikogi (稽古着) and is the uniform used in martial arts or bushido training. It includes a hakama (袴), the clothing of a samurai, gi (着) and obi (帯). This isn’t as easy as it sounds and actually takes a little bit of work with all instructors on hand to help get us dressed appropriately. You certainly feel the part if not look it in these traditional bushido clothes.

Dressed in Traditional Japanese Martial Arts Clothing called Keikogi

Second, we learned the correct way to enter the dojo and start the training. This is very important in Japanese culture and is called aisatsu (formal greetings). To learn how to do these greetings properly would take a full day’s training. Not much fun, so we did a short condensed version that teaches you the basics to get started. Bow to enter the dojo. Enter the dojo with your right foot, if you are standing on the right side of the room and left foot, if standing on the left side. This is very important and is done as to not step on the kami (god) of the dojo. Bow to the master and then bow to Amaterasu (the sun goddess), who is famously enshrined at Ise Grand Shrine in Mie Prefecture. The goddess can magically visit the dojo via a mirror which is placed in a small shrine on the wall of the dojo. This shrine is called the showmen, and is usually at the front of the dojo.

Samurai Armour and Swords in the Dojo

There are many different styles of sword fighting in Japan that have been passed down from generation to generation and from master to master. This school teaches Iaido (居合道), which is a modern Japanese martial art that focuses on the quick drawing of the sword, a resolute attack, and a smooth withdrawal.

The first thing to learn with the swords is how to draw them from the sheath and hold them correctly. This luckily isn’t too hard to learn and can be picked up quite quickly. You learn which part of the sword is best for striking and how to wield the sword in both hands. The key is 80% of the gripping power is in the left hand, while 20% is in the right, which is mainly used for guiding the sword. You also learn the correct stance with right foot forward, well balanced posture with lose shoulders and relaxed hands.

Practicing Kata or Set Movements with the Sword

There are also many different kinds of sword strikes or cuts, so we learn the basic two of straight cut (makko giri) and diagonal cut (kesa giri) using practice swords.

After practicing the two different strikes via kata (set movements), it was time to put the strikes into action and actually cut something with real swords. Away went the practice swords and out came the shinken, a razor sharp sword. You get to practice the strikes by cutting wet tatami (straw) mats, which have been soaked in water for several days. They actually smell quite fowl, but do a good job of simulating the limbs of a human body.

Surprisingly it doesn’t take much effort to easily cut through the mats with the razor sharp swords and is like slicing through butter with a knife.

Cutting Tatami Straw Mats with the Sword

Last of all after working up quite a sweat, it was time to watch the master and his instructors in action. Sitting on the wooden floor of the dojo and watching their precise, graceful and powerful movements was a treat and something that I will soon not forget. It is easy to tell that they have been practising this art for many years and have a great knowledge and experience in handling the swords.

The Iaido Instructors in Action

I really enjoyed my interactions with the instructors and the sword master, Mr Sakaguchi during the tour. It was great to be able to find out the history behind the samurai armour and various tsuba on display. The master also visits Gifu on a regularly basis as Seki City in the Mino region of Gifu Prefecture is a famous sword-making area, that has been producing high-quality blades since the 13th century. Mr Sakaguchi has a great sense of humour, telling us funny stories as well as many Japanese proverbs (kotowaza), which originate from samurai culture and samurai swords. Most of our interaction is in Japanese, but he throws in a little English now and then, which always brings a laugh.

Training with the Bushido Master

Mr Sakaguchi, the Bushido Master

I highly recommend this tour if you like me have an interest in traditional Japanese martial arts and samurai culture. It was an amazing experience that I will never forget.

If you are interested in joining a TABICA tour, check out their website, or contact them via email (info-en@tabica.jp). Tell them John Asano from Japan Australia sent you and you are bound to receive the VIP treatment.

Tokyo 2020 Olympics Emblem Revealed

The new Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games emblems were revealed on Friday, July 24th, exactly five years to the day before the opening ceremony of the games.

The new emblems were unveiled in front of officials and athletes at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku on Friday night.

The emblem was designed by Japanese artist Kenjiro Sano. The design is very modern looking and based on the letter “T” which stands for Tokyo, Tomorrow, and Team. Tokyo is of course the first letter of the host city, Tomorrow stands for “a better world and a brighter future”, and Team “Japan will unite as one team when the world comes together for Tokyo 2020”.

Kenjiro Sano, a graphics designer was chosen from an open call for submissions in which a total of 104 designers submitted proposals.

It is an interesting design and very modern looking compared to the original logo used during the bidding process. I like the colours of the emblem. The black of the central column represents diversity, the circle represents an inclusive world where everyone accepts each other. The red of the circle represents the power of every beating heart.

The IOC Vice President, John Coates said, “The emblem reflects the vibrant nature of Tokyo and the welcoming spirit of its citizens.”

What do you think of the new Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games emblems?