The Bamboo Temple This Kamakura temple is a must-see for its towering bamboo forest, its exquisite garden-like grounds, and its teahouse, where you can enjoy a delicious bowl of mattcha while contemplating the gently-swaying bamboo. Lovely in every season, it’s a particularly welcome destination in the summer months when the bamboo dials the temperature downContinueContinue reading “Hōkoku-ji Temple”
Category Archives: June
Korakuen Area
The Korakuen neighborhood is a great mix of venerable and modern entertainment, from the quirky thrills of Japanese baseball to a centuries-old stroll garden to an amusement park with a roller coaster that zooms right through a skyscraper. It’s an especially good place to go in June for the iris garden, anytime from April throughContinueContinue reading “Korakuen Area”
The Tokyo Toilets
Have your own perfect day exploring the seventeen amazing toilets designed by famous architects that were featured in the Wim Wenders film “Perfect Days.” If you want to see the transparent ones turn opaque when you flip the lock on the door, go between April and October, when the weather is warm enough for theContinueContinue reading “The Tokyo Toilets”
Yushukan Museum
The Yasukuni Shrine grounds are home to an extensive WWII museum, with a fascinating collection of artifacts, weapons and memorabilia from the Japanese side. It’s easy to spend a few hours here, especially if it’s hot or rainy outside. The Yushukan is arranged as a timeline that starts long before the war, detailing events inContinueContinue reading “Yushukan Museum”
National Museum of Nature & Science
Not just for kids! You might not think a natural history museum is a must-see when there are so many only-in-Japan things to do, but you’ll thank me for telling you about the All Things Japanese wing at the National Museum of Nature & Science! From mighty indigenous bugs, to ancient people mannequins with aContinueContinue reading “National Museum of Nature & Science”
TeamLab Planets
Planets is more sensory than the other digital environments TeamLab is famous for, so get read to encounter living plants, interactive mirrored scmoos and a wading pond stocked with digital koi and blooming flowers! It’s an especially nice escape from the heat and rainy days of summer. Come prepared to give up your shoes andContinueContinue reading “TeamLab Planets”
Deal with rainy summer days the only-in-Japan way!
If you’re in Tokyo anytime from mid-June through July, chances are you’ll have the, uh, privilege of experiencing the traditional Japanese season known as tsuyu: the rainy season. (And since Japan is in the Asian monsoon belt, that means hot and rainy.) But the Japanese have been coping with steamy summer days for centuries, soContinueContinue reading “Deal with rainy summer days the only-in-Japan way!”
Kyu-Furukawa Garden
Kyu-Furukawa garden is a fascinating mix of before and after Japan opened to the West in 1868, with a jewel of a Japanese garden seamlessly integrated with a European-style rose garden and Meiji Era mansion. Especially nice in June when the roses are in bloom, and in November for autumn leaf season. This garden surroundsContinueContinue reading “Kyu-Furukawa Garden”
Hasedera Temple
This temple is known for its gigantic golden Kannon figure, but it’s also got a winding path guarded by a thousand stone Jizo figures, an underground grotto, a magnificent prayer wheel, and is a must-see in June for its hydrangea garden. Kamakura is stuffed with entertaining shrines and temples, but Hasedera is the only oneContinueContinue reading “Hasedera Temple”
Flower extravaganzas of Japan: Way beyond cherry blossoms!
At the Ashikaga Flower Park Cherries, schmerries, everyone crowds in to see the fluffy pink things, but they aren’t the only flower extravaganza to see in Japan! Not only will your friends be green with envy when you show them photos of these beauties, you’ll skip the jostling crowds and high-season prices. • Plum blossomsContinueContinue reading “Flower extravaganzas of Japan: Way beyond cherry blossoms!”
Koshikawa Koraku-en Garden
Koshikawa Koraku-en garden is absolutely beautiful in every season. It’s most famous for its iris garden in late May to early June, but it’s also grand in February for the plum blossoms, late March to mid-April for the cherries, late April to early May for the wisteria, and for its autumn leaves in November. ThisContinueContinue reading “Koshikawa Koraku-en Garden”
Kamakura Day Trip
Kamakura is so close, it’s practically in Tokyo, and there’s no better day trip than seeing some of the most entertaining and unique shrines and temples in the country, all in one place. It’s especially excellent in late March – early April for the cherry blossom promenade down the center of town, in June forContinueContinue reading “Kamakura Day Trip”
Mt. Takao
Mt. Takao is still within Tokyo city limits, but it feels like a world away! You can ogle plum blossoms in February, walk across hot coals in March, hoist a cold one with a great view all summer, or hike and enjoy the monkey park any time of year. Climbing this mountain has its rewards!ContinueContinue reading “Mt. Takao”
Jindai Botanical Gardens
This garden isn’t just beautifully designed for strolling, its flower displays in every season rival the cherry blossoms for sheer WOW. It’s most famous for the plum grove that begins to bloom in February, the cherry blossoms in March, its incredible display of azaleas in April, its wisteria in late April to early May, andContinueContinue reading “Jindai Botanical Gardens”
Jonelle Patrick writes about Japan 