Kawagoe is a town that can do sightseeing in a day.

It is a much smaller town than Kamakura. It has nicknamed Koedo, which means "little Edo.

Visitors can enjoy souvenirs and refreshments in the rows of warehouses made of black plaster.

You can also enjoy a place called "Okashi Yokocho," which retains the atmosphere of old Japan. Kawagoe is famous for the Toki no Kane, Time bell tower, a building where the people of that time rang a bell to tell the time.

Part of the Kawagoe Castle remains and has been restored. There is also a museum, so if you are interested, you may want to stop by.

Kita-in Temple, another famous temple, was not visited this time.

It is possible to rent a kimono at a kimono rental shop for sightseeing. I often saw both foreign and Japanese tourists touring around in yukata, summer kimono.

It takes one hour from Shinjuku, Seibu Shinjuku Station by express train with no express fee.

※There is special express fee train, too.

Since it is inland, it is advisable to take water etc. when sightseeing in summer to avoid heat stroke.

Enjoy light trip in local area!!

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Japanese dying lesson in Shinjuku ward

I went to Japanese traditional dying craft factory, in Shinjuku ward.

The entrance gate

The crest of factory

Kamiochiai is the name of area where is lots of dying factory.
Near metropolitan of Tokyo, it's just few minutes from Shinjuku sta, you'll enjoy lesson of them.

What I did is Katazome, using some papers which were cut such like patterns finally reach to beautiful art!

The papers were dyed by fermented persimmon. Persimmon make paper strong and protect from incents.  

This is the precious paper of Edo-Komon, Popular kimono during Edo period.

These clothes, Tanmono are turned into Kimono. Using bamboos get stretch them

The craft worker is painting color.

This is what I made. Ｂｒｕｓｈｅｓ were made from dear's far.

Every year, this area hold festival.

2020, Feb 21th to 23th is the days of this festival.

You'll see many long clothes on the river.

If you are interested, please check below URL.
There is tours in English too.

www.somenokomichi.com

Hotel New Otani Such a marvelous spectacular Japanese garden

In 1964, before Tokyo Olympic game, this hotel was built by Otani
https://www.newotani.co.jp/tokyo/

One of the luxury hotels in Tokyo has a vast Japanese garden with bif waterfall and creak.

Bamboo fence with cameｌｌias  path reach to the restaurant

carps in the pond

The garden was made by Sentaro Iwaki whose uncle was famous gardener in early 19th C, Jihe Ogawa, nicknamed Ueji.

In Edo period, this land was belonged by feudal load, Ii who was worked under the shogun.

After Meiji restoration, Fushimiminya family who was the relative of emperor lived here.

During WW2, it was destroyed and foreigner tried to buy, but Yonejiro Otani got it.

stream from waterfall

This day is coming ageday, so many young girls were special Kimono, Furisode.

In this garden, there are some restaurant, steak house where you can see garden, famous Japanese restaurant Nadaman.

I'm a garden lover, so I recommend to have tea at Garden Lounge in 2F of hotel.

You can see beautiful red bridge with waterfall surrounded by green.

Of course, just seeing the garden, you can.

Ａｔ Kand, the Japanese Saki shop where you can taste them!

From 1596, throughout Meiji restoration, big earthquake and WW2, Kanda-Toshimaya has been keeping its store.

Of course, It had burnt down several time, but with each ages, they have sat their concept in their mind, Rita, do something for the others.

good luck charm of dealing

At Kanda, Chiyoda ward, they have shop where you can try Saki or Japanese rice wine.

Their Saki are produced in Higashimurayama, the westside are of Tokyo, local area.

The owner says the tours of brewery are held.
It's good opportunity to see how Saki is made.

Roof top Japanese garden in Saki shop

This Japanese garden isn't opened to public.
But I just want to show you how lovely this garden is.

It was sat on the top of building.
Small Japanese garden has tables, chairs, creak with beautiful carps and so on.

This building is owned by Kandatoshimaya, one of the oldest liquor company since around 1600.

The company's concept is Rita, means do for someone sincerely. It's a word of buddihism.

Present owner's mother planed to make this garden for tenants of building, just wished to give surprising present.

Tenants have lunch, meeting with their clients and take rest with calm atmosphere.

It got special garden prize by minister of land.

The owner said this garden is only for the tenants of building, but if you really really really really love garden and want to see, he might show you.

Also, the same building, Kandatoshimaya has small liquor shop where you can enjoy the taste of Nihonsyu or Japanese rice wine.

Soba noodle restaurant in Kanda

one of the famous Soba noodles restaurant, Kanda-Yabusoba near Kanda sta. This restaurant has over 100 years history. In Edo period, it was draw in some pictures.

Unfortunately, the building was burnt down in Heisei era, the prior name of nowadays japan's era.

But rebult restaurant also has lots of Japanese old style Soba noodles restaurant.

Edo era's Yabusoba

The same day at Kanda shrine, Ryukyu dance was performed.

https://www.facebook.com/422623874739827/videos/619676418604407/

The same day at Kandamyoujin, another performance of Ryukyu odori, Eisa.
Ryukyu was former name of Okinawa prefecture.It was used to be the kingdom, not Japan.
So it has unique culture.
Their costume have mood of china.

My father has half blood of Okinawa and lives there.

He says the Okinawa people's identity is Okinawa, Ryukyu, not just Japan.

Even their language, my grandma's generation, is really different from Japan's.