Planet Tokyo News
- 4 Tips for Ohanami
April 2, 2007
It's everyone's favorite time of year-cherry blossom season. The opening of the cherry blossoms is the first sign of spring, and everyone is anxious to get outside and party under the cherry trees. "O-hanami," or cherry blossom viewing, starts in Okinawa, the warmest part of Japan, in February and steadily continues sweeping northward as the weather warms up, hitting Hokkaido in May. Cherry blossom inspectors announce the official start of the viewing season in each area.
« read more » - Fertility Festivals
March 15, 2007
It's March, it's fertility time! According to ancient Japanese Shinto rituals, Spring is the time to celebrate fertility, fecundity and rebirth. Consequently, fertility festivals in Japan abound around this time of year. Today, I'll introduce you to two of the most famous fertility festivals in Japan: the Hounen Matsuri and the Kanamara Matsuri.
« read more » - 12 Eclectic Museums in Japan
March 1, 2007
If you're looking for something really different consider visiting some of Japan's unique museums. Here is a list of 12 museums, from the North to South.
« read more » - Snow and Ice Festivals
February 15, 2007
If you're traveling in Japan in February looking for fun, cold things to do, Hokkaido has some great snow festivals. You may have already heard about the Sapporo Snow festival that attracts over 2 million visitors to see the Japanese castles, Chinese dragons, and other mammoth ice sculptures. The Sapporo Snow Festival is made up of international teams who compete for the best ice sculpture. But should you miss Sapporo's festival, or should you just want to get away from the crowds, there are other, more local and equally interesting snow festivals to enjoy.
« read more » - Finding the Perfect Ramen
February 1, 2007
If you're looking for an eclectic proficiency in something Japanese, why not join the ranks of the ramen connoisseurs? Ramen noodles differ from region to region within Japan, making the hunt for the perfect ramen a fun, affordable activity to do while traveling around the country. At the same time, you'll be getting a unique taste of the local culture.
« read more » - Skiing and Snowboarding in Japan
January 15, 2007
Whenever I tell people I ski in Japan, they say "There's skiing in Japan?" And I say, "Remember the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano?" To which they usually say, "Oh, yeah," as if they were remembering a distant cousin, wondering "whatever happened to cousin Nagano?" Sapporo, in Hokkaido, was also host of the Olympics in 1972. Nagano and Sapporo may still be just as distant, but skiing/snowboarding in Japan is well worth going the extra few thousand miles. As a matter of fact, Japan offers some of the best skiing in the world. After all, where else in the world gets over 46 feet of snow every winter? Now I bet I have your attention! Read on.
« read more » - Japan on the Cheap for 2007
January 2, 2007
Happy Oink, Oink New Year! It’s the year of the pig in Japan and if you think Japan is an expensive travel destination, all I can say is: hogwash! Here are a few of Japan’s cheapest travel deals.
« read more » - Plying Japan’s Waterways
December 15, 2006
Although Japan is noted for its high speed, on-time bullet trains and its extensive network of railroads, Japan also offers various sea routes. Few tourists know about these routes however, as they are not very well publicized in English. Japan, made up of four main islands, has a 200-mile long inland sea as well as a chain of small islands that stretch from Kyushu all the way down to Okinawa, offering several options for the intrepid, budget-minded traveler.
« read more » - Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Sento
December 1, 2006
In the last article, I told you about onsen, or hot springs, and explained how bathing in natural spring waters is a ritual in Japan, especially in the wintertime. Today I’m going to tell you about something even better, and something very few travelers know about—the sento. A sento is a public bath. Of course, onsen are also a form of public bath. The difference between a sento and an onsen is that onsen use natural spring water (which is reflected in their 1,000 yen and up price) while sento use just hot tap water. In the old days, sento served the entire neighborhood as older Japanese houses were not equipped with baths or showers. These days, however, since all new Japanese houses have baths, sento are on the decline. In the not too distant future, sento will be extinct and their flashier counterparts, the onsen, will be the only public baths available. Sentos give you a rare glimpse into Japanese culture that you won’t find at an onsen which is full of tourists. Don’t miss your chance to get naked with the locals at a neighborhood sento!
« read more » - What's Hot: Onsen
November 15, 2006
As it gets cooler in Japan, Japanese people start heading to "onsen" or hot springs. Not just a mere soak in the tub, onsens have developed their own onsen culture. Many Japanese will take a weekend vacation to an onsen village and spend their time walking around the town in hotel yukata and testing the different hot springs. And they are HOT! Most onsen waters are 25 degrees Celsius (77 Fahrenheit). If it’s your first time to an onsen, you may feel it is too hot, as if the water is burning your skin when you get in. Rest assured, the water is not hot enough to burn you, so just ease in slowly. You may feel the same kind of trepidation felt when getting into a swimming pool of cold water slowly. After the initial shock, it feels great.
« read more » - Night Views of Fall Foliage
November 1, 2006
It’s autumn in Japan and Japanese are crazy about "kouyou," the changing of the leaves. Most Japanese will make a special trip to view fall foliage and Kyoto is the most famous kouyou destination. Surrounded by mountains with Japanese maple trees that turn bright red, amidst a backdrop of temples and shrines, Kyoto makes for a truly memorable experience. Kyoto also offers a unique take on fall foliage—night viewing.
« read more » - Budget Transportation: Bike Rentals In Japan
October 16, 2006
If you love sightseeing but hate tired feet, you’ll be happy to know that at most major railway stations in Japan you can rent a "jitensha" (bicycle) for about 1,000 yen per day. Many Japanese people travel to work and back by bicycle, so there is no need to feel self- conscious careening through crowds of pedestrians either. As there are no bicycle lanes in most cities in Japan, Japanese people are used to sharing the sidewalk, and the road, with bicycles.
« read more » - Cheap Digs
October 1, 2006
If you're looking for affordable, alternative places to stay overnight, don't overlook Japan's numerous internet cafes offering services such as overnight accommodations, showers, food and beverages in addition to the usual internet access, DVD rentals and manga comic books.
« read more » - The Best Holiday Ever
April 26, 2006
How does a holiday rise above the ranks of regular holidays to become the best? By existing just to give people a day off from work. Between Day is a holiday that doesn't celebrate a historical event, a religious moment, or patriotic principles. It is, plain and simple, just May 4. And a Japanese national holiday.
« read more » - Introducing Planet Tokyo Robot Theater
April 17, 2006
It's no secret that Planet Tokyo is obsessed with robots. While we've written extensively about how Japan leads the world in the field of robotics, we haven't offered much in the way of visual evidence. That's about to change as we introduce a new semi-regular feature: Planet Tokyo Robot Theater.
« read more »