Tokyo 2020 Candidate City !

 

Hi, I’m Carlos ! Como vai voce ?

Probably you have already known that Tokyo is one of the three candidate cites to host 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, competing with Istanbul and Madrid. Now IOC committee members are visiting Tokyo to evaluate the sites and the plan. So you see many more flags or posters with the logo and slogan “Discover Tomorrow” in many places in the city.

Actually Tokyo lost the bid for 2016 Games and one of the reasons was the public support was not high enough, the IOC poll in last May also shows only 47 percents of Japanese support to host the Games. However the aggressive promotion of Tokyo 2020 Bid Comittee helped to raise the percentage of the public support and recent poll shows more than 70 percents of people are supporting it. I was originally favor to host the Games, and especially after my visit to London last summer I am really eager to watch my city hosting the Games!!

Do you know the true reason why Tokyo lost the last bid? This is because of ME!  I was in Rio De Janeiro on the winning bid day for 2016 Games and Rio was selected, and on top of that I was traveling in London on July 6, 2005 when the 117th IOC Session was held and London was selected for 2012′s Games. Hmm…, this seems more than just a coincidence. So I should really try to be in Tokyo on September 7 this year!

Today is the date to six months to the 125th IOC Session.

Seasonal Sweets, Seasonal Tours

Do you like Japanese sweets? I do! Japanese traditional sweets are called “wagashi (和菓子)”. Wagashi has developed along with Japanese tea ceremony, and wagashi craftsmen try to express seasonal beauties in every piece of sweets to please your eyes and palates. Now cherry blossom season is just around the corner, “Sakura-mochi (桜餅)”, cherry-blossom flavored rice cakes are on display.
There are two types of Sakura-mochi; one is named “Domyoji (道明寺)”, the other is “Chomeiji (長命寺)”. Roughly speaking, the former was from Kansai area (around Kyoto and Osaka) and the latter originated in Tokyo. People have their favorites of the two, but both have a perfect combination of a sweet soft mochi with a scented cherry leaf. Then, how about leaves? To eat or not to eat? (That is the question.) The leaves are edible and I like to eat a lightly salted leaf together with a sweet mochi. But some people do not eat it.

This is a ”Domyoji” type.

To celebrate one of the most festive seasons in Japan, we have arranged special tour weeks in the peak bloom weekends of cherry trees. Besides our regular bike tours, kayaking and running tours are scheduled in late March and early April. Choose your style and join us!
For details and reservation:
 Tokyo Great Cycling Tour HP  
 Tokyo Great Kayaking Tour HP
 Tokyo Great Running Tour, see Facebook page.

Cherry Blossoms Forecast 2013

It is still very cold and snowing a lot in mountain areas in Japan, so it may be a bit too early to think about cherry blossoms, but actually the spring is just around the corner!

As it happens every year, a few companies have already predicted and announced for this season when cherry flower starts to bloom and when they become full. Above is one of them and this company (Weather Map) forecasts that cherry blossoms may start to bloom in March 25 in Tokyo. (March 23 in Fukuoka, March 27 in Osaka, April 10 in Sendai and Niigata.) The other company says that it may be March 31 when flower start to open in Tokyo.) The forecast is forecast, so it is impossible to predict the flower open day 100% precisely, but that is why many people rather get excited to talk about this matter. To wrap up, the best timing to see cherry blossoms in Tokyo is the first week of April (between March 30 – April 7).

We can basically operate everyday even on Monday, Wednesday and Friday besides our regular tour on Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. So please feel free to ask us if you have no other choice to make a whirlwind trip to Tokyo. Check and make a reservation from our website ;-)

Marathon in Tokyo

Following to cycling and kayaking, we are planning new launch of running tours. Recently we went location　hunting, mostly tracing our “Route A cycling tour ” heading to Odaiba（”お台場”）. The details are yet to be determined and we will post here when we’re ready.

Speaking of running, one of the biggest running events in Japan will be held in Tokyo on February 24th. Yes, it’s Tokyo Marathon! For years, the Tokyo Marathon was an elite-only race, but has became a mass marathon since 2007. Now about 300,000 people apply for only 35,000 spots. The news was announced last autumn that it became the sixth World Marathon Major, which definitely collects more and more interests from athletes around the world.

Although it is too late to enter for the 2013 race, you will enjoy it on the streets among the supporters cheering runners. Or, if you join our Route-B cycling tour on the day, you will come close to the race and be in a jubilant mood.

Tokyo Marathon 2013 HP
It starts from the Tokyo Metropolitan Office in Shinjuku and finishes at Odaiba. Runners will pass by a number of Tokyo sightseeing spots including the Imperial Palace, Ginza, and Asakusa.

Niveous Tokyo

Tokyo doesn’t have many snowy days. On the Pacific side of Japanese archipelago the winters are dry and marked by many clear days. It is rare that the whole ground is covered with white snow. But today was such a rare day. Though the accumulated snow was less than 10 centimeters, which was far less than the heavy snowfall in the northern part and the continental side of the nation, Tokyoites are unaccustomed to life under snow. Pedestrians slip, cars go on a crawl, and very punctual public transportation services are snowbound. Be warned!

Today is “Coming-of-Age Day”, the national holiday for congratulating those who have reached their majority. Despite the stormy departure, I wish them all the best in the future!

Gingko, an indispensable tree of Japan in this autumn/winter season

Japan is a country with four distinct seasons. Autumn is the season, when the color of the leaves changes.

Among many trees is Gingko, which changes the color of its leaves into yellow from late autumn till early winter. Tokyo has several passages that are surrounded by many Gingko trees, which cover the passage with their yellow leaves in these days.

Ginko is not only beautiful, but also tasty and useful. You can eat Ginko nuts. It is loved by Japanese people as a seasonal cuisine. You can also find Ginko as an ingredient of various cosmetics products.

If you are interested in how the Ginko trees are in Tokyo in these days, feel free to visit our facebook page. We’ve uploaded various photos there as well.

The tour on 15th Sep., 2012

Thank you for coming to the tour. Here are the photos. Hope to see you again in the future.

The tour on 8th Sep. 2012

I enjoyed the tour with you all. Thank you very much !

The tour on 23rd June

These are the photos I’ve taken during hte tour on 23rd June. Thank you all for joining the tour. We really enjoyed the tour with you all.

The tour on 19th Aug, 2012

Many thanks for joining us today (on 19th Aug, 2012), Andy, Mike, and Nick.

Though it was really hot today, we had lots of fun today.

Here are some photos of today’s tour.

We are looking forward to seeing you again !