Setsubun, just before spring

This is the season when you find packs of beans with paper masks of funny goblins at supermarkets. Those are for Setsubun (“節分”) festival. Setsubun is the day before the beginning of spring in the Japanese old lunar calendar, the name of which literally means “the day between seasons”. This year it falls on February …

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 …

Seven Gods of Good Luck (“七福神めぐり”)

Visiting temples and shrines is one of Japanese major customs during New Year period. If you are more religious, or if you would like to enjoy new-year’s atmospheres more, how about trying “Shichifukujin Meguri”, pilgrimage of seven Gods of good luck? “Shichifukujin Meguri” is to visit seven temples and shrines in a single neighborhood to …

Tokyo’s Great Restaurants Vol.4 ~ by Sugiko ~

Sugiko, an able business woman working in Marunouchi in daytime and a funny Ukulele musician after sunset introduces her favorite restaurants in Tokyo. Here you go! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Name, Area and Category  :  丸健水産  ~ 川栄 Maruken Suisan @ Akabane – “Oden” & Japanese standing bar Kawaei @ Akabane – Eel, Barbecued chicken Reason  :  Within …