Author: Philbert Ono

One of Tokyo’s most famous Buddhist temples, Zojoji (増上寺) is a major temple in the Shiba area of Minato Ward, Tokyo. It belongs to the Jodo-shu Pure Land sect (headquartered…

The Handa Dashi Matsuri float festival (半田山車まつり) is held only once every 5 years in the city of Handa in Aichi Prefecture. The festival has a whopping 31 ornate wooden…

Tsuruga is a small coastal city (pop. 65,400) facing the Sea of Japan. Best known for nuclear power plants feeding power to Kansai (Kyoto, Osaka, etc.), Hokuriku (Fukui, Ishikawa, Toyama),…

Fuji Rock Festival at Naeba Ski Resort in Niigata was held on July 28–30, 2017. Went for the first time on a rainy Sat. (July 29). Fuji Rock Festival is…

Happy Halloween in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan’s massive costume street gathering on Oct. 31, 2016. Saw it for the first time from about 9 pm to 10:30 pm. Costumers and cosplayers…

With the Rio Olympics in 2016, I thought seeing Asakusa Samba this year was a good idea. It was a cool day as well, not the usual summer heat. It…

Updated: March 25, 2023 Happy spring! Here’s an illustrated list of Tokyo’s top cherry blossoms (sakura). I’ve included both famous (crowded) and not so famous spots in central, western, and…

A record 36,000+ runners at the 10th Tokyo Marathon on Feb. 28, 2016. This was near the 30 km checkpoint near Asakusabashi Station. They still had 10 km left to…

Video link: https://youtu.be/eOeGMqopFVg All-female taiko drummers of the Shiraume (White plum blossom) taiko troupe at Yushima Tenjin Shrine’s Ume Matsuri plum blossom festival in Tokyo, Japan on Feb. 27, 2016.…

Asakusa geisha gave free performances for tourists at the Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center on Saturdays from mid-Oct. to late Nov. 2015. The show I saw in this video featured…