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If You Want to See Cherry Blossoms Now: Discovering Kawazu-zakura

Many Japanese guidebooks feature the iconic image of cherry blossoms—the familiar sight of pale pink petals filling the landscape from late March to early April. But it is now the end of February. If you are visiting Japan at this time of year, you might assume it is simply too early for sakura and resign yourself to missing them. Before the Cherry Blossoms: Discovering Japan’s Plum Season In a previous column, I introduced Japanese plum blossoms, those modest yet beautiful harbingers of early spring. While Japan’s flower-viewing culture is wonderfully diverse, cherry blossoms hold a uniquely special place in people’s hearts. Here is the good news: just as there are many varieties of plum trees that bloom over an extended season, the same is true for cherry blossoms. The sakura season is not limited to April. Sakura Is More Than Somei-yoshino The scene described above was captured today, February 28, along the Kyu-Nakagawa River in Tokyo’s Edogawa, where dozens of vibrant cherry trees ...
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Before the Cherry Blossoms: Discovering Japan’s Plum Season

When people think of viewing flowers in Japan, many immediately picture cherry blossoms in spring. But just a little earlier—around this time of year—another flower begins to bloom. It is ume , the plum blossom. If cherry blossoms are the highlight of spring, ume is the opening act. While the air is still cold, it quietly signals that the season is about to change. This time, let’s focus on the elegant beauty of the plum blossom. A Wide Variety of Colors and Forms Plum blossoms come in a surprisingly rich range of colors. White blossoms have a pure, refined elegance, while red varieties bloom in vivid shades of crimson and deep pink. Some flowers begin with a stronger pink or reddish tone and gradually soften as they fully open. Most plum blossoms have five small petals in a simple, single-layer form. But there are also double-petaled varieties with layered blossoms, and weeping types whose branches arch gracefully downward. Though quiet and understated, the plum reveals rema...
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Okachimachi Jewelry Town: Tokyo’s Hidden World of Gems

After enjoying street food and the lively buzz of Ameyoko Market in Ueno, you wander through the crowds—and suddenly, the atmosphere changes. Small signs. Practical display cases. From the ground floor to the upper stories of narrow buildings: jewels, jewels, and more jewels. Welcome to  Jewelry Town  Okachimachi , one of the largest jewelry districts in Japan and a rare sight even by global standards. Around 2,000 businesses connected to the jewelry trade are packed into this compact neighborhood. Retail jewelry shops sit next to wholesale dealers. Loose stones (uncut or unset gems), natural stone shops, workshops, repair studios, and buy-back specialists—all side by side. Everything related to jewelry exists here, tightly concentrated in just a few streets. Some of the local streets even have unofficial nicknames like Diamond Avenue , Sapphire Street , or Emerald Avenue (you won’t see them on Google Maps, but locals know). Nearby Okachimachi Panda Square  r...
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Asakusa in the Snow: Tokyo’s Rare White Surprise

Sunday, February 8. This morning, Tokyo woke up under a quiet blanket of snow. Around Kaminarimon Gate, Sensō-ji Temple, and the five-story pagoda in Asakusa, the usual crowds and vivid colors feel slightly muted today. Instead, the district is showing a softer, whiter side of itself. What’s falling isn’t the unpleasant, slushy snow mixed with rain. These are large, dry flakes drifting slowly through the air — what we call botan-yuki , “peony snow,” named after its big, fluffy shape. Many visitors are walking without umbrellas. Children reach out to catch the snow, some even trying to taste it, laughing as they go. It’s clear they’re enjoying a snowy Asakusa just as it is. When people think of Tokyo, snow usually isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. And it’s true — Tokyo is not a snow city. Winters are often sunny, even cold but clear. Still, anyone who lives here knows the feeling: Even when you think, “Maybe it won’t snow this year,” it usually does — at least for a few day...
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Bean Throwing vs. Ehomaki Setsubun in Japan Today

February 3, Asakusa, Tokyo. At Sensō-ji Temple, famous figures throw roasted soybeans toward the crowd, praying for good health and protection from misfortune. This is mamemaki —bean throwing—one of the key rituals of Setsubun (節分), a traditional Japanese seasonal event. The word Setsubun literally means “the division of seasons.” Today, it refers to the day before the beginning of spring, usually around February 3. The origins of Setsubun can be traced back to ancient China, where rituals were performed to ward off evil spirits. After the custom reached Japan, similar practices were adopted at the imperial court during the Heian period (794–1185). At that time, a ritual called Tsuina was performed to expel harmful spirits. Modern Setsubun traditions are believed to have grown out of these ceremonies. Demon Slaying  With Beans The most well-known Setsubun custom is mamemaki , or bean throwing. As beans are thrown, people chant “Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi” — “Demons out, g...
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Magatama: A Shape Japan Has Been Wearing for 7,000 Years

What We Mean by “Japanese Design” When people think of “Japanese design,” many images come to mind. Ukiyo-e prints, daruma dolls, maneki-neko, traditional patterns, or the kind of minimalism often associated with Zen. Most of these styles took shape between the medieval and early modern periods, developing into what we now recognize as a distinct Japanese aesthetic. But Japan also has designs that are far older. Some date back to a time before written records even existed—among the oldest forms of design in the country. A small, curved bead. A round shape with a hole, and a tail-like projection. It can look like a comma, or a crescent moon. This is the magatama. Most Japanese people recognize the shape instantly, even if they don’t know the name. It appears in school textbooks and museums, but also as jewelry or decorative motifs—so familiar that it’s hard to remember where you first saw it. A Shape Older Than Written History Magatama from around the 3rd century (Tokyo National Mu...
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Yuyake Dandan: What Happens When a Beloved View Begins to Change

Yuyake Dandan, September 2025.   A Shitamachi Street Between Daily Life and Tourism Yanaka Ginza is one of Tokyo’s best-known shitamachi shopping streets(a traditional downtown neighborhood shaped by everyday life).Sloping roads, old temples tucked between houses, cats wandering unhurriedly through narrow alleys.  Along the street, prepared food shops and small confectioners sit side by side with stores selling traditional household goods, Asian crafts, and secondhand antiques.  The Yanaka Antique Market at a local temple, showing how the area’s activity extends beyond the shopping street. Locals doing their daily shopping naturally mix with tourists. In recent years, the area has attracted growing attention as a place where visitors can experience a sense of “old Tokyo.” Guidebooks and social media have helped turn Yanaka Ginza into a familiar stop for travelers from abroad. The Gentle Appeal of the “Sunset Steps” Just before the gate marking the entrance to the sho...
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Ebisu – A Neighborhood Blessed by Gods and Beer

Among Tokyo’s many stylish districts, Ebisu has a special charm. Perched on hilly slopes, the area gathers sophisticated shopping complexes and international restaurants, while also being home to many foreign residents. It is a place where comfort and high-class living, everyday life and a touch of the extraordinary, mingle harmoniously. Ebisu is also conveniently adjacent to Shibuya and Daikanyama, making it easy to access and explore as part of a day in Tokyo. When deciding where to have dinner in central Tokyo, Ebisu is a neighborhood worth remembering. Let’s take a closer look at what makes it so distinctive. The Origin of the Name “Ebisu” Ebisu ( えびす ) is one of Japan’s “Seven Lucky Gods,” a group that includes deities from Buddhism, Hindu traditions, and Japan’s own ancient beliefs. He is depicted holding a fishing rod and a sea bream, symbolizing prosperity in business and bountiful catches from the sea. To this day, Ebisu remains a beloved figure. And yet, the dir...
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Why Do So Many Japanese Retirees Become Soba Masters?

SOBAGIRI RAKUJYO In Japan, there’s a curious and often heartwarming trend. After years of commuting, overtime, and corporate life, some Japanese salarymen retire and suddenly… take up soba-making by hand. Their friends chuckle. Their kids roll their eyes. “Seriously? Dad’s becoming a soba chef now?” But behind the jokes lies something very real: the quiet joy of working with your hands, and the meditative rhythm of turning buckwheat flour into something deeply nourishing. What Is Soba? Soba noodles are thin, light noodles made mainly from buckwheat flour, often mixed with a bit of wheat flour for elasticity. A common blend is 80% buckwheat and 20% wheat, known in Japan as ni-hachi soba . Soba lovers often debate the ideal flour ratio like wine lovers debate grape blends. You can eat soba hot in a savory broth or cold with dipping sauce — it's enjoyed all year but plays an especially symbolic role on New Year’s Eve, when toshikoshi soba is eaten to mark the transition to th...
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The Most "Unassuming" Ward in Tokyo? Exploring Kita Ward, Oji, Autumn in Asukayama Park

Among Tokyo’s 23 wards, there’s one area often called the most unremarkable . That’s Kita Ward — literally “North.” Kita = North. Simple as that. But there’s a reason behind that plain name. As the name suggests, Kita marks the northern gateway to Tokyo . Bordering Saitama Prefecture , it has long been considered the entrance to Edo — the historical Tokyo — since samurai times. The Northern Gateway: Oji Station At the heart of Kita Ward stands Oji Station , one of the city’s northernmost transport hubs. This time, I visited Oji on an autumn day to see what kind of charm this quiet part of Tokyo holds. The Slopes of Oji Tell a Story Step out of Oji Station, and you’ll immediately notice the slope.　Here, the flat streets from downtown Tokyo suddenly rise, reminding you of the city’s dramatic terrain. Today it’s neatly paved, but in the past, this was known as the beginning of a difficult hill road. At the top lies Asukayama Park , created in the 18th century by the eighth...
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