Koh’s Tokyo Dialogue

Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine Monzen-Nakacho is   In Tokyo’s old downtown(shitamachi) area known as Fukagawa  . This neighborhood doesn’t shout for attention with flashy attractions, but it rewards those who walk its streets with a mix of traditional temples, lively shrines, cozy alleyways, and riverside views. Where the Name Comes From "Main Street” of the Temple Town The word monzen literally means “in front of a temple.” In premodern Japan, towns often grew around castles ( jokamachi ) or around major temples and shrines ( monzen-machi ). Monzen-Nakacho is a classic example of the latter, and its name still carries that history. Even today, as soon as you exit the Monzen-Nakacho subway station, you step right into a temple approach lined with traditional sweet shops and souvenir stores welcoming worshippers. Naritasan Fukagawa Fudo-do At the end of the approach stands Naritasan Fukagawa Fudo-do . Its head temple, Naritasan Shinshoji, is in Chiba Prefecture and is dedica...

Learning Japanese as an adult can feel like opening the door to a whole new world. It’s exciting, but also overwhelming. Hiragana, katakana, thousands of kanji, unfamiliar grammar—trying to tackle everything at once is like trying to sprint straight up to the summit of Mt. Fuji in one go. So I know the feeling: “At this age, can I really do it? If I fail, isn’t it just a waste of time?” That’s why my first piece of advice is this: master hiragana and katakana thoroughly . Just these two sets of characters can open up an entirely new world. And after that, you can decide whether or not to go further. Why Hiragana and Katakana? Japanese writing uses three types of characters: Hiragana (ひらがな): the foundation of Japanese writing. Used for particles like は ( wa ), が ( ga ), を ( o ), verb endings, and everyday words such as ありがとう ( arigatou, thank you ) or すし ( sushi, sushi ). Katakana (カタカナ): used for foreign loanwords and onomatopoeia. Examples include レストラン ( restaurant ), コーヒー ...

Shrine or temple? (Ueno Tōshōgū — it’s a shrine!) When walking through Japan, you will often encounter two types of sacred places: shrines (jinja) and temples (tera) . To sort out the basics: Shrines = Shinto = Kami (spirits of nature, deities) Meiji-jingu (Shibuya) Temple = Buddhism =Buddhas (Hotoke) Senso-ji (Asakusa) In other words, they were originally sacred sites of entirely different religions. Yet when you actually visit them, it can be surprisingly difficult to tell them apart. Wooden architecture, serene atmosphere, worshippers at prayer—so many similarities in appearance that even Japanese people sometimes hesitate: “Is this a shrine or a temple?” But if you look carefully, the differences do emerge. And when we trace history, the reason why they resemble each other so much becomes clear. Shinto — Japan’s Indigenous Nature Worship The native tradition of Japan is Shinto . Shinto is a belief system that sees nature itself as sacred: mountains, rocks, giant trees,...

  Ikebukuro is one of Tokyo’s great urban centers, a place where business districts, shopping, gourmet dining, and entertainment all come together. Its station ranks third in daily passenger traffic after Shinjuku and Shibuya in Japan. In recent years, Ikebukuro has also begun to highlight its identity as an “anime town.” From the Animate flagship store to Otome Road, a wide range of shops and events have clustered here, turning the area into a hub of subculture rivaling Akihabara. In 2023, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government opened a new facility here: Anime Tokyo Station . Positioned as a hub for promoting anime worldwide as a cultural content, it carries the concept of spreading the appeal of anime from Ikebukuro, now known as one of the “holy grounds of anime.” At least, that’s the official description. This time, I actually visited the site, and here is my honest report. Access — Convenience That Makes It Easy to Drop By Anime Tokyo Station is only a 4-minute walk from Ik...

  Recently, I published an article introducing sento ( 銭湯 ), the traditional Japanese public bath, as part of my series on Japanese culture.  You can read my previous article here: Discovering Japan's Sento: Tradition, Cleanliness, and Community in Public Bathhouses Now, there is some exciting news about this deep-cut cultural spot: an event has just begun. On September 1, Tokyo’s bathhouse association launched a brand-new initiative: the “WELCOME! SENTO Campaign.” This campaign is clearly designed with international travelers in mind and aims to help people enjoy Tokyo’s sento culture even more. It will run until February 28, 2026. So in this post, I would like to introduce the details of this initiative. What exactly is a sento? A sento is a public bathhouse that local communities have used for generations. Unlike hot spring resorts, which are often developed as tourist attractions, sento have long been part of everyday life. Today, they have also become pop...

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 direc...