My Tokyo Guide

2012 Cherry Blossom Season Coming Soon!

My Tokyo Guide — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 04:54:04 +0000

According to the current forecasts, the cherry blossoms are expected to open according to their average schedule or slightly delayed in 2012. The blossoms are forecast to start opening across wide areas of Kyushu, Shikoku and Honshu in late March and reach full bloom in early April.

Hanami is an important Japanese custom and is held all over Japan in spring. Hanami literally means viewing flowers, but it generally indicates cherry blossom viewing. It’s said that the origin of hanami dates back to more than one thousand years ago when aristocrats enjoyed looking at beautiful cherry blossoms and wrote poems.

Nowadays, people in Japan have fun viewing cherry blossoms, drinking and eating. It is like a picnic under the trees. People bring home-cooked meals, do BBQ, or buy take-out food for hanami.

*For more information on Cherry Blossom Tours, please contact us.

Kusatsu onsen (Gunma-Prefecture)

My Tokyo Guide — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 10:53:49 +0000

If you visit Kusatsu onsen (Hot Springs) in Gunma Prefecture; which is one of the most famous hot spring resorts in Japan; our recommendation is to do all your sightseeing and skiing first, as once you soak yourself in the Kusatsu famous steaming hot spring, you will not have enough energy to do anything else but relax and sleep…

2012 Sapporo Snow Festival

My Tokyo Guide — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:50:10 +0000

The world famous Sapporo Snow Festival in Sapporo Japan starts Feb. 6th to Feb 12th. About two million people come to Sapporo every year to see the hundreds of beautiful snow statues and ice sculptures which line Odori Park,the grounds at Community Dome Tsudome, and the main street in Susukino.

Japan may be the Skiing World’s best-kept Secret!

My Tokyo Guide — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:28:08 +0000

With some of the most reliable snow any-where, Japan may be the Skiing World’s best-kept secret – the perfect place to combine some world-class skiing with an exotic vacation. Japan offers stunning mountains vistas, kilometres of perfectly groomed runs at all levels of difficulty, along with gnarly mogul runs, snowboard parks, friendly locals and great food. There also great off-piste skiing, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, and let’s not forgot Japan’s incredible variety of hot springs baths (onsen) for that all-important apres-ski soak.

Japan’s best ski resorts are found in the Japan Alps regions of Central Honshu (Nagano & Niigata Prefecture) and on the northern island of Hokkaido. The former lays claim to the highest mountains, while the latter has the deepest and most regular snow. Both regions offer first-class skiing. If you’re interested in doing some sightseeing in cities, like Kyoto, Nara and Tokyo in addition to your skiing, you might consider hitting the resorts in the Japan Alps. If skiing is your main goal, then Hokkaido might be the best way to go.

The 2011-2012 Ski Season is here, and we are pleased to offer various 1-3 days Ski Packages from Tokyo, both Bullet Train (Shinkansen) or Flight Packages are available.

Hokkaido (Rusutsu) 3 Days Ski Packages (Including round trip Flights to Hokkaido)
Mt. Fuji (Snow Town Yeti) 1 Day Ski Packages (Including Return Bullet Train Tickets)
Niigata (Gala Yuzawa / Joetsu Kokusai) 1 ~ 2 Day Ski Packages (Including Return Bullet Train Tickets)

Please contact us for more information.

Japan Snow Resorts

My Tokyo Guide — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:21:43 +0000

This Japan Snow Report video shows some of Japan’s most famous Ski Resorts including: (Hakuba-Nagano), (Naeba-Niigata) (Niseko-Hokkaido)

Japanese Oshogatsu, or New Years Holiday

My Tokyo Guide — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 09:36:08 +0000

Oshogatsu, or New Years Holiday (Dec 30th to Jan 4th), in Japan is always one of the most important holiday events, where families get together, clean their house from top to bottom, inside and outside, send New Year post cards, eat Oshogatsu food and visit their local temple to celebrate the new year by ringing the bell.

Correction – Bluefin fetches record $736,000 in Tokyo Fish Auction!

My Tokyo Guide — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 07:26:31 +0000

A bluefin tuna has netted $736,000 in Tokyo’s ceremonial first fish auction of 2012. The president of a Japanese sushi restaurant chain paid out the record sum. (Jan. 5) http://goo.gl/4oeU3

gIQA5ULrcP_video.html#

First Tuna Auction of 2012 at Tsukiji Fish Market – Sets Record Price for Bluefin

My Tokyo Guide — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 02:36:44 +0000

The first auction of the New Year brings a new record price for Tuna, A 269-kilogram bluefin tuna was sold for a record 56.49 million yen, or 210,000 yen per kg, at the first auction of the year at the Metropolitan Central Wholesale Market in Tokyo’s Tsukiji on Thursday.

Related Video: Last year at the same time a Tuna sells for record $400,000
Jan 5 – Bluefin tuna sold for record $400,000 in first auction of the year at Tokyo’s Tsukiji fish market.
http://www.reuters.com/resources_v2/flash/video_embed.swf?videoId=174010365&edition=BETAUS

Kusatsu Onsen Resort and (lots of) Snow!

My Tokyo Guide — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 03:03:20 +0000

A Rare Opportunity to Experience a real traditional onsen (Hot Spring) with lots of Snow!!! Kusatsu Onsen Resort is one of the best Onsen resorts in Japan. It has been ranked the # 1 Onsen resort in Japan for nine consecutive years since 2003 in the Japan’s 100 Best Annual Onsen Resorts Guide; based on a survey for professionals in the tourism industry. Also, their pure water is selected as one of the top Three Spring Waters in Japan, along with Arima Onsen (Hyogo prefecture) and Gero Onsen (Gifu prefecture)

2 Day – Kusatsu Onsen Resort and Snow Winter Package!

- Day 1 – Start 9:50am from Shinjuku
- Visit the Kusatsu Onsen Village
- Enjoy “Buffet Style Dinner″ with Japanese, Western and Chinses dishes:
- Enjoy “Kids Snow Park” Optional Ski Lift ticket and Ski rental also available
- Visit many types of onsens, swimming pool and karaoke rooms
- Day 2 – Relax Relax Relax in Onsen
- Visit Kusatsu Onsen Resort Town Center
- Return to Shinjuku on Day 2 around 18:30pm

Package include the following:
- Hot Spring [Natural hot springs with indoor and outdoor onsens]
- Buffet Syle Dinner and Breakfast
- 1 Night -Kusatsu Onsen Resort (2-5 persons per room)
- Shinjuku Pick-up and Drop-off

Remarks:
- Available on the following from: Jan to March:
- Please check with us for exact dates available:
- Availability limited: – Minimum of 2 Person

*For more information on this Winter Onsen and Snow Special, please contact us.

Japan’s Traditional Style Yakatabune Dinner Cruise

My Tokyo Guide — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 08:22:12 +0000

One of the best ways to appreciate Tokyo at night is by taking a Tokyo Bay Cruise on a traditional style Yakatabune boat. Enjoy breathtaking night views of Tokyo Bay including the beautifully illuminated Rainbow Bridge while enjoying a traditional Japanese style feast of sashimi and tempura.

Yakatabune Pier Start Point:

Night Dinner Cruises starts at night from 6 or 7 pm: (depending on the season)
The joy of marine cruises awaits. Excellent night views of the metropolis in the evening, delicious food and drink are an integral part of this unique way to experience Tokyo.

Seagulls come to enjoy the shrimp tail leftovers
The Yakatabune cruise features, traditional tatami mat seating and a delicious full course tempura and sashimi dinner serviced with Japanese sake as you take in the glittering sights of Tokyo at night.

The Yakatabune Dinner is an asortment of Japanese traditional style cuisine!

The Tempura just keeps on coming: (Shrimp, Vegetables, Squid, Sill-ago, Suggrundus etc)

Dinner Cruise: Includes Japanese Style Dinner and All you can drink alcohol (including Beer, Japanese Sake, Wine, Whiskey, Japanese Plum Wine, Shochu)

For more information on Yakatabune Dinner Cruises please see link below:
Yakatabune Dinner Cruises