Rising Sun Tour April 2025

A train to the old Edo atmosphere of Asakusa to visit the busy Sensoji Temple, Tokyo’s oldest, built in 628. Kimono clad tourists abound around the buildings and fine gardens. For Y100 ($1) you can chance your fortune and hang it back up if you don’t like it, or invest in charm amulets called omamori to aid and protect against evil.

On to ‘Kappabashi’ Dougugai Kitchen Town, a 100 year old 800 meter long street lined with 160 wholesale kitchen wares. Yay! - we procured our Hokusai bowls and plates, and Tojiro Utility knives with a slight wave pattern and great strength on the inside for Fraz and El. Past the Japan Academy we enter Ueon Park with its many national museums and stumble on the Sake Festa - all 201 try-me’s! Back to Shinjuku to wander the seedy alleys of Golden-Gai, a post war entertainment district catering to the Occupation Forces, with some 300 disreputable establishments.En savoir plus

We travelled to the Kimono Forest or ‘600 Pillars of Creation’ located at the Randen Arashiyama Tram Station. Created by artist Yasumichi Morita in 2013 it represents an idealised image of Japan - modern aesthetics with traditional patterns. I immersed my hands in the Pond of Dragon to fill my heart with peace and happiness. Then we were off to the village of Sagano and the iconic Arashiyana Bamboo Grove which spans about 200meters to Okochi-Sanso Villa Garden. A classic Japanese garden it was built by a film star over 30 years. Across the valley was a Buddhist house - a place where 4 trainee monks spend a year not talking to get in touch with their faith.En savoir plus