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Shichi-Go-San: Japan’s Celebration of Childhood Milestones | Arigato Travel
In Japan, there’s a cherished tradition taking place every November when temples and shrines fill with brightly dressed children, proud parents, and an air of festivity. This celebration is Shichi-Go-San — a longstanding Japanese tradition that honors children who have reached the special ages of 3, 5, and 7. Families mark this occasion with visits to shrines, beautiful outfits, and prayers for the health and happiness of their little ones. Though it's a tradition deeply rooted in history, Shichi-Go-San today is a beautiful blend of old customs and modern family life. The Origins of Shichi-Go-San Shichi-Go-San, which literally means
Tokyo: World’s Best Large City 2024 | Arigato Travel
Tokyo recently earned the title of “World’s Best Large City” in Conde Nast Traveler’s 2024 reader survey, marking the sixth time Japan’s capital has received this prestigious recognition. The survey, which excludes U.S. cities and has been conducted since 1988, drew over 575,000 votes in Tokyo’s favor, highlighting the city’s global appeal. Tokyo previously held the top spot three years ago, and this year’s win reaffirms the city’s place as a favorite destination among international travelers. The survey, part of Conde Nast Traveler’s U.S. edition with a readership of around 3.5 million, caters to high-end travelers seeking curated information on top travel destinations, accommodations, restaurants, shopping, and cultural activities. Following Tokyo, the survey ranked Singapore as the second-best large city, with Sydney, Cape Town, and Vienna rounding out the top five. Officials from Tokyo’s Bureau of Industrial and Labor Affairs attribute this success to strategic promotional efforts focused on showcasing Tokyo’s food, culture, and unique nighttime attractions, which are made possible by the city’s strong safety record. These initiatives target high-spending international tourists, who are drawn to Tokyo’s blend of traditional and modern experiences. “The No. 1 ranking is the result of our tourism promotion activities, projects to improve the environment to receive travelers and other efforts,” a bureau official remarked, expressing pride in the city’s accomplishment. Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike echoed this sentiment, celebrating Tokyo’s eclectic mix of old and new. She highlighted the coexistence of traditional shrines and temples with cutting-edge anime culture and the latest pop trends, which together create a unique charm that resonates with visitors worldwide.
Interview With Taiko-Lab Studios | Arigato Travel
The taiko drums are an integral part of Japanese music and culture and have been for over 2000 years. Interestingly, the word Taiko can refer to a Japanese drumming style, the music from the drums, a group of musicians who play the drums, and even the actual drum itself. In short, Taiko is not just the well-known drums, it is everything and everyone involved in the performance. When other Japanese performance art forms like Noh and Kabuki began flourishing, the taiko drums also started gaining popularity as an accompaniment to these performances. Soon, they also became associated with religious ceremonies and festivals. Today, the Taiko drums are recognized as an amazing music style and performance art, in its own right. We are super excited to introduce you to Taiko-Lab, a music studio that is based in Tokyo. Taiko-Lab offers guests an opportunity to participate in fun, energetic Taiko learning workshops. Not only is it an amazing way of learning a Japanese art form, but it also gives a deeper insight into Japanese culture. Let’s chat with the Taiko-Lab team to learn more about them. Can you briefly introduce yourself and Taiko-Lab? Also, we'd love to hear a little background about Taiko. How did it originate and what is its cultural significance? At TAIKO-LAB, we believe in our slogan “Taiko that resonates with the heart and body for everyone”. We strive to share the joy of traditional Japanese drumming with people all over the world. The origins of taiko drums date back over 10,000 years. You’ll see Taiko drums in nearly every temple and shrine, and this is because taiko is more than just an instrument for the Japanese people; it’s a deep cultural symbol. Please tell us more about what kind of workshops or events you conduct at Taiko-Lab. At TAIKO-LAB, you can learn the traditional Japanese art of Taiko drumming directly from professional Taiko instructors. Does one need to have any specific knowledge about music to apply for a course at Taiko-Lab? Or can even amateurs join these courses? No musical experience is necessary. Beginners are more than welcome to join and have fun! Is there an age limit for joining the course? Also, do you conduct your classes in Japanese as well as in English? Our lessons are open to all ages, from 3 to 100! You can enjoy learning Taiko in either Japanese or English. Are your programs only for locals and residents of Japan? Do you have any events or workshops for tourists, who wish to participate in a unique experience during their short holiday in Japan? Both tourists and residents of Japan are welcome to participate. * Please note that trial classes for the regular courses are only for residents of Japan, they are not available to tourists. Where are your workshops or courses currently conducted? Do you plan to start in other cities too? We offer Taiko lessons in Tokyo (Aoyama and Akihabara), Kyoto, Osaka, and Kobe. What can one expect from participating in a Taiko-Lab event? At TAIKO-LAB, our 60-minute trial program introduces you to the basics of Taiko drumming, teaches traditional rhythms, and lets you complete a simple song. The experience concludes with a performance by a professional Taiko instructor. Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions. Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers? We’d love for you to experience Japanese culture through our authentic Taiko drums. We look forward to seeing you! Thank you for your time. Many of our readers are already aware of the iconic Taiko drum performances, and we are sure that they will find this information very helpful if they too want to take part in such an invigorating part of Japanese culture. Where To Find Taiko-Lab: Website: https://www.taikolab.com/english/ Instagram: ＠taikolab_aoyama Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taikolab.aoyama/ X/Twitter: @taikolabjp Featured Photo Credit: Taiko-Lab Studios Want to have more fun on your trip to Japan? Join a culinary tour and discover the country as a local!
A Taste of Ariake: Relaxing by Tokyo Bay | Arigato Travel
Ariake is a district in Koto, Tokyo that is best known as the home of Tokyo Big Sight and plenty of venues for concerts and sporting events, such as the Ariake Coliseum and Ariake Arena. But on top of that, Ariake also boasts some fine eateries and tons of fun activities. While most of Tokyo can have a congested and crowded image, Ariake stands out as a place where people can enjoy the bay breeze with lots of open space to enjoy major events. Come check out why Ariake, near Toyosu and Odaiba, is a great spot to get fresh air and unwind after a hard day (or week) in Tokyo. What to do? Tokyo Big Sight Tokyo Big Sight is a large building with a unique shape (think of four upside-down gold trapezoids next to each other) overlooking Tokyo Bay. With over 300,000 square meters of floor space, Tokyo Big Sight has served as one of Tokyo’s most accessible venues, hosting events such as the Tokyo International Toy Day (usually held in June) and Comiket, a comic book convention held biannually (in August and December) that attracts hobbyists from all over the world. Even when there's no convention going on, Tokyo Big Sight offers free entrance and plenty of restaurants inside for visitors to eat in. It’s a great place to get away from the heat or the cold and take it easy on a day out. Tokyo Big Sight has also incorporated the Ariake Gymnastics Center, which was used in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. It has been rebranded as ‘Ariake GYM-EX’, adding more space for future exhibits that will draw in more fun events in the future. Location: Tokyo Big Sight on Google Maps Website: Tokyo Big Sight official website (English) Hours of operation: 8:00 am to 8:00 pm daily Admission: free (outside of events occurring there) Tokyo Water Science Museum Tokyo Water Science Museum is a kid-friendly 3-story free museum where visitors can interact with exhibits about water and learn where it’s collected and purified for use in society. The staff and exhibits are all in Japanese, but there are enough English headers under the separate areas to describe what they’re about. There’s an “aqua laboratory” where visitors can experiment with how water moves under certain conditions and how often we use it daily. The museum has a 10-minute 3D movie (with no dialogue) on the 3rd floor showing how water from forests and dams gets filtered and sent to homes and public facilities. All of this is showcased with a semi-panoramic view. And of course, there’s the main lobby’s interactive waterworks where children (and their parents) can enjoy spraying water at targets during their day at the museum. Location: Tokyo Water Science Museum on Google Maps Info Pamphlet: Tokyo Water Science Museum official pdf file (English) Hours of Operation: 9:00 am to 5:30 pm (closed on Mondays and holidays) Admission: free Small Worlds Tokyo Another museum in Ariake worth checking out is Small Worlds Tokyo (or Small Worlds Miniature Museum). It features miniature replicas not only of famous places in Japan and around the world in its “Global Village” exhibit but also of the popular anime series, Neon Genesis Evangelion. Replicas of the giant mechs and locations featured in the franchise are on full display. Located less than 10 minutes away from Ariake-Tennis-no-Mori station on the Yurikamone line, visitors will go through a tunnel to pass admissions and marvel at all the meticulous details put into each display. From the recreation of the Kansai International Airport to the “Nightlife in Japan” exhibit, children and adults can take their time to enjoy this museum. Location: Small Worlds Tokyo on Google Maps Website: Small World Tokyo official website (English) Hours of Operations: 9:00 am to 7:00 pm daily Admission: 3,200 yen (adults) What to eat? Murata Located on the 2nd floor in the Ariake Park Building right across from Kokusai-Tenjijo station, Murata (むら田) is a traditional Japanese restaurant, offering set meals (lunch is cash only) and English-speaking staff. This restaurant has Japanese staples such as sashimi (thinly cut raw fish slices), tempura (deep-fried battered seafood and vegetables), and negitoro (green onion and fatty tuna). For those who love Japanese food in a serene setting, be sure to check out this restaurant near the Washington Hotel in Ariake. Location: Murata on Google Maps Website: Murata on the Tokyo Big Sight website (Japanese only) Hours of Operation: 11:30 am to 2:00 pm, 4:30 pm to 11:00 pm daily Ariake Garden Located between Ariake station and Kokusai-Tenjijo station, Ariake Garden is the go-to mall in the area for eating and shopping. Along with a tax-free shop for foreigners, you'll be spoiled for choice when it comes to the food court on the 5th floor. The Ariake Diner food court offers your standard selection of Japanese restaurants serving ton-katsu (Kim-katsu-tei) and curry (Maji-curry). But you also have the option to walk over to the Ariake Dining Street for sushi (Aburi) or some American food at TGI Fridays, making this a great spot to eat and relax in the mall. Location: Ariake Garden on Google Maps Website: Ariake Garden official website (English) Hours of Operation: 10:00 am to 9:00 pm daily Hobson’s Ice Cream Parlor If you’re in the mood for something cold or sweet, you can try Hobson’s Ice Cream Parlor on Ariake Garden’s 5th floor right next to Pancake House. This ice cream parlor specializes in making fruit parfaits, using mango, melon, strawberries, and other types of berries. Along with parfaits, Hobson’s also makes strawberry zuccotto (an Italian dessert made with cake and ice cream) and strawberry Christmas cake once December approaches. Regardless of the season, there’s always a sweet ice cream treat at the Ariake Diner when this place opens up. Location: Hobson's Ice Cream Parlor on Google Maps Instagram: Hobson's Ice Cream Parlor (Japanese only) Hours of Operation: 11:00 am to 10:30 pm daily (last order at 10:00 pm) Taking a trip down to Ariake is a good idea if you’re looking for either outdoor activities at the Ariake Tennis Park (which was a venue for the 2020 Olympic Games) or just want to see a side of Tokyo that isn’t a part of the hustle and bustle of the city center. Outside of a massive convention, you won’t feel claustrophobic in Ariake with its wide open spaces and close proximity to Tokyo Bay. And while you’re at it, feel free to grab a bite to eat at one of the many eateries within a stone’s throw of the stations here. Visiting Ariake is a great way to treat yourself to a chill day in Tokyo. Featured Photo Credit: Joseph Magtibay On a trip to Tokyo? Book your local guide to learn more about Japanese food and culture.