Insights from a Kagurazaka Store Owner

A Day of Recognition: Kagurazaka at Tourism EXPO Japan 2025 as Tokyo Cultural Experiences On September 25, 2025, we had the honor of...

What Is the Japan Seasons Calendar? The Japan Seasons Calendar is not just a way of marking time—it is a poetic encyclopedia of nature...

Why Revisit Japan’s Ancient Seasonal Calendar? Everyone knows that Japan has four seasons , but what if we told you the year is actually divided into 72 subtle shifts of nature? Imagine the world changing every five days—that’s the essence of the Japanese seasonal calendar. This system is called Nijūshi Sekki Shichijūni Kō (24 sekki and 72 kō) . The 24 sekki  divide the year into 24 solar terms of about 15 days each, while the 72 kō  refine these further into micro-seasons of

Searching for a truly authentic matsuri in Tokyo , away from the major tourist crowds? As a resident of Kagurazaka for 25 years, the...

Things to Do in Kagurazaka During Autumn Festival Season If you are planning your trip and wondering about the best things to do in...

Get ready for the Kagurazaka Machi Tobi Festa 2025 ! If you're looking for unforgettable Kagurazaka events in 2025 , this is the one you...

I was recently inspired by a scene in a popular Japanese historical drama, or Taiga drama , called Berabō . In the episode aired on...

Imagine two very different evenings. In one, your curiosity about the dishes and the geisha’s attire remains unanswered. In the other,...

Why Do Geisha Wear White Makeup? More Than Just Shadows of the Past For foreigners and Japanese people alike, the white makeup of the...

Imagine the scene: in an intimate banquet room, a geisha rises to perform. With the elegant arc of a fan and rhythmic steps in tabi...

If you're planning a trip to Japan, you might find that Tokyo in September is the " hidden best season " to visit. As the peak summer heat subsides and the city regains its calm, it's the perfect chance to experience the true charm of Tokyo. This article will tell you everything you need to know to make your trip perfect: why September is recommended, the special experiences unique to this season, and the charm of Kagurazaka, an area where you can feel the essence of "real Ja

Discover an Authentic Side of Japanese Culture in Tokyo With Our Unforgettable Tours Great news! Our unique cultural experiences at NINJA...

Introduction Are you planning a trip to Tokyo? Beyond the famous landmarks and bustling streets, perhaps you're searching for something...

A Parable That Reflects Our Work In Japan, there’s an old story about a stonecutter who strikes a rock day after day—hundreds of...

Echizen Knife: A Blueprint for the Future of Japanese Traditional Crafts Many of Japan's traditional crafts, with their centuries of...

Paper making with a vat (suki-bune), bamboo screen (su), and mold (keta) A sheet of paper is something we take for granted. Yet, a recent...

On July 30th, I had the unique opportunity to visit Echizen City  in Fukui Prefecture , thanks to an invitation from the city's Vice...

Kagurazaka in Summer: A Guide to Geisha, Artisans, and "Iki" Culture When you picture Tokyo in August, you might imagine the scramble of Shibuya Crossing or the towering skyscrapers of Shinjuku. But tucked away in the heart of the city lies another world: Kagurazaka . Here, the summer heat seems to soften along stone-paved alleys, and the city's chaotic energy is replaced by a sophisticated calm. Kagurazaka is the perfect summer antidote—a place to escape the crowds and disco

As a longtime resident and professional tour planner in Tokyo, I have a secret to share about surviving August: sometimes, the best way to enjoy the city is to leave it. A quick but important note for first-time visitors: many travelers plan to follow the classic "Golden Route" from Tokyo to Kyoto and Osaka. While this is a fantastic itinerary for other seasons, I strongly advise against it in August. The reason is simple: you'll be escaping the heat of one major city only to

What comes to mind when you think of summer food? For me, it's always been somen noodles and watermelon. Some of my most cherished childhood memories are of family gatherings centered around these two things: trying to catch noodles as they flowed down a bamboo slide, and the chaotic fun of suika-wari (watermelon splitting). In Japan, it's precisely because the summer is so hot that we have these foods that create such lasting, joyful memories. This guide is your invitation t