The sakura have fallen, and in this brief period before the torrential downpour of the rainy Tsuyu season we can enjoy different scenery to that of the scorching midsummer. The days are beautiful, and with the temperature and humidity for the time reasonable, now is the perfect time to take advantage of Tokyo’s greener places, ideal for long walks and picnics.

Yoyogi Park

Yoyogi Park
One of Tokyo’s largest parks, located next to Meiji Jingu shrine and Harajuku station, it features a bicycle path and, rare for Tokyo, a dog run where you can let your dog off the leash. You can drink in the park and bicycles are available for rental. Groups often gather on Sundays to practice music and dance. The impressive Tokyo Olympic Stadium, designed by architect Kenzo Tange, is adjacent.
Access: Short walk from Yoyogi-koen Sta. (Tokyo Metro), Harajuku Sta. (JR), Yoyogi-hachiman or Sangubashi Sta. (Odakyu Line) [Map]

Mizumoto Park
The largest park with water landscapes within municipal Tokyo. Features many species of plants and trees which grow well near water and a sanctuary for wild birds.
Access: Bus from Kanamachi Sta. (Tokyo Metro) [Map]

Arisugawa-no-Miya Memorial Park
Arisugawa-no-Miya Memorial park, originally the urban villa of feudal lord Minonokami Nambu, is now a tranquil park located within central Tokyo. Surrounded by foreign embassies, and located behind Hiroo station, the park provides a wide variety of natural scenery, with a lake, waterfalls, ponds and bridges. A host of wild birds, along with the park’s large amount of trees, drowns out the sound of the city. Fishing in the lake is allowed, and bicycling parking is provided within the gate.
Access: Short walk from Hiroo Sta. (Tokyo Metro) [Map]

Todoroki Gorge

Todoroki Gorge
One of Tokyo’s more idyllic places, this stretch of green is surrounded by trees and follows the course of a river. Quiet and featuring one or two shrines, it’s perfect for a quiet stroll to escape the hustle and bustle of the city center.
Access: Short walk from Todoroki Sta. (Tokyu Line) [Map]

Rinshi no Mori Park
Beginning life as a nursery and forestry research station, this park was opened to the public when the station was moved to Tsukuba. Located in Shimomeguro, some of its trees can be traced back hundreds of years and provide excellent shade on hot summer days.
Access: Short walk from Musashi-koyama Sta. (Tokyu Line) [Map]

Jindai Botanical Gardens
Japan’s first botanical garden, the Jindai gardens are located about Jindai-ji Temple on the Musashi plain and house approximately 4,500 varieties of plants. The garden displays a flower show every month of seasonal blooms. Admission charge 500 Yen for adults, 200 Yen for children, 250 Yen for seniors. Closed on Mondays (except national holidays).
Access: Bus from Chofu or Tsutsujigaoka Sta. (Keio Line), or Kichijoji or Mitaka Sta. (JR)[Map]

Koishikawa Botanical Garden
The University of Tokyo Graduate School of Science’s botanical garden in Tokyo is one of the oldest in Japan. Used for research, these gardens are open to the public and have large collections of flora, including a 300 year forest that has been preserved from Tokyo’s urbanization. Entrace is 300 Yen for adults (over 13), 110 Yen for children (over 6).
Access: Short walk from Myogadani Sta. (Tokyo Metro) [Map]

Shinjuku Gyoen National Park
One of Tokyo’s foremost parks, the Shinjuku Gyoen National Park, former residence of the daimyo noble Naito family, is one of the most popular places in Tokyo for cherry blossom viewing. Aside from the cherry trees, the park has over 20,000 varieties of trees and blends French, English and Japanese garden styles. A traditional Japanese teahouse can be found in the center. Please note that there is an admission charge of 200 Yen for adults and 50 Yen for children, and that drinking alcohol in the park and bringing in sports/play equipment is prohibited.
Access: Short walk from Shinjukugyoen Sta. (Tokyo Metro) or Shinjuku Sta. [Map]

Mukoujima-Hyakkaen Garden
A flower garden established in the early 19th century, it was originally designed to house a variety of Ume plum trees but has since come to accommodate a wide variety of annually blooming flora.
Access: Short walk from Higashi-Mukojima Sta. (Tobu Line) [Map]

Mt. Takao

Mount Takao
Located in Hachioji, this mountain is a popular hike for many visitors. Some choose to start at the base while others take the funicular or chairlift halfway up. Situated inside a national park, it has excellent views and is home to many native wildlife, including monkeys and mythic tengu spirits. There is a large Buddhist shrine at the summit and a spectacular view over the National Meiji no Mori park.
Access: Get off at Takaosanguchi Sta. (Keio Line) or Takao Sta. (JR) [Map]

Mount Mitake
Mount Mitake lies to the west of Tokyo and is another popular way to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. Only an hour and a half from Shinjuku, the mountain lies within Chichibu Tama Kai National Park, which also encompasses some of the more rural parts of Saitama, Yamanashi and Nagano. Visitors come here to immerse themselves in nature and hike, and while no mountaineering gear is necessary, a good pair of shoes is recommended. Aside from the beautiful hiking trails and wild bird sanctuary, this mountain is particular popular for its shrine, which is said to have been a centre for mountain worship for some two thousand years. The shrine also houses a suit of scarlet braided armor, known as Akaitodoshiyori, which is a designated national treasure.
Access: Get off at Mitake Sta. (JR) and take the bus to Takimoto Sta., and then take the cable car [Map] / Website: Mitake Tozan Railway

For those of us who are vegetarian or vegan inclined, the prospect of finding anything to eat in Tokyo can be particularly daunting. In a country where dashi (fish stock) is ubiquitous and where the concept of vegetarianism is still relatively unfamiliar, never mind explaining the stricter diets of vegans, it may seem like an impossible task trying to eat out at a nice restaurant. Fast food? Forget it. A bowl of ramen after a night out? No can do.

Well, fear no more. While being vegan in Tokyo is still somewhat of a chore, it is easier than ever before, with a wide range of vege-friendly restaurants all over the city, many with vegan options. Here, however, I would like to introduce two vegan restaurants which offer an experience of Japanese food that would normally be out of bounds: bento and ramen.

Pop down to Yotsuya Sanchome for lunch this week and nestled behind the main thoroughfare, recognizable by its bright yellow placard, you will find Loving Hut. Don’t worry, the establishment is not nearly so seedy as the name would make it appear. This vegan cafe and bento restaurant has you covered for lunches and meals in the evening, although it is prone to irregular holidays, and may sell out of bento at lunch time. This is because it is run by a lovely team of people who are dedicated to their mission of healthy, eco-friendly vegan food. And you can’t really fault that. Open, provisionally, from 11:30am to 3:00pm for “eco bento”, then from 5:00pm till 7:00pm for dinner, you can also find them selling bento from the Loving Hut van around Ningyocho. The bento changes per day, and you can expect to find things like vegan katsu, curry rice, Chinese stir fry, and hamburgers and hot dogs. For the health conscious, or for those who want to eat green, pun intended, it offers a great place for lunch or maybe a snack after work.

If you’re dying for some ramen but can’t stand the thought of thick soups made of pig bones or copious amounts of dashi, head over to Tokyo station for T’s TanTan. A vegan ramen shop. Yes. A vegan ramen shop. Here they specialize in a Chinese style of ramen called “tantanmen” where the soup broth is based on sesame and chilli for a fiery yet savoury kick. Also on the menu is vegan kara-age (fried chicken) and vegan versions of standard ramen shop fare such as miso and soy sauce ramen. Perfect for those who are dying to embrace the salaryman lifestyle but are suffering from the lack of a vegetarian option, you will have to go inside the ticket gates to get here. But for those who can navigate the labyrinth of Tokyo station, T’s TanTan is well worth the journey.

The world of bento and ramen is longer out of bounds for vegetarians or vegans in Tokyo, but more importantly, for all of us who are looking to eat healthier, or even just eat in a more eco-conscious manner, there are tons of restaurants popping up all over the city. So vegetarians and vegans rejoice, meat-eaters try something different, and the health-conscious indulge.

Loving Hut
http://lovinghut.jp/ (Japanese)
2F, 3-6-15 Yotsuya, Shinjuku-ku [Map]
T’s TanTan
Keiyo Street, inside the ticket gates of Tokyo Station (Yaezu Exit side, near the Keiyo Lines platform) [Map]

Christmas decorations come down quickly in Japan to make way for the most important Japanese holiday – New Year’s. Preparations for the end of the year are many and require time. Offices and homes are cleaned, accounts are settled, and New Year’s greeting cards (“Nengajo”) are sent to friends, family and acquaintances. Along with this, homes and businesses prepare to greet the New Year with decorations. Three common decorations are the kadomatsu, shime kazari, and kagami mochi. These share similar yet distinct functions. While methods of arrangement vary, below are some typical ways in which these might be found.

Kadomatsu are arrangements of three cut pieces of bamboo, pine boughs, and other lucky or decorative plants which are placed outside the entrances to homes and businesses. Kadomatsu vary in height and size. Their function is to provide a place for the New Year’s gods (Toshigami) who bring longevity and good fortune to alight. Pine trees have long been associated with the resting place of gods, thus their use in kadomatsu. The tradition of placing two of these on each side of doorways originated in the Edo Era.

Shime kazari also serve to welcome the New Year’s gods. These are hung above doorways and signify that the place inside has been cleaned or purified. The rope (“Shimenawa”) and white paper (“Shide”) are often seen in front of shrines. Shime kazari are decorated with ferns, leaves from the yuzuriha plant, oranges, and other lucky plants.

Kagami mochi, consists of two round pounded rice cakes (mochi), and is arranged with red and white hanshi paper, and the leaves of a yuzuriha or other plant. On top rests a mandarin orange (mikan). These are often placed in an alcove (toko no ma) within the house, in individual rooms, or at the entrance to the home. Along with its celebratory functions, mochi is a sacred food. Because of this, kagami mochi is given as an offering to the gods. “Kagami” in Japanese means “mirror,” a traditionally round object, hence kagami mochi’s name and shape.

There are few places in Tokyo like Ueno’s Ameyoko. A remnant of the black markets (“Yamiichi”) from the post-war days when basic food staples like white rice and sugar were in short supply, Ameyoko maintains a tradition of outdoor vendors hawking goods, yelling prices and deals, and bartering with customers. Tourists and visitors mingle with locals for bargain prices on everything from electronics and clothes, to large, fresh fish and vegetables.

Ameyoko at Year’s end is a sight unlike any other in Japan. People come from all over for fresh products like king crab, salmon roe, “Datemaki” and other ingredients for “Osechi Ryori”. Osechi are traditional New Year’s foods served in square boxes, often partitioned and stackable, called “Jubako”. Ingredients contain special meaning relevant to the New Year, and are often chosen to individual preference. Along with Ozoni, pounded rice cake in broth, Osechi are eaten over the three day New Year period.

The number of visitors to Ameyoko continues to grow as the year end approaches. Nearly 2 million people from around the city gather on the 30th and 31st of December, hoping for deals that occasionally reach as low as half the original price.

Although temperatures rarely fall below 0C in Kanto, winters can seem especially cold in Japanese houses with little insulation. Places without central heating, are often heated by kerosene and electric space heaters, or electric wall unit heaters. Along with allowing much of the heat to escape, these units can have a number of other drawbacks. Space and kerosene heaters present fire and other health hazards. Wall mount units tend to suck up dust and other particles, drying the air and creating problems for people with asthma and allergies.

The Kotatsu, a traditional form of Japanese heating, can solve many of these problems, keep you warm and save energy. Today, most Kotatsu exist in two forms, the more common “Okigotatsu”, a small table and blanket with heating unit underneath, and the “Horigotatsu”, a table and heating unit spread over a dugout in which to sit. Dating to the Muromachi period in the 14th Century, the Kotatsu developed from the Irori Japanese hearth, and was originally heated with charcoal. By the 20th Century, small portable Kotatsu, with electric heating units had been developed. The modern Kotatsu is used by sitting underneath the table, and trapping the heat with a blanket.

Kotatsu have a number of benefits. The typical Kotatsu (Okigotatsu) uses between 500-600W of electricity, with some using as little as 70W. Compared to the typical wall unit heater, which can easily run at over 1500W, the Kotatsu runs at much less energy. Moreover, because the Kotatsu heats only a small space, with the hot air being contained by a blanket, little heat is lost. Additionally, dust and allergens are not emitted, resulting in improved indoor air quality.

Some of the best benefits, however, are the Kotatsu’s secondary function – a gathering spot for families and friends. Much like a campfire in the summer, the Kotatsu provides a warm place for gathering, whether for dining or just relaxing. In fact, their warmth and comfort often makes them difficult to leave. This can create a number of amusing scenes including placing all one’s belongings within arm’s reach, falling asleep under the Kotatsu, or creating long hook shaped sticks (trust me on this one) to grasp distant objects without having to stand up.

The image of a bowl of mikans (tangerines) on the Kotatsu is a nostalgic symbol of winter (“Fubutsushi”) in Japan. That this traditional piece of technology retains practicality for the present, attests to the quality of the Kotatsu.

Panasonic has announced the sale of a multi-language Let’snote S10 mobile notebook at their official online shopping site “Panasonic Selection” on Rakuten Ichiba.

The new model is designed for international business people, with an English layout keyboard, and language support for up to 35 languages, including English and Japanese.

Panasonic Let’snote S10 (CF-S10TYUUP) combines durability, light-weight, and high performance, providing an extra reliable computer for international business people on the go. Vital parts are protected with light-weight magnesium alloy case, in its floating structure, the hard drive is buffered in protective padding. The Notebook has high shock resistance and is proven to withstand drops from 76cm in height. A waterproof keyboard drains water before it reaches the inside to protect against spills.

At just 1,180g including the battery, the Let’snote S10 is easy to carry and also easy to use in tight spaces. Using a top opening shell disk drive, the Let’snote S10 saves space and increases durability over traditional side-opening disk trays.

Inside, Windows® 7 Ultimate with 2.20GHz Second generation Intel® CoreTM i3-2330M Processor provide top-performance speed. A high capacity 500GB HDD, 4GB on board memory (expandable to 8GB), WiMAX and Wireless LAN capabilities and USB 3.0 support make this a powerful notebook. 8 hours of battery life assures that the Let’snote S10 will keep running when you need it to.

Purchase the Let’snote S10 on Rakuten Ichiba http://www.rakuten.ne.jp/gold/panasonic/mlmp/en/
s/index.html and receive an additional 5X Rakuten points. Once you register, every 100 Yen spent, you gain 1 Rakuten point. Points can be redeemed on the Rakuten Ichiba website or at participating stores and businesses for discounts on the future purchases.

The Let’snote S10 mobile notebook is intended for use in Japan. Shipping, repair and support services are only available in Japan.