Kabuki is a form of Japanese traditional theater, also known as the art of Dancing and singing. Performers usually use exaggerated make-up and extravagant costumes to define their characters. Most of the time, the actors are males and kept this tradition for ages. Nowadays kabuki is brought abroad by Japanese diplomats and represents an important part of Japanese culture.
Some said it is Tokyo’s Champs-Élysées… Some said it is Tokyo’s Beverly Hill…..
Why so? (-.-?) Let’s give it a look! (^^,)
txoha101.blog.so-net.ne.jp/archive/c10364862-2
Omote-sando bounds with Minato and Shibuya wards. Stretching from the bottom of ‘Takeshita’ a famous street of Harajuku to Aoyama-dori in Omote-sando area. Zelkova is a name of the tree that row up along both sidewalk and a symbol of Omote-sando.
txoha101.blog.so-net.ne.jp/archive/c10364862-2
txoha101.blog.so-net.ne.jp/archive/c10364862-2
Here is a place where many designers set up their studios and known for upscale fashionable stores, luxury galleries, vintage boutiques, restaurants, nightclubs, live-music bars, museums, beauty salons, trendy coffee shops and etc. Totally an ideal district for people who look for something HIP and CHIC!
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Omotesando_H...
www.garrytrinh.com/japan2008c.html
Along the avenue lines up several of world’s trendy and high-end brandname shops such as Gucci, Luis Vuitton, Tods, Chanel, Dior, Prada and etc… Feel nothing different than walking on the catwalk sometime as you could see people dress up so fabulous. From time to time, you would get to see famous people or star walking around this area.
Strolling up to Harajuku side, you will find ‘Omotesando Hill’, a recent developed complex mall. The building was created with the concept of ‘urban memory’ combining lifestyle, arts and fashion together under the preservation of the original atmosphere.
Access :
-From JR Harajuku Station, take Omotesando Exit. Turn left to Omotesando Street and walk down to Omotesando-dori.
-From Subway Omote-sando Station, A1 exit is the nearest on to Omotesando Boulevard.
-On foot from JR or Subway Shibuya.
For those who like Ginza, you may change your mind to be Omotesando Lover if you ever come here!!
Usaon
Tsukiji fish maket is the biggest fish market in the world。 The first market in Tokyo was established during the Edo period to provide food for Edo castle (nowadays Tokyo). The market is located in Tsukiji in central Tokyo, and one of the most attarctive sites for foreign visitors.
The market is devided in two parts, first is the “inner market” where about 900 dealers operate their auctions and second, the “outer market”, which offers, sea food, Kitchen tools, and restaurant supplies.
The value of the market is about 600 billion yen, offers more than 400 different types of fish, and employs 60,000 workers.
Opening hours are in early mornings except Sundays and Holidays with products arriving by ship, truck and plane from all over the world
If you are staying in Tokyo during New year’s eve, you will have the opportunity to celebrate it in the Japanese way, doing Hatsumode, which is not a countdown neither a ritual, but a possibility to go with family or friends to temples or shrines to pray and make wishes for the new upcoming year.
Unlike Christmas, New Year is a national holiday, therefore most of the temples and shrines across Japan are extremely crowded, it is a tradition to buy lucky charms for a fortunate new year. Also, you can experience a perfect Japanese festival atmosphere with a variety of food stands, games, souvenirs and attend concerts.
During New Years period, Japanese workers tend to leave big cities (especially Tokyo) to go back to their countryside hometowns, therefore traveling around the country during this period is not very convenient.
Since Japan is a Buddhist country, you might ask yourself what exactly is Christmas in Japan? How to celebrate it when it when is not even a national holiday?
Christmas has no religious meaning for Japanese, they love whatever is shining or sparkling in buildings, streets, shops etc…. Therefore Japanese could not resist the temptation of importing the “Christmas atmosphere”, but only selecting their favorite parts of it.
Christmas is more likely a Valentine’s day in December, it is meant to be for couples walking around the decorate streets or a season to find a partner when you are single.
The 25th of December is a day like all others, people work, children go to school, but couples have a nice romantic dinner on Christmas’s eve and exchange presents.
Nowadays Tokyo is filled of Christmas illumination in the following area:
Shinjuku Terrace City Illumination
Light-Up Christmas in Shibuya
LIGHTOPIA 2008
Caretta OCEAN Xmas 2008
Hot Fantasy Odaiba
Ebisu Garden Place Christmas Illumination
MIDTOWN CHRISTMAS 2008
Roppongi Hills Artelligent Christmas
Ginza Christmas Illuminations
With an interior made from Scandinavian ice and a thermostat set permanently at -5C, Absolut Icebar is, quite literally, a little slice of Sweden in the heart of Tokyo. But as we stood around sipping vodka and shivering in our boots, one question hung in the frozen air like a snowflake: will citizens of this temperate city enjoy partying in a freezer?
Absolut Icebar Tokyo is the latest offering from the Stockholm-based vodka giant, whose other pubs are located in Sweden, Milan and London. The subzero spaces are, if nothing else, great PR for Absolut—we’ve already mentioned the company’s name three times in two paragraphs.
Being good-hearted environmentalists, we’re also inclined to applaud Absolut’s efforts to promote global cooling. But as noted in a Japan Times profile, Icebar Tokyo is kept chill by importing blocks of ice from Sweden every six months, and the electricity for just one day’s worth of AC could power Prime Minister Koizumi’s hair dryer for years. At what point, we wonder, does “interesting gimmick” become “wasteful publicity stunt”?
We couldn’t resist visiting at least once, though, and we can say that the bar truly is a wonder. Tables, floors and translucent Escher prints all get the ice treatment, shimmering otherworldly under the dim lights. A small alcove offers sofa-like seating, but a better idea is to stand at the tall bar tables to keep the circulation flowing. The smallish room holds 50 people, who arrive through a pair of airtight doors and who can stay for 45-minute shifts.
Entry costs a nightclub-like ¥3,500, but unlike most nightclubs, that fee includes use of a cape and gloves. You’ll need them. What at first feels like an invigorating blast of cool air becomes bracing, then cold, then frigid and, finally, well-nigh unbearable. Even us New Yorkers began eyeing the clock with increasing discomfort as our 45-minute limit approached. And that was during March, when we were layered for winter underneath our ponchos. Abandon hope, all ye who enter here in miniskirts.
Absolut Icebar’s liquor menu is, unsurprisingly, devoted to vodka-based cocktails. The cover charge includes the price of one drink, which seems the least it could do, and choices range from the Tokyo Forest (Absolut, green tea liqueur, milk) to the Northern Lights (Absolut Currant, strawberry syrup, sparkling wine) to the Sun Pillar (Absolut, lychee liqueur, pineapple juice, grenadine). Several non-alcoholic beverages are available, and additional drinks cost ¥1,200. The best part may be the bar’s “glasses.” Made of ice, rectangular and thick, these mugs are a real novelty, though unfortunately difficult to sip from.
Our fellow patrons were wide-eyed visitors who, like us, fell under the bar’s enchanting spell—digital-camera flashes abounded. To help avoid frostbite, the friendly bartenders work in two-hour shifts, an arrangement that allows them to provide service with a smile.
A frozen smile, of course.4-2-4 Nishi-Azabu, Minato-ku. Tel: 03-5464-2161. Open daily 5pm-midnight. Nearest stn: Hiroo. Reservations accepted online; see www.icebartokyo.com for more info.
( Informations from http://metropolis.co.jp/tokyo/629/bars.asp )
The unique concept of ‘ABSOLUT ICEBAR’ has always been captured my mind from the first time I saw it on the tv. It was automatically put into the list of my must-go-places before I leave Tokyo!!
Finally the perfect timing came when a group of friends who like nightlife dragged me out. It didn’t disappointed me at all for the fantastic scandinavian interior.
When looking the blue ocean light through the ice, it’s really splendid and giving you a great different experience.
Somehow, I felt like I was forced to drink more and more just to warm me up and not to freeze to death!!
Absolut Icebar Tokyo may not is not only the coolest bar in my heart, but the coldest one as well.
If Tokyo winter is not cold enough for you, check this out!
Usaon
http://r.gnavi.co.jp/p381902/
It has been almost a year not going back to my country and I’ve been missing the real taste of Thai cuisine so much. Fortunately, going only a few stations away from my school at Mita to Shiodome station has a wonderful thai restaurant named ‘Silom Soi 9′ where I can fill up my stomach at without worrying about the money in my pocket.
www.caretta.jp/shop/shops/b2f-silom-soi-9.html
Although thai restaurants could be found everywhere in Tokyo but not all could serve the typical delicacy like ‘Silom Soi 9′. The main chef came straight from Thailand over last 20 years ago. I’ve been to many Thai restaurants in Tokyo but for the original thai cuisine, fresh ingredients and also the fair price this restaurant is in the top rank.
At Silom Soi9, lunch set is served from 10am to 2pm and from 3pm to 11pm is the dinner menu when you could order various kind of thai food such as papaya salad, tom yum kung, khapao ( stir-fried chicken or pork in basil ), red curry, green curry, phadthai (thai noodle), sate and all kind of curry. A few number of ethnic food like fresh prawn spring roll in rice paper and others are also included in the menu. Thai famous beer either Chang beer, Singha beer or Phuket beer are served there too.
The price is average 850 - 1,200 yen per dish. Approximately price for lunch is 1,000 yen/person, 3,500 yen/ person for dinner. It is strongly recommended to make a reservation if you plan to have a group party overthere as it is usually crowded in the evening.
www.npointercos.jp/seasonalreport.html
This restaurant is situated in an attractive location on B2F in Caretta Shiodome, a 21st century skyscraper and a stylish town. It has up to 47 floors and consists of many shops and restaurants. And also known as adult town with its complex entertainment surrounding.
For the thai students in Tokyo, those thai food lovers and others who want to experience the most delicious Thai food providing with a warm service.. you don’t want to miss this!
Usaon
