Category: Information

Opening day, 13th April 2025 Osaka Kansai Expo 2025 in Osaka Healthcare Pavilion

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Today, 13th April 2025, the Osaka Kansai Expo 2025 just started

Also, my volunteer wark is started from the first day. Since it was the first day, a large number of people visited, and although it was expected to some extent, the opening was quite crowded and chaotic. Today, I walked from Yumeshima Station on the Osaka Metro Chuo Line and entered the venue via the East Gate. Compared to the West Gate, which can only be accessed by shuttle bus, entering from the East Gate is more convenient, even if it is a little crowded. For the Osaka Expo, the Chuo Line was extended from Cosmo Square Station, one stop before, to Yumeshima Station. An additional 90 yen fee is required for this extended section. This section is not included in the Osaka Metro “Enjoy Eco Card,” which allows unlimited use of all lines in one day, so if you use this card, you should be aware that you will have to pay an additional 90 yen fee at Yumeshima Station.

Osaka Healthcare Pavilion Nest for Reborn

On the first day of volunteering, I guided visitors inside the Osaka Healthcare Pavilion Nest for Reborn, pavilion of the organizer of the EXPO, Osaka prefecture and city. The area I was in charge of was relatively less chaotic, and I tried to respond with a smile as much as possible so that the visitors could enjoy themselves.

Before and after the activity, I was able to walk freely around inside of the Expo site, and I was able to enjoy it with the general visitors, except for places and activities that required reservations.

Unfortunately, it rained heavily, so the Blue Impulse demonstration flight was canceled, and there were many people who waited the event, in the rain for a long time, which made me a little worried about the customer satisfaction. Also, there were pavilions that were not yet completed and were under construction, so it was a slightly unsettling opening.

For me, the excitement I felt at the Osaka Expo 55 years ago came back to me, and I also had the opportunity to enjoy some brief conversations with the pavilion companions. I am looking forward to the activities that begin today.

Breathtaking cherry blossoms at Shinjuku Gyoen and a fun sushi class

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Today, I welcomed three guests, arranged by a travel agency, from the United States around Tokyo. The guests’ hotel was in Higashi Ginza, so we first walked to Tsukiji Fish Market and strolled around looking at fresh seafood and rare vegetables such as spring wild plants.


After that, I guided them to Meiji Shrine and served them simple snacks such as noodles at the cafe terrace inside the shrine.
After that, I guided the guests to a sushi making class in Shinanomachi, which was arranged by the travel agency. While the guests were enjoying the sushi class, I went to our next destination, Shinjuku Gyoen garden, to check out the best cherry blossoms to admire, and then welcomed the guests to Shinjuku Gyoen.


The Somei-Yoshino cherry trees were in full bloom, but I showed them the best cherry blossoms and took a commemorative photo. After that, we moved to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, where the guests enjoyed the evening project mapping of the buildings, and then I sent them off to the hotel.

A day of strolling in warm springtime historic town, Kawagoe

A day of strolling in warm springtime historic town, Kawagoe

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Continuing on from the previous day, today I took a family from Oregon to Kawagoe, a popular tourist spot about 50km north of Tokyo that retains the atmosphere of the pre-modern and early modern eras such as the Edo and Meiji periods.
At Kita-in Temple, a famous temple with deep ties to the Tokugawa Shogunate, the Shidarezakura, weeping cherry blossoms were in full bloom, allowing us to relax and enjoy the cherry blossoms and gardens inside the temple.

At the request of the guests, we enjoyed a pancake lunch at a coffee shop in Kawagoe City, strolled through the unique streets of storehouses and sweets alley, and enjoyed Hikawa Shrine and the cherry blossoms, Somei-yoshino that were just starting to bloom on the Shin-Kashi River behind it.

Back in Tokyo, I showed them the view from the observation deck of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku, Shibuya Crossing, and the bronze statue of Hachiko.

This tour was organized through Tours by Locals.

Review from the guest posted to Tours by Locals

Atsu really made our trip incredible. Besides giving us a wonderful tour and history of some beautiful shrines, he accommodated our interests. He took us to a very nice knives store and worked with the owners to help us select some knives we wanted to buy. He was very invested in making sure our trip was as enjoyable as possible and designed the trip to our interests. It was clear he had carefully planned the day to ensure everything went smoothly. Really a wonderful guide with a wealth of knowledge.

A peaceful early spring stroll around Tokyo and an evening cruise on Yokohama Port

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Double bridge gate

Today, after showing a friendly family from Oregon around Sensoji Temple, the Imperial Palace, and Hie Shrine. We had Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki for lunch near Shinjuku Gyoen garden, and then strolled around Shinjuku Gyoen, where the early-blooming cherry blossoms, including Shidaresakura, weeping cherry and Yoko line cherry trees, were in full bloom.

The weather was nice, and the guests were very pleased. Afterwards, we went to Yokohama Port, where they enjoyed an evening cruise around the port.

This tour was organized through Tours by Locals.

Review from the guest posted to Tours by Locals

We have been communicating with Atsuhiro over several months to plan the day. It was amazing! He even made reservations at wonderful restaurants with foods as per our request and guided us to a Yokohama cruise after a lovely day filled with shrines, temples, cherry blossoms, and info regarding Japanese traditions and history. Truly memorable day. Highly recommend touring with Atsuhiro.

A preview tour of the popular tourist spot, Kawagoe

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Today, I went to Kawagoe City, Saitama to check the cherry blossom blooming situation for a guest I will be introducing next week. Kawagoe is located about 50 km north of Tokyo and is a popular tourist spot that retains the atmosphere of the Edo, Meiji and Taisho periods (pre-modern times to early modern).

My friend kindly accompanied me and we walked around the town of shop of warehouses style and the popular Hikawa Shrine, and checked the cherry blossom blooming situation on the banks of the Shingashi River.

The early-blooming Okanzakura cherry on the river were at their best, but it seemed unclear whether the main variety Somei Yoshino cherry, would be in full bloom next week.

Field workshop on early blooming cherry species in Takao mountain

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Yesterday, I planned and carried out an observation event for early-spring plants such as early-blooming cherry blossoms at the Tama Forest Science Garden at the foot of Mount Takao in Hachioji City, a suburb of Tokyo.

In 2025, the early-blooming cherry blossoms bloomed late, and we were only able to see some cherry blossoms, such as Hachisukazakura and Kanzakura, but we learned about the differences between the wild species of cherry blossoms and cultivated variety such as Satozakura, as well as how to read botanical names.

We learned on how to create varieties from seedlings, and how to create varieties from branch mutations. We also learned about the differences between registered varieties and other varieties.

Although there were only a few in bloom, we also learned about the characteristics of early-blooming varieties such as Kanzakura, and the difference in the blooming period between single and double petal varieties. 

We exchanged opinions on strategies to preserve the offspring of species including Anemone japonica or Mimigatanantensyo Arisaema limbatum, and how to distinguish between violets that are difficult to identify.

Flower report Japan 2025. 03.19 Cherry, Oh-kanzakura

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Flower :
Cerasus ×kanzakura ‘Oh-kanzakura/ Cherry var. Oh-kanzakura/ オオカンザクラ 大寒桜
Cerasus spachiana ‘Pendula’/ Cherry var. Shidare-sakura/ シダレザクラ 枝垂桜
Cerasus × kanzakura ‘Kawazu-zakura’/ Cherry var. Kawazu-zakura/ カワヅサクラ 河津桜

Place & Date:
Ueno park, Tokyo 2025.03.19 東京 上野公園

Oh-kanzakura

Shidare-sakura

Kawazu-zakura

#Cherry #Oh-kanzakura #Shidare-sakura #Kawazu-zakura #オオカンザクラ #シダレザクラ #カワヅサクラ #大寒桜 #枝垂桜 #河津桜 #上野公園

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#Satsua

Unseasonable snow fell in Tokyo

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Today (19th March 2025), we have unexpected snow even in the city center of Tokyo, with a thin snow layer on ground. A thin layer of snow has accumulated on the roof of the Kaminarimon Gate (Thundar gate) and main hall of Sensoji Temple, and the lawn of in front of the Imperial Palace and Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden are also slightly white.

The early-blooming cherry varieties have already begun to bloom, but the mid-season and later varieties that will bloom from now on may be a little late in blooming.

Flower report Japan 2025. 03.19 Cherry, Takatoh kohigan

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Flower :
Cerasus ×subhirtella ‘Takatoh-kohigan’ / Cherry variety Takatoh Kohigan/ タカトウコヒガン 高遠小彼岸
Cerasus campanulata ‘Yoko’/ Cherry var. Yoko/ ヨウコウサクラ 陽光桜
Cerasus x subhirtella ‘kohigan’/ Cherry var. Kohigan/コヒガン 小彼岸
Cerasus campanulata/ Taiwan cherry/ ヒカンザクラ 緋寒桜

Place & Date:
Shinjyuku gyoen garden, Tokyo 2025.03.19 東京 新宿御苑

Takatoh Kohigan

Yoko

Kohigan

Hikan

#Cherry #Takatoh-kohigan #Yokocherry #Kohigancherry #Taiwancherry #タカトウコヒガン #ヨウコウサクラ #コヒガンサクラ #ヒカンザクラ #高遠小彼岸 #陽光 #小彼岸桜 #緋寒桜 #新宿御苑

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#Satsua

Sightseeing and preliminary inspection of tourist sites around Mt. Fuji

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Yesterday and today, I went sightseeing and preliminary inspection of tourist sites around Mt. Fuji, such as Arakurayama Sengen Shrine (Chureito Pagoda) and Mount Fuji Panoramic Ropeway, which I plan to introduce to my guests in early April.


Unfortunately, it rained yesterday, and Mt. Fuji was not visible at all. In the midst of all this, I have checked how to select the two types of hiking trails to Chureito Pagoda in rainy weather, and the facilities that take AI-generated commemorative photos (composite photos of Mt. Fuji on a clear day) at the observation deck I reached on through the Mount Fuji Panoramic Ropeway, and used these as reference for what to do in case of rainy weather.


Today, the weather is clear from the morning, and I am able to enjoy Mt. Fuji from early in the morning. I visit Saiko Iyashi-no-Sato Nenba (Traditional Japanese Village), where I enjoy the old Japanese thatched houses and the magnificent view of Mt. Fuji.

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