Tour spot information - Fantastic private tours in Japan

Category: Tour spot information

Field workshop on Japanese apricot/ Ume plum

Posted on 2025年2月18日2025年2月18日 by japan flower tour home

Last weekend I hosted an observation event for Ume plum or Japanese apricot and other early spring plants at Koishikawa Korakuen Garden as an organizer as nature observation group in the Tokyo City Guide Club. I invited guides, not only knowledgeable about Ume blossoms and plants, but also about Koishikawa Korakuen Garden’s history, participants were able to hear a lot of interesting stories.

We were given a detailed explanation of the relationship between Koishikawa Korakuen Garden, which was the garden of the Mito clan’s upper residence in Tokyo, and Kairakuen Garden in Mito, which is famous as Ume blossom viewing spot. We also learned that for each plum blossom, the name of the variety can tell you to a certain extent what the shape of the flower and how it blooms, how to interpret the tree shape created by pruning, and how the shape of the flower changes even in one tree depending on the time of year it blooms, making our view of plum blossoms even more interesting.

I also learned a lot of eye-opening stories, such as the fact that the difference between Christmas camellia, which are about to end their season, and Japanese camellia Tsubaki, which are about to enter their peak season, can be easily understood from the perspective of Christmas camellia flowers, which are pollinated by insects, and Japanese camellia flowers, which are pollinated by birds. It seems that the plum blossoms are blooming and coming into full bloom late this year, so it looks like we’ll still be able to enjoy them.

Based on the results of observation workshop, I have also updated my ume plum or Japanese apricot encyclopedia page. Please take a look if you are interested.

Lucky cat temple, Gotokuji Temple

Posted on 2025年2月8日2025年2月8日 by japan flower tour home

I visited Gotokuji Temple, a famous temple, also known as a lucky cat temple that is the family temple of the Ii clan, who served as senior vassals of the Tokugawa clan of the Edo Shogunate. Long ago, when the Ii clan’s lord was passing in front of this temple, which was on the Ii clan’s territory, a cat beloved by the temple’s head priest beckoned him in, and thanks to this cat the lord was able to avoid being struck by lightning, and so the cat has been treasured as a beckoning cat that brings good fortune, along with the Kannon Bodhisattva.

Incidentally, Hikonyan, the mascot of Hikone Castle, the Ii clan’s castle, and the original mascot character, was designed based on Gotokuji Temple’s beckoning cat.

Hanegi Park, a peaceful plum hill in Early Spring

Posted on 2025年2月8日2025年2月8日 by japan flower tour home

I visited Hanegi Park-Umegaoka and Gotokuji Temple in Setagaya to preview for a volunteer tour guide that I will be participating next week. There are about 60 varieties and 670 ume-plum or Japanese apricot trees planted on a small hill.

There are many different kinds of Japanese apricot trees, with brilliant scarlet, pink and pure white trees that point upwards or drooping, each with their own unique characteristics, and I never get bored of looking at them. It seems that the Japanese apricot trees are blooming a little late this year, but I still spent a relaxing early spring day watching Japanese white-eyes come to collect nectar from the early-blooming plum trees and seeing a slightly hazy view of Mt. Fuji beyond the plum branches.

Take a Precious Kamakura Buddha Statue Tour and Gain Valuable Knowledge

Posted on 2025年1月22日2025年2月1日 by japan flower tour home

I participated in a special tour for guide-interpreters on Kamakura’s Buddhist statues guided by Takakazu Kaneko, who has deep knowledge not only in Japanese religions but also in world religions including Muslum, and has visited more than 100 countries around the world as a tour guide specifically for remote areas.

After a lecture on the characteristics of Japanese Buddhism, especially Buddhism after the Kamakura period, when samurai acquired power comparing to emperor and aristocrats, we went to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine. Until now, I had only seen Hachimangu Shrine as a Shinto “shrine,” but I learned that what we can see is different from the perspective of Shinto-Buddhist syncretism, Shinto-Buddhist separation, and Haibutsu-kishaku.

Then, at the Kamakura Museum of National Treasures in the shrine, we learned in detail how to view the Kamakura Buddhist statues (photography is prohibited inside the museum, so there are no photos of the statues).

Then, in the afternoon, we went to Hase Temple, famous for its Kannon statue, Avalokitesvara. Originally, the Eleven-Headed Kannon Bodhisattva represents the mercy of Amida Buddha and is a attendant of the Budha. Due to the temple’s origins, the Eleven-Headed Kannon Bodhisattvaa is the the principal image, but also we could learn about the diversity of Buddhist statues, including the 33 incarnations of Kannon Bodhisattva, his subordinate attendants, and the Seven Lucky Gods.

Finally, we ended the tour by looking at the famous Amida Buddha at Kotokuin Temple.

Even Buddhist statues that we think we are familiar with are even more enjoyable when viewed from different angles. The tour was also very meaningful, as the guide-interpreters who joined us had a high level of knowledge.

After participating in this tour, I have gained even more confidence in guiding people on Japanese religious places including Kamakura’s shrines, temples, and Buddhist statues.

Most of the photos were taken during a preliminary inspection before joining the tour.

One day gourmet tour to Chiba on my birthday

Posted on 2025年1月9日2025年1月26日 by japan flower tour home

One day tour with my famlily

Yesterday was my birthday, and I turned 65. Thank you all for the congratulatory messages on Facebook or other media. I would like to express my gratitude once again.Turning 60, Kanreki; according to the Chinese calendar, a combination of zodiac animals and cosmic elements that consists 60 years, and the 60th birthday marks the one cycle of this, and it was a turning point in many ways, but 65 is also a turning point that makes me feel like an elderly person, as I am now fully paid out of my pension and can use senior discounts at various facilities.Yesterday, my wife, son and I went on a one-day trip to Boso in Chiba for the first time in a while. Recently, my son has been busy with school and part-time work, and it has been difficult to coordinate his schedules with my wife’s part-time work, so we have had fewer opportunities to go out together. Also, my son will finally start working as a full-time employee from April, so it looks like we will have even fewer opportunities to go out together, so on the last day of my son’s winter break from school, we enjoyed a short trip together with all member of my family for the first time in a while.

Initially, I had planned to have breakfast on the Boso Peninsula, then take a ferry across Tokyo Bay and do some sightseeing on the Miura Peninsula in Kanagawa, but yesterday the wind was strong and the waves in Tokyo Bay were high, so the ferry was canceled, so we ended up spending some time relaxing in Chiba.

Delicious seafood

First, we went to a seafood restaurant run by the fishing cooperative and had a super-large bowl of tempura and enjoyed many types of sashimi raw fish, of horse mackerel. It would be difficult to order such a large bowl of tempura unless I shared it with my son, who is a big eater. After that, I took a look at the daffodils, which were in best season, did some shopping at the agricultural cooperative’s farmer’s market, and relaxed at a day spa in Chiba City. My son doesn’t like beer as much as I do, so he offered to drive without drinking any after the spa, so I was happy to be able to enjoy a blissful moment with a cold beer.So, we didn’t do any sightseeing and just took it easy, but I think my 65th birthday started off pretty well. I appreciate I can continue to have good relationship with all of you on this year, too.

Best season of autumn leaves in Koishikawa Korakuen Garden

Posted on 2024年12月9日2025年1月26日 by japan flower tour home

Beautiful Autumn Leaves

On Sunday, I guided a group of young people who are staying in Tokyo for a medium to long term, to Koishikawa Korakuen Garden as member of Tokyo City Guide Club. It was divided about 10 guests into four groups, and I guided two guests from India and Germany. The autumn leaves were in full bloom at that time, so I think the guests enjoyed themselves well.

However, since the pairings were decided at the entrance to the garden, it was the first time that both guides and guest group, so there were some confusions.

Koishikawa Korakuen Garden was built to make people in Edo, who could not easily travel to Kyoto, to enjoy a simulated Kyoto trip, but it was some difference for participants from Germany, which had a similar feudal system, and participants from India, which has a different history, to understand the background. In addition, the English pronunciation of the guests was different, so it was difficult to communicate within the participants.

I have explained this garden many times before, and I had information in advance about the type of people I would be guiding, so I was able to plan the scenario and time allocation of my explanation to a certain extent, but I also had to worry about how much I should improvise to suit the pace and level of understanding of the two guests.

Also, because we were divided into four groups, we had to coordinate the viewing time for the whole group, and I had to skip some places to explain, so as a guide, I was a little worried and left with regrets about how much the group enjoyed. However, we were saved by the fact that the autumn leaves were at their best.

Astonishing autumn leaves at Kitanomaru Park

Posted on 2024年12月7日2025年1月26日 by japan flower tour home

Best time for Maples and Ginkgo trees

I organized an autumn foliage observation event for a group of the Tokyo City Guide at Kitanomaru Park as a host. The maples in the forest were at their best on a cloudless day, and the gradations from orange to crimson were beautiful. The old ginkgo tree, said to be about 200 years old, was a beautiful yellow suitable for a landmark. Members of the event learned how to distinguish between species in maple trees, which can be difficult to distinguish between, and enjoyed not only the autumn leaves but also the red berries of evergreen trees.

A quiet and beautiful day in Odaiba in late autumn

Posted on 2024年11月30日2025年1月26日 by japan flower tour home

Joyful volunteer work

The last day of November, the 30th, was a calm day in Tokyo, blessed with good weather. It had been a while since I last volunteered in the Odaiba area, and I was able to spend the time leisurely giving instructions to people looking for their destinations at Yurikamome stations or other places, and providing consultation to their next destination or the airport. As the autumn leaves in Odaiba have turned a lot, and looking at the Christmas lights, I began to feel like the end of the year was finally upon us.

Amazing autumn views from Mt. Takao and Japanese gardens in Tokyo with wonderful guests from the U.S.A and Canada

Posted on 2024年11月13日2025年6月16日 by japan flower tour home

On Sunday (November 10th) and Monday (November 11th), I guided two friendly senior couples from Phoenix (Arizona) in the United States and Toronto, Canada, to gardens (Koishikawa Korakuen garden and Hama Rikyu Gardens) and other places in Tokyo and Mt. Takao. The customers had made a reservation about half year ago, and they wanted to see the Japanese gardens and autumn leaves, so I made the schedule above, taking into consideration the opening days of the gardens and the possibility of increasing the chances of enjoying the beautiful autumn leaves at a leisurely pace. However, as the scheduled date approached, I was worried about whether I could provide a satisfactory guide, as the autumn leaves were much later than usual and the weather forecast predicted a high probability of rain on both days.

In the meantime, I decided to thoroughly check out Mt. Takao last Wednesday and the gardens in Tokyo on Saturday to check the condition of the destinations. In addition, I found out just before the tour that all four of the guests were quite seniors, considering the walking distances we have to walk over the two-day trip and checked elevators and escalator on routes as much as possible (as there were no elevators nor escalators in the gardens or on the mountain paths, I thoroughly checked the stations and other places where escalators could be used).

I also sent photos of the summit of Mt. Takao during the pre-trip inspection in advance to provide information that while we can’t expect to see full colored maples, but can enjoy some colored maples on Mt. Takao, so as not to raise the guests’ expectations too much. Also, in the gardens in Tokyo, I decided to focus on the ingenuity of the gardens and the autumn leaves of zelkova and wax trees and acorns such as oaks instead of maples.

Fortunately, it was raining that night, but the weather changed from cloudy to sunny during the day, so we were able to enjoy the tour. The peak season for autumn leaves and cherry blossoms is limited, and the impression changes depending on the weather, so I realized how difficult it is to prepare in a limited schedule to ensure that our guests are as satisfied as possible.

Still, by making as much effort as possible, the sun was on our side, and we were able to see beautiful smiles at the end.

This tour was organized through Tours by Locals.

The magnificent traditional techniques of the world-famous female falconer

Posted on 2024年11月4日2025年1月26日 by japan flower tour home

On Sunday, the second day of the three-day weekend, the Kanto region was blessed with clear autumn weather, a huge contrast to the previous day. I went to see and enjoy a falconry procession in Iwatsuki, Saitama.

Iwatsuki is located north of Edo and was a key location for the defense of Edo. It was also an important town as a post station on the Onari Road, Shogun’s special road and a side road of the Nikko highway, where the shogun frequently passed. It was also a place where shoguns often enjoyed falconry, so a falconry procession was recreated to evoke those days.

I was able to see a female falconer demonstrate falconry, something I don’t usually get to see, and I also enjoyed watching the falcon fly into my hand.