Billboard Live Tokyo
Tokyo's nightlife scene got a major boost recently with the debut of Billboard Live Tokyo, a stylish new supper club in the dynamic Roppongi district. This new music venue joins Blue Note Tokyo and the Cotton Club as major destinations for local and overseas artists on their Japan tours. Billboard Live's posh interior, which features a dramatic view of the city skyline, has been causing a major buzz, featuring prominently in local TV shows and magazines.
http://www.billboard-live.com (Japanese)

Easier for Visitors to Japan to Get Their JR EAST PASSES
JR EAST PASS exchange orders are now being sold via the Internet. Overseas travel agencies and their branches will be able to issue Exchange Orders for the JR EAST PASS, a ticket for overseas visitors to Japan, using RailNet, an Internet sales system.
http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/press/20070801/index.html

Australia Tokyo City Promotion from 10/29-11/3
Join us in Sydney on October 30th or in Melbourne on November 1st for supplier consultations and tourism industry seminars on visiting Tokyo. For details, please visit:
http://www.tourism.metro.tokyo.jp/english/citypromotion/city_promotion/index.html

October 20 - 28
The Tokyo International Film Festival celebrates its 20th anniversary with a cutting-edge lineup of movies from Japan and abroad. The country's only officially sanctioned film fest has been held annually since 1985, with programs that include a jury competition, a Japanese film segment, and “Winds of Asia-Middle East,” which anticipates new trends in Asian filmmaking. TIFF runs from October 20-28 at theaters in Tokyo's central Shibuya and Roppongi neighborhoods. Kicking off the festival is a Japanese production, Midnight Eagle, while the Japan-Italy-Canada collaboration Silk has been chosen as the closing film.
http://www.tiff-jp.net/en/

The Tokyo National Museum - Japan's largest and oldest museum houses a comprehensive collection of art works and antiquities from Japan as well as other Asian regions. The collection includes 88 Japanese National Treasures and 612 Important Cultural Properties designated by the government.

Visitors to the museum will discover the world's largest collection of Japanese art and an array of Japanese antiquities including old kimono, swords, samurai armor, lacquerware, calligraphy, pottery and more. One of the featured exhibitions from October 10 to December 2 will be the "Legacy of the Tokugawa - The Glories and Treasures of the Last Samurai Dynasty". The exhibition attempts to introduce the essence of the Edo warriors' culture.
http://www.tnm.jp/en/

Ueno Park is an art oasis. It is not only home to the Tokyo National Museum but it also hosts a number of the top museums in Japan, including:
The National Museum of Nature and Science - http://www.kahaku.go.jp/english/
The Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum - http://www.tobikan.jp/
The National Musuem of Western Art - http://www.nmwa.go.jp/en/

Tokyo has a reputation as a forbiddingly expensive city, but visitors can actually enjoy a full day's worth of attractions that are not only cheap ? they're free! Some highlights of a budget tour of Tokyo include…

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
Visitors can take in the city's skyline from the observation deck 45 floors atop the spectacular Kenzo Tange-designed towers in Shinjuku.
http://www.metro.tokyo.jp/ENGLISH/TMG/observat.htm

The Metropolis of Tokyo also offers free tour guide services in seven languages (English, Chinese, Korean, German, French, Italian, and Spanish). There are 10 different guided tours which start from Shinjuku and visit major sightseeing spots in Tokyo. Please note that participants are required to pay transportation and admission fees for themselves and for tour guides. For tour itineraries and information on how to join the tours, please visit:
http://www.tourism.metro.tokyo.jp/english/guideservice/index.html

The Edo Shitamachi Traditional Crafts Museum
Delight in such items as handmade combs, embroidery, furniture and more. The museum is an 8 min walk from Tukuba Epress Asakusa Station, or a 12 min walk from the Tokyo-Metro Asakusa Station.
http://www.city.taito.tokyo.jp/index/000021/005710.html (Japanese)

Department Store Basements
Known as “depachika,” these food courts offer a glimpse into Tokyo life and culture showcasing an extensive variety of food products from confectionaries and senbei rice crackers to pickled vegetables and sake. If you are lucky, you may even be offered free tasting samples.

Sumo Museum
This museum, located in Tokyo's fabled Kokugikan stadium, is dedicated to gathering and displaying a wide range of materials related to the history of Japan's national sport
http://www.sumo.or.jp/eng/museum/index.html

Electronics Showrooms
Major retailers such as Sony, Panasonic and National operate free-of-charge display centers that offer visitors a glimpse of tomorrow's products ? today.
The Ginza Sony Building (Yurakucho)
http://www.sonybuilding.jp/e/index.html

National Center Tokyo (Shiodome)
http://national.jp/center/tokyo/en/

Sake Plaza (Japan Sake Brewers Association)
A sake promotion center with everything to do with sake on display from information on the brewing process to the history of sake. Very affordable sake sampling packages are also available. The Sake Plaza is located in the Nihon-Shuzokaikan Building in Shimbashi.
http://www.japansake.or.jp/sake/english/index.html
For directions, please visit:
http://metropolis.co.jp/tokyo/546/sake.asp

The Tokyo Motor Show
October 26 to November 11 (Makuhari Messe, Chiba)
An amazing motor show celebrating its 40th year and providing entertainment options for the whole family.
http://www.tokyo-motorshow.com/eng/

Tokyo Jidai Matsuri Festival
November 3 (Sensoji Temple, Asakusa)
A parade, performed in traditional costume, to recognize the capital's evolution from the Edo era to the present.
http://www.ichimatsu.co.jp/itimatudayori/jidai.html (Japanese)

Dream Yosacoy Festival
November 3 & 4 (Odaiba to Ariake)
Teams from all over Japan will present various performing shows in colorful costumes during this two-day event.
http://www.dreamyosacoy.jp/ (Japanese)

Torino-Ichi (Rooster Fair)
November 11 & 23 (Ootori-shrine, Chokokuji, Asakusa)
A fair that is nationally held on the days of the Rooster in November in major Shinto shrines. Various street stalls sell a symbolic charm called kumade (rake).
http://www.torinoichi.jp/english/index.htm

Chrysanthemum Festivals (Kiku Matsuri)
One of Japan’s national symbols, the chrysanthemum is celebrated at a variety of festivals throughout Tokyo each autumn. Displays can be seen at various temples and parks such as Sensoji Temple in historic Asakusa (Jinja Kikkaten) from October 1 to November 15 and Meiji Jingu Shrine in Harajuku (Meiji Jingu Kikkaten) from October 25 to November 23.

Hagoita-Ichi (Battledore Fair)
December 17 to 19 (Sensoji Temple, Asakusa)
Some 50 stalls enthusiastically sell ornamental, good-luck charms such as hagoita (battledore), shuttlecocks, and kites during this annual fair.
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/indepth/history/traditionalevents/a65_fes_hagoita.html

EXPERIENCE "MOMIJIGARI"
"Momijigari" is the Japanese tradition of visiting scenic areas to view the colorful autumn leaves and accompanying events provide a great opportunity for visitors to experience traditional Japanese culture.

Rikugi-en Garden
(Komagome, Bunkyo-ku)

"Autumn Leave Illumination"
End of November to Beginning of December
The 7th annual illumination of the autumn leaves and Edo Period Daimyo Garden.

Visit the Rikugi-en Tea House. Green tea costs 500 yen and is available from 9:00 to 4:30.
7 minute walk from JR Komagome Station.
http://www.tokyo-park.or.jp/english/park/detail_08.html#rikugien

Kyu-Shibarikyu Onshi Garden
"Discover a Small Autumn Scene"
November 1 to November 18 (Hamamatsucho, Minato-ku)
Enjoy the small chrysanthemum exhibition, join craft lessons and create your own mini Bonsai.
1 minute walk from the North Exit of JR Hamamatsucho Station.
http://www.tokyo-park.or.jp/english/park/detail_06.html#kyushibarikyu

Koishikawa-Korakuen (Garden)
(Iidabashi)
"Enjoy the Days of Autumn at Koishikawa-Korakuen"
November 3
Join craft lessons under the sun involving flowers and acorns.

"Koyo Matsuri"
November 23 to December 2
A hidden treasure in the city, discover the beautiful autumn leaves of the Edo Period Daimyo Garden.

"Edo Daikagura "
November 23
Enjoy the Japanese traditional juggling and the lion dance called "Edo Daikagura", a type of performance that originated in the Edo period.

3 minute walk from Toei Oedo Line's Iidabashi Station.
http://www.tokyo-park.or.jp/english/park/detail_05.html#koishikawa

Ichou (Gingko Tree) Festival
November 11 to December 3 (Meiji Jingu)
View the beautiful colors of the autumn Gingko trees. At the Meiji Jingu Ichou Festival you can also enjoy musical performances and partake in the food stall offerings.
http://www.meijijingugaien.jp/event/index.html (Japanese)

Hato Bus Tours
The English-speaking staff at this sightseeing company offer half-day and full-day excursions by bus or on foot.
http://www.hatobus.com/

Japan Gray Line Tours
Sit back and relax while checking out such well-known landmarks as the Imperial Palace, the Diet Building and Tokyo Tower. Half-day and full-day tours available.
http://www.jgl.co.jp/inbound/traveler/traveler.htm

Sky Bus Tokyo
This double-decker, open-air bus take passengers on a whirlwind tour of the city's major attractions. The one-hour trips run nine times daily.
http://www.skybus.jp/English/index.html

To access the previous edition of e-Tokyo Today and our printed newsletter, Tokyo Today,
please visit: http://www.tourism.metro.tokyo.jp/english/citypromotion/index.html.

If you wish to stop receiving this newsletter, please send an email to news@tcvb.or.jp titled, "Unsubscribe".

Issued by: Tourism Division, Bureau of Industrial and Labor Affairs, Tokyo Metropolitan Government
Planning / Editing: Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau
E-mail: news@tcvb.or.jp Tel: +81-3-5840-8892 Fax: +81-3-5840-8895.