Tokyo Shitamachi Sightseeing Bus
The Tokyo Shitamachi Sightseeing bus runs every 30 min, costs 200 yen for adults, 100 yen for children and is ideal for visiting famous sites such as the Imperial Palace, Akihabara Electric Town,  Ueno Park/Zoo, and Sensoji Temple. One Day passes are also available for 500 yen.
http://www.akibanana.com/?q=node/388

JR EAST Online Reservation System Launched
Book your Shinkansen, Limited Express and Narita Express seats online up to one month in advance. The service is available in English for "Japan Rail Passes", "JR East Passes" and for travelers with no rail passes.
http://jreast-shinkansen-reservation.eki-net.com

Tsukiji Foreign Language Menus
English, Korean and Chinese menus are available at a number of restaurants in the Tsukiji area. For more information, please visit the link below.
http://www.tourism.metro.tokyo.jp/english/tourists/restaurant/restaurant1_2.html

Observation Deck in the Heart of Tokyo - Roppongi Hills Sky Deck
Opened on April 26, the open-air Roppongi Hills Sky Deck features a helipad and stunning views of the city located 270m above sea level on the rooftop of Mori Tower.
http://www.roppongihills.com/tcv/jp/ (Japanese)

* Tokyo Tourism Web Renewal
Available in 8 languages including traditional and simplified Chinese!
http://www.tourism.metro.tokyo.jp/english/

* The event information below has been collected for three to six months from now to better facilitate tour planning.

Tomioka Hachiman Festival (Fukagawa Hachiman Festival)
August 13 to 17 (Tomioka Hachiman Shrine, Monzennakacho)
Nicknamed the waterthrowing festival, the Tomioka Hachiman Festival is held every three years and is one of Tokyo's "big three" festivals attracting over half a million people.
http://www.tomiokahachimangu.or.jp/htmls/maturih1.html (Japanese)
http://www.asiarooms.com/travel-guide/japan/tokyo/

Tokyo Bay Grand Fireworks Festival
mid-August, 2008 (date will be finalized in June) at 7:00 pm (Harumi Futo Pier, Minato-ku)
Fireworks will dazzle and paint the night sky over Tokyo Bay with 12,000 rounds of fireworks.
http://www.asiarooms.com/travel-guide/japan/tokyo/

Asakusa Samba Carnival
August 30, 2008 (Asakusa)
Combining the Japanese love of summer celebrations with a passion for street dance, the Asakusa Samba Carnival was started over 30 years ago as an innovative way to attract visitors to Asakusa. The carnival is a daylong festival that parades through one of Tokyo’s most scenic neighborhoods.
http://www.asakusa-samba.jp/index.htm (Japanese)

The September Basho (Sumo Wrestling)
September 14 to 28, 2008 (Kokugikan Sumo Hall, Ryogoku)
Sumo is one of Japan’s most popular traditional sports. This is a sport with over 70 different throws, trips, forms and tricks. The September Basho is one of the year’s six Grand Tournaments. Two other tournaments hosted in Tokyo are held in January and May.
http://www.sumo.or.jp/eng/

Nedu Gongen Matsuri
September 20 & 21 (Nezu Shrine, Bunkyo-ku)
(Nezu Shrine, Bunkyo-ku)
This large-scale end-of-summer matsuri (festival), which takes place in the historic district of Nezu, dates from the Edo Period and is highlighted by performances of traditional Shinto music and dance.
http://www.nedujinja.or.jp (Japanese)

October 31 to November 4
Tokyo Designers' Week is Tokyo! Featuring up-and-coming as well as more established designers this celebration of creativity attracts more than 80,000 visitors to engaging exhibitions, unique events and brilliant parties! The main event is held near Gaienmae but Tokyo Designers' Week ranges all over the city from trend setting Shibuya and Harajuku to Aoyama and Roppongi.

Further Information:
http://www.100percentdesign.jp
http://www.c-channel.co.jp/index_en.html

Japan has four distinct seasons which influence many aspects of Japanese life and culture: cuisine, architecture and art, and even business practices. In the upcoming e-Tokyo Today newsletters we will highlight the best ways to make the most of each season in Tokyo.

Autumn Leaves
Tokyoites look forward to the arrival of autumn with great anticipation as it brings with it crisp air and the sensational "koyo" (colorful autumn leaves) displaying a variety of warm reds, oranges and yellows throughout the city.

Mt. Takao
Mount Takao lies a mere 50 km, or about 1 hour, from Central Tokyo by train. Boasting a forest of centuries old cedars, maples and oak, the tranquil Takaosan Yakuōin Yūkiji Temple and a stunning vista over Tokyo at the 599 metre summit it is easy to see why Mt. Takao continues to be one of Japan’s most famous landmarks. Take it all in framed with autumn reds, greens and gold on a day hike or use the cable car to pass through a canopy of brilliant seasonal foliage. A day out not to be missed!
http://www.keio.co.jp/english/local/takao.html
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3029.html

Okutama
Located in the northwest corner of Tokyo and within Saitama’s Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park, Okutama is an outdoor/nature enthusiasts dream. Historical sites, limestone caves, mountain climbing, day hikes, stream fishing, onsen hot springs and camping are just some of the fun activities on offer. But it is ancient forests and breathtaking natural scenery, draped in Autumn colours, which leaves lasting impressions on visitors to the area.
http://www.town.okutama.tokyo.jp/english/index.html
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/regional/tokyo/okutamako.html

Autumn Oasis in the City
Shinjuku Gyoen:
With over 20,000 different varieties of plant and tree life, 3 distinct garden styles, a teahouse, an art gallery and promenade Shinjuku Gyoen is just the place to recharge and refresh after the whirl of Tokyo.
http://www.env.go.jp/garden/shinjukugyoen/english/index.html

Looking for other options for Autumn leaf viewing?
Try these two Tokyo favourites:

- Innokashira Park, Musashino-shi, West Tokyo:
http://www.jref.com/practical/kichijouji.shtml

- Rikugien Park, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo:
http://teien.tokyo-park.or.jp/en/rikugien/index.html

Japanese Gardens in Winter
Japanese Ume apricots, Narcissuses, Camellia, and Amur adonis highlight the flowers in bloom during the winter. One can also enjoy seeing the delicate grooming of the garden and the intricate support ropes (yukitsuri) placed on the pines to protect them from the winter snow.

Mukojima Hyakkaen
The park has grown from its initial attraction of 360 ume (plum) trees to encompass over 1,500 on the grounds as well a famous hagi tunnel, monuments to many famous writers and an abundance of flower and animal life year round.

Winter time features an array of Japanese Ume apricots, Amur adonis, Reineckea carnea, Cerasus cv. Kobuku-zakura, and Lamium amplexicaule (Henbit Deadnettle, Greater Henbit).
http://teien.tokyo-park.or.jp/en/mukojima/index.html

Koishikawa Korakuen
Established over 300 years ago by Yorifusa, the founder of the Mito Tokugawa, Koishikawa Korakuen took inspiration from Ming China scholars and incorporated these into the garden's design such as its "Full Moon Bridge".

Opened to the public in 1938, Koishikawa Korakuen is over 70, 000 square metres over which range close to 22,000 trees. Visitors can also enjoy the garden's rice paddies, inner gardens and Edo era structures.

Winter sees the Japanese maple and Japanese apricots in seasonal glory while garden events include the Ume Blossom Festival and placing snow support ropes on the pines.
http://teien.tokyo-park.or.jp/en/koishikawa/index.html

Below is a list of online translation tools to make your Japan-related web research easier.

1. Google Language Tools
http://www.google.com/language_tools?hl=EN

2. Babel Fish Translation
http://babelfish.altavista.com/

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.

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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.