Early Cherry Blossoms Signal Budding Trends For 2021
News & Topics
Surrounded by Ueno’s budding cherry blossoms, Japan’s largest classical music festival, “Tokyo Spring Music Festival 2021,” will begin its month-long event on March 19 and end on April 23. This will be the festival’s 17th annual event and the first time it’ll livestream all musical programs online.
2021’s festival features a diverse lineup of performances such as maestro Riccardo Muti’s “Italian Opera Academy in Tokyo,” the “Tokyo-HARUSAI Wagner Series,” and performances that were postponed last year, all of which are sure to celebrate spring in grand fashion. (An online ticket purchase is required to view livestreaming programs.)
https://www.tokyo-harusai.com/news_en/20201204/
Contact: Spring Festival in Tokyo Executive Committee press@tokyo-harusai.com
#NEWNORMAL #CULTURE #UENO #EVENT #ONLINE
The Agency for Cultural Affairs and the National Museum of Nature and Science have teamed up with the TV anime series Heaven's Design Team (airing this January). Starting last December, exhibits at the museum will offer commentary by voices of characters from the popular comic’s animated series.
The National Museum of Nature and Science in Ueno is the only comprehensive national science museum in Japan. It consists of the Global Gallery, where you can see exhibits about space, earth, the birth of early life and the development of science and technology, and the Japan Gallery, where you can discover nature from the Japanese archipelago and the history of the Japanese people. The anime's detailed depictions of the bodies and ecologies of living creatures make it a fun way to learn about them. At the museum, there are nine exhibits of animals that appear in the anime, with each one featuring an explanation by a character from the show.
https://tendebu.jp/ (Japanese)
Contact: Naoko Matsuda matsuda-naoko@av.avex.co.jp
#TRAVELTOMORROW #MUSEUM #SCIENCE #ANIME
Head west from the center of Tokyo to find the Tama area, an oasis in the city, abundant with flourishing mountain streams, rivers, and lush greenery. Along the JR Ome Line that runs to Tama is the “Ensen Marugoto Hotel,” a new type of travel and lodging experience that begins this February.
Your hotel front desk is an unmanned train station, your hotel room is a vacant house, and the people who will welcome you during your stay are the townspeople. The Ensen Marugoto (Spanning along the entire area across the JR Ome Line) Hotel offers you a fresh Tokyo adventure where you can enjoy the charms of a new area and delicious local cuisine like you've never had before.
https://marugotohotel-omeline.com/ (Japanese)
Contact: SATOYUME CO., LTD, Matano / Shimada hotel@satoyume.com
#TRAVELTOMORROW #ACCOMMODATION #EXPERANCE #CULTURE
| “Kagurazaka Street Stage O-edo Tour” is a traditional performing arts festival that takes place throughout the town of Kagurazaka, with many of its main performances held in the streets, temples and shrines. A walkthrough video that guides one through the streets of Kagurazaka adjacent to live footages and past events will be available through YouTube from January 28. https://kaguramachi.jp/en/ Contact: contact@kaguramachi.jp #NEWNORMAL #CULTURE #EVENT #ONLINE |
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| Known as “the city where excitement awaits around every corner,” Odaiba continues to be one of the most popular recreational areas in Tokyo, and now, four large commercial complexes and two hotels have come together to launch “ENTERTAINMENT ISLAND ODAIBA,” or “E.I.O,” a new project that aims to bring even more fun to Odaiba. Furthermore, such events are also expected to be available throughout the area in the near future. https://entertainment-island-odaiba.tokyo/ (Japanese) #TRAVELTOMORROW #ACTIVITY #ENTERTAINMENT #WATERFRONT |
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| The Tennozu Isle district has been receiving a lot of attention as an area where the waterfront and the arts come together. It’s been recently designated as Tokyo’s first “Active Projection Mapping District” for its use of projection mapping to attract more visitors and help generate a more active community. http://canalside.or.jp/ (Japanese) Contact: canal@canalside.or.jp #TRAVELTOMORROW #WATERFRONT #EVENT |
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| Japan’s first full-scale umbrella sharing service “I-kasa” has won the “Award of Excellence” from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government-sponsored “Going-Global Innovations Competition.” Umbrellas are an indispensable item for people living in Tokyo due to sudden rain showers. With this “easy umbrella rental service” available at major train stations, the city of Tokyo has become an even more convenient place. https://www.i-kasa.com/ (Japanese) Contact: PR division Kato kaoru.kato@i-kasa.com #CUSTOM #STATION |
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| Nihombashi has been the center of commerce in Tokyo since the Edo period. This April, it will welcome a unique hotel called “BnA_WALL.” Occupying a building that once handled Nishijin Textile, 23 groups of leading up-and-coming Japanese artists created 26 artistically inspired guest rooms that took two years to complete this endeavor. BnA_WALL is as much of a hotel as it is a work of art! https://bnawall.com/en/stay_with_us/ Contact: PR division Kondo pr@bna-hotel.com #TRAVELTOMORROW #ART #NEWOPEN #ACCOMODATION |
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| A new train-inspired hotel guest room is a train fan’s dream come true! For a limited time, Shibuya Excel Hotel Tokyu will have a “Train Simulator Room” (equipped with a train simulator system) and a “Nostalgic Tokyu Railways Concept Room” (decorated to look like a discontinued retro train from 1969). https://www.tokyuhotels.co.jp/shibuya-e/information/71028/index.html (Japanese) Contact: Ishii shibuya-e.mk@tokyuhotels.co.jp #TRAVELTOMORROW #CULTURE #ACCOMODATION |
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*【Updated】Useful information on COVID-19 in Tokyo
◆Updates on COVID-19 in Tokyo
https://stopcovid19.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/en/
◆Prevention Measures and Updates on COVID-19 by TCVB
https://www.gotokyo.org/en/plan/coronavirus-information/index.html
◆Coronavirus (COVID-19) advisory information by JNTO (Updated)
https://www.japan.travel/en/coronavirus/
◆Information related to New Coronavirus Infection (COVID-19) from Immigration Services Agency by Ministry of Justice (Updated)
http://www.moj.go.jp/EN/nyuukokukanri/kouhou/m_nyuukokukanri01_00003.html
Get Inquisitive
How Tokyo Set the Stage to Become the Theater Capital of Japan
Noh, Japan’s mystical masked drama, is one of the earliest forms of Japanese theater, which dates back to around the 14th century. But it wasn’t the most accessible, as it was primarily enjoyed by upper classes like the samurai. Kabuki, on the other hand, which developed in Edo (the old name for Tokyo) and Osaka during the 17th century, was geared more towards the commoners.
Literally meaning “song, dance, and skill,” kabuki was the heart of Edo’s theater scene throughout the Edo period (1603-1868). Differences emerged between kabuki in Osaka and kabuki in Edo. In Osaka, kabuki performances were subtle, with actors using graceful movements, in contrast to Edo, known for its extravagance and actors’ exaggerated performances. Kabuki in Edo was big and flashy with fantastic costumes, makeup, and backdrops. Its stories also focused on themes that the everyman could enjoy, like love and vengeance. The fact that it was also acceptable to sit through a kabuki play while enjoying a bento boxed lunch definitely helped in making this form of theater extremely popular in Edo. In addition, Bunraku, a form of puppet theater that would perform some of the same stories as kabuki, also gained popularity. Noh can be enjoyed today at Tokyo’s National Noh Theater, while kabuki and Bunraku plays are performed at Kabuki-za and the National Bunraku Theatre, respectively.
On the other hand, there’s a unique form of puppetry that originated from Bunraku in western Tokyo’s Hachioji City. It’s called Hachioji Kuruma Ningyo, and it has been designated as one of the cultural properties in "Japan Heritage." Unlike other forms of Bunraku, it has one puppeteer on a wheeled seat controlling one puppet.
When it comes to modern-day Tokyo’s performing arts scene, Toshima is the one part of Tokyo that lives and breathes theater. It’s home to Ikebukuro, where you can find many theaters, both historic and modern, like the recently-opened Hareza Ikebukuro complex. As a place where you enjoy everything from international art festivals to park performances, it’s easy to see why people call Toshima the city of theaters where “the entire town’s a stage.”
Hachioji Kuruma Ningyo
https://youtu.be/KkU7SF_dZHg
Hareza Ikebukuro https://www.jpnsport.go.jp/corp/english/activities/tabid/391/Default.aspx
Pick up Movies
Take a stroll above the plum garden of the Fuchu City Local Forest Museum.
Get a rare look at Tokyo covered in a blanket of snow.
See the home of Japan’s last samurai warriors in Tama’s Hino City.
Discover the hidden flavors of Tokyo with Tokyo TAMA Udon.
Tokyo Event Calendar
Check out these annual festivals and events held in Tokyo. You can see the list of all major festivals, fireworks, parades, religious events, and other events in Greater Tokyo.
*Depending on the situation, festivals and events scheduled in 2021 may be canceled. Please check the official website for the latest information.
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Please click on the link below to download the photos, press releases and new opening accommodation list.
From Editor
I feel like the weather is cold every day in Tokyo, but when I look around at the many cherry blossom trees, I can see that many buds are forming. There are countless viewing spots around Ueno Park, Sumida River, and Roppongi Hills, and imagining what the beautiful scenery will look like in the near future excites me. Personally, I believe the cherry blossoms in Tokyo are more spectacular than anywhere in Japan.
Kyoko Higashi / TOKYO NOW Editorial Staff 
Issued by: Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Supported by: Tourism Division, Bureau of Industrial and Labor Affairs, Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
E-mail: info@tokyonowsignup.com
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