Lightopia 2008, December 19 - 28
Lightopia is a spectacular illumination event incorporating fashionable Marunouchi Dori, the dramatic Tokyo International Forum and the forested bridges of the Outer Imperial Palace.
http://www.jeki.co.jp/news/20080903_01.html (Japanese)

Michelin Guide Tokyo 2009
The 2008 Michelin Guide saw Tokyo awarded more Michelin Stars than any other city. Discover more fantastic finds alongside established favorites when the second edition is published November 21.
http://www.michelinmedia.com/pressSingle/value=MCH2007111952432/
kw=MCHtravel/kw2= (Michellin Guide Tokyo 2008)

Moleskine City Notes: Coming to Tokyo
Moleskine City Notes balance the practical with extensive maps while keeping to its celebrated origins so travelers can personalize their experience. Coming soon to Tokyo!
http://www.moleskine.com/eng/_interni/catalogo/Cat_int/catalogo_city.htm

Tokyo City Promotion (London & Rome)
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has been conducting promotional campaigns in 16 cities worldwide since 2002. You are warmly invited to join us in London (Great Britain) on January 30th or in Rome (Italy) on February 3rd for trade fair and tourism industry seminars on visiting Tokyo.
Details will be available online from the end of November.
http://www.tcp2009.com (available from the end of November)

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

Kurayami Matsuri
April 30 to May 6, 2009 (Okunitama Jinja, Fuchu)
Main Festival (Mikoshi) May 5 and 6, 2009
Slightly off the beaten path lies the city of Fuchu and Okunitama Jinja. One of Tokyo’s oldest shrines, Okunitama Jinja is home to the Kurayami Matsuri (Darkness Festival), which features fireworks, horse races, music competitions and portable shrine parades.
http://www.tourism.metro.tokyo.jp/english/tourists/topics_event/topics/
080501/1.html (Link for 2008)
http://www.kanko-otakara.jp/webapps/Contribute/Parser.do?codes=
13|0209779196|132063&prefix=02x01_9MCKI5238zP&l_code=02

Tokyo Port Festival
May 16 & 17 or 23 & 24, 2009 (Harumi-futo Pier, Odaiba)
The Tokyo Port Festival encompasses a wide variety of activities, centerpieces being the public exhibition of the Nippon-maru, said to be the world’s largest sailing ship, and the waterborne firefighting demonstrations both at Harumi-futo Pier. Also enjoy the Museum of Maritime Science, a wild flower festival and the always highly anticipated Dragon Boat Race!
http://www.tourism.metro.tokyo.jp/english/tourists/topics_event/topics/
080522/1.html (Link for 2008)

Kanda Matsuri
May 7 to 15, 2009 (Kanda Myojin Shrine, Kanda)
The Kanda Matsuri is said to be one of the three biggest matsuri (festivals) in Tokyo. The festival honors the three enshrined deities at Kanda Myojin Shrine. With the main festivals held only in odd numbered years, the Kanda Matsuri is a dramatic and impressive event.
http://www.tourism.metro.tokyo.jp/english/tourists/topics_event/topics/
080508/3.html (Link for 2008)
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/indepth/history/traditionalevents/a23_fes_kanda.html

Sanno Matsuri
June 6 to 17, 2009 (Hie-jinja Shirne, Tameike-Sanno)
The Sanno Matsuri is said to be one of the three biggest matsuri (festivals) in Tokyo. with main festivals held in even numberd years. The route starts from Hie-jinja Shrine creating an incredible sight of hundreds of people dressed in traditional costume, some even on horseback, and portable shrines parading through the heart of central Tokyo.
http://www.tourism.metro.tokyo.jp/english/tourists/topics_event/topics/
080612/3.html (Link for 2008)
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/indepth/history/traditionalevents/a31_fes_sanno.html

Meiji Jingu Spring Festival
April 29 to May 3, 2009 (Meiji Jingu Shrine, Harajuku)
One of Tokyo’s most famous shrines, Meiji Jingu Shrine plays host to a variety of traditional Japanese cultural events at it’s annual Spring Festival including Noh theatre, Kyogen plays and music played for the Imperial Court.
http://www.tourism.metro.tokyo.jp/english/tourists/topics_event/
event_calendar/0805.html (Link for 2008)

Torigoe Jinja Grand Festival
June 7, 2009 (Torigoe Jinja Shrine, Taito-ku)
Torigoe Jinja Shrine summer Grand Festival creates an extraordinary scene at dusk with candle-lit lanterns leading to the 3.75 tonne mikoshi portable shrine known as Sengan Mikoshi.
http://www.tourism.metro.tokyo.jp/english/tourists/topics_event/
major_event/jun.html
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/topics/tokyo/jnto/
83dn3a000000dte5.html (Link for 2007)

Sanja Matsuri
May 15 to 17, 2009 (Asakusa Jinja Shrine, Asakusa)
Said to be one of the three major festivals in Tokyo and attracting 1,500,000 spectators over its three-day run, the Sanja Matsuri is held on the third Sunday in May and the preceding two days. The festivities begin on the Friday afternoon with a parade featuring traditionally dressed musicians and dancers. The highlights of the weekend include the energetic carrying of mikoshi (portable shrines) which start on Saturday and progress to the revealing and parading of the three large mikoshi on Sunday. The portable shrines are carried from Shinto shrines through 44 neighboring areas from 6:00 AM until 8:00 PM.
http://www.tourism.metro.tokyo.jp/english/tourists/topics_event/topics/
080515/2.html (Link for 2008)
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/indepth/history/traditionalevents/a26_fes_sanja.html

Edo Tokyo Handicrafts
An integral part of Japanese traditional culture, handicrafts originating from the Edo period still have a place in modern day Tokyo. Gain a deeper appreciation for these crafts and see the skill that goes into creating them.

Japanese Paper Lanterns (Chochin)
Japanese paper lanterns (Chochin), can still be seen all over Tokyo marking traditional restaurants or shops. Made with traditional Japanese washi paper, wrapped around a bamboo frame and lit with a single candle, chochin once were used to light travelers’ ways or to provide lighting at festivals. A craft with centuries of tradition, visitors can try their hand at decorating their own chochin at Oshimaya Onda. (Please note, reservations are required and lessons are in Japanese.)
http://www.tourism.metro.tokyo.jp/english/tourists/info/basic_info/
basic/basic3.html
http://www.chochin-ya.com/english/english.html

Japanese Paper (Washi)
Japanese paper (Washi) making dates back almost four centuries and you can experience this 350 year-old craft first hand. The Ozuwashi shop was established in 1653 and features a museum, gallery and cultural center. Reservations are required but classes (Kamisuki Taiken) are only \1,000 for adults and \500 for children and you can make your own A4 sheets of Washi.
http://www.ozuwashi.net/kamisuki/index.html (Japanese)

Japanese Wind Chimes (Furin)
Japanese Wind Chimes, called furin, are an integral part of summer in Japan. The sound created by the chimes is said to make the listener feel like a cooling breeze is wafting over them.
http://www.tourism.metro.tokyo.jp/english/tourists/guideservice/route
/route53/01/01.html
http://www.ei-net.city.edogawa.tokyo.jp/dentou/e/shinohara/index.htm

For more information on Edo Tokyo Handicrafts, please check out the following links:

Tokyo Kite Museum, Nihombashi
http://www.tako.gr.jp/eng/museums_e/tokyo_e.html

Edo Kiriko/Edo Cut Glass
http://www.kanko-sumida.com/taiken_edokiriko.pdf

Tokyo's Traditional Crafts
http://www.tourism.metro.tokyo.jp/english/tourists/info/basic_info/basic/
dento/index.html

Edo Tokyo Spirit
Tokyo has a collection of sanctuaries scattered across the prefecture in which visitors can escape to the past, participate in traditional rituals and capture the Edo Tokyo spirit.

Shakyou (Ikegami Honmonji Temple)
Ikegami Honmonji Temple was established in the late 13th century by Nichiren, founder of Nichiren Buddhism and remains an important place of pilgrimage for followers of Nichiren Buddhism. It is one of the few Edo Tokyo temples to have a pagoda and offers visitors the chance to participate in shakyou or transcribing sutra and zazen or zen meditation.
Access: Tokyu Ikegami Station (Tokyu Ikegami Line)
http://www.honmonji.jp/ (Japanese)

Zazen (Chokokuji Temple)
Chokokuji is one of the prominent temples enshrining the Kannon (Deity of Mercy) and is renowned as a place of ascetic training. Arrangements can be made for groups seeking to experience Zen meditation in the Hall of Zazen. Chokokuji further enhances the experience by offering the option of a meticulously prepared traditional Japanese meal following meditation practice.
http://www.tcvb.or.jp/en/convention/venues/unique/uni10.html
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/indepth/featuredarticles/kie/zen/index.html

Goma-daki (Takaosan Yakuoin)
Visitors seeking Japanese culture as well as nature need look no further than Takaosan’s Yakuoin Temple. Built in the 8th Century, Yakuoin Temple is one of the most impressive in Tokyo. Visitors wishing for good fortune can experience "goma daki" - Buddhist monks burn wooden plates with wishes written on them. This symbolizes the renouncing of worldly desires as well as the riddance of troubles.
http://www.takaotozan.co.jp/takaotozan_eng1/yakuoin/index.htm
http://www.takaosan.or.jp/ (Japanese)

Tokyo can be a maze to even the seasoned traveler.
Let these two online map resources be of service!

1. JNTO Map of Japan
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/map/index_map.html

2. Japan Maps in English
http://www.mapfan.com/en/en_m.cgi

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.