Tokyo Tourism Volunteer Guides Morning Courses Started!
Tokyo is one of the world’s most fascinating cities for the visitor. However, its sheer scale can sometimes seem a bit daunting. Tokyo Tourism Volunteer Guides draw on local knowledge to offer an insider’s view on this incredible city, with 10 tours departing Shinjuku at 1pm, and 3 morning tours also available, departing at 10am.
http://www.tourism.metro.tokyo.jp/english/tourists/guideservice/
guideservice/index.html

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Supports Multilingual Menus.
In order to assist foreign visitors to Tokyo in their enjoyment of Japanese cuisine, training and multilingual menus are being made available to help restaurants in serving foreign customers. At the 14 restaurants located inside the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office building in Shinjuku, foreign language menus are now available so please feel free to drop in to sample the food.
http://www.tourism.metro.tokyo.jp/english/tourists/restaurant/
restaurant1.html

Airport Limousine Bus Reservations Available From Overseas Travel Agents
To ease the transfer from Narita Airport to Central Tokyo, Airport Limousine Bus tickets are now available for pre-reservation before arrival in Japan!
http://www.limousinebus.co.jp/en/
http://www.limousinebus.co.jp/news/limo_amadeus_en.pdf

As numerous guidebooks have already pointed out, famous restaurants abound in this metropolis, attracting devoted gourmets eager to sample the delicious fare on offer.

But where to go for a quiet drink or a pint, to watch a sports game or to mingle with the locals? What if you feel like watching a concert or just going dancing?

First, why not start with a stop at a Tachinomiya, or standing bar, that have become an increasingly favorite drop-in for Tokyoites at the end of the working day. Popular for their relaxed, friendly atmosphere and more reasonable prices, Tachinomiya are lively places to hang out, enjoy a drink and sample some good food. Start your search at one of the many Tachinomiya along the JR Yamanote Line tracks between Yurakucho and Shimbashi Stations, Golden Gai in Shinjuku or Harmonica Yokocho in Kichijoji.

Wanting to sit down and soak up the atmosphere instead? The Izakaya, or Japanese style pub, is a Japanese institution. These lively establishments are many Japanese employees’ first stop after work. Start your Izakaya tour along and under the JR Yamanote Line tracks from Yurakucho to Shimbashi, particularly at the outdoor tables set up when the weather warms up.
http://www.eok.jp/content/articles/lists/izakaya-in-japan.php

Summer in Tokyo brings with it high temperatures and humidity but also the beer gardens! Located where space allows, from building rooftops to mountaintops, beer gardens are a popular places to cool off in the summer and unwind after a long day.
http://www.tourism.metro.tokyo.jp/english/agent/citypromotion/
mailnewsletter/mn_16.html (See Featured Theme - Beer Gardens)
http://www.eok.jp/content/articles/beer/

If you would prefer a properly poured pint and traditional pub menus, Tokyo has a wide variety of International pubs and bars offering all your favorites as well as wide screen tvs for sports and stages for live music!
http://www.eok.jp/content/articles/lists/pubs-in-japan.php

Tokyo is also home to one of Aisa’s more vibrant live concert scenes. Central Tokyo (Yurakucho, Ginza, Hibiya), Roppongi, Shibuya and Omotesando all host some of Japan’s most famous live venues while the energetic streets of Shimokitazawa, Koenji and Kichijoji are home to some of Tokyo’s finest small live clubs.
http://www.whatsonwhen.com/sisp/index.htm?fx=events.
location&loc_id=149573
http://www.eok.jp/content/articles/lists/live-jazz-in-japan.php

Shibuya (along with Ebisu and Daikanyama) has also become the latest centre of Tokyo’s clubbing scene. International and Japanese DJs are regular features at these clubs and keeping track of what is on where can be a bit daunting. Check the links below for more information:
http://www.cyberjapan.tv/
http://www.metropolis.co.jp/tokyo/recent/listings.asp#clubbing
http://www.eok.jp/content/articles/lists/clubbing-in-japan.php

Follow the links below to find more information on some of Tokyo’s best clubs, concert venues and pubs. Kampaii! (Cheers!)

Night Life and General information About Tokyo
http://www.tcvb.or.jp/english/plan-your-visit/article04.php
http://en.wa-shoi.com/?page=100649
http://www.eok.jp/

Dining Search
http://www.tcvb.or.jp/english/plan-your-visit/where-to-eat.php
http://www.gnavi.co.jp/en/kanto/
http://www.bento.com/tf-rest.html

Nightlife in Tokyo doesn’t neccessarily have to mean beer gardens, clubs or Izakayas. There are plenty of traditional activities with which to unwind or entertain.

Yatai
Literally meaning “stall”, Yatai are ever-present at festivals or events throughout Japan such as Hanami, Tokyo Bay Fireworks, Torinoichi, and many other festivals and events. Freshly prepared to order and always inexpensive, Yatai feature traditional dishes such as yaki-tori (chicken and vegetables cooked on skewers), tako-yaki (octopus dumplings) and yaki-soba (fried noodles and vegetables) as well more recent Yatai staples like Japanese-style crepes and hot dogs. Enjoy!

Geisha in Tokyo?
Geisha are one of Japan’s most iconic symbols and conjure up images of grace, beauty, mystery and - usually - Kyoto. Less well known is that Geisha are still active in Tokyo in areas such as Asakusa and Kagurazaka. Enjoy traditional performances from these elegant mentors of Japanese culture. If you would be interested in seeing Geisha first hand, contact one of the following tour operators in Japan.
http://www.tcvb.or.jp/en/convention/suppliers/index.html
http://www.jnto.go.jp/partners/eng/travel_agencies.html

Association:
Kagurasaka: http://www.hana-kagura.net/kumiai2.html (Japanese)
Asakusa: http://www.gnavi.co.jp/asakusa/htm/ryotei.htm (Japanese)
Mukojima: http://mukoujima-kenban.com/ (Japanese)

http://www.tourism.metro.tokyo.jp/english/agent/citypromotion/
mailnewsletter/mn_12.html (See Featured Theme - Nightlife Geisha)

Grand Sumo January (January 10 to 24, 2010)
Sumo is, like many Japanese cultural institutions, at first glance deceptively simple. 2 wrestlers (rikishi) compete to force one another out of a circular straw ring called a dohyo. Yet this unique sport is a tradition that stretches back centuries with complex rules and rituals that are both exciting and completely fascinating. Come experience it for yourself at the January Sumo Basho Tournament!
http://www.sumo.or.jp/eng/ticket/nittei_hyo/index.html#2010

Please check these links for other must-see events in Tokyo this year:
Tori no ichi: (November 12 and November 24, 2009)
http://www.tcvb.or.jp/english/events/event03.php

Hagoita ichi: (December 17 to 19, 2009)
http://www.tcvb.or.jp/english/events/event04.php

And More!
http://www.tcvb.or.jp/english/events/event-calendar.php#nov

Did you know that you can experience Sumo not only at the Kokugikan*, but you can also catch Sumo in April at the Yasukuni Shrine Sumo Tournament or in November at the Meiji Jingu Autumn festival. Check the links below for further information:
(* Sumo tournaments are held in Tokyo in May, September, and January)

Yasukuni Shrine Sumo Tournament in April
http://www.sumo.or.jp/eng/index.html

Meiji Jingu Autumn festival from Oct to Nov
http://www.meijijingu.or.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.

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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.