Temples, festivals and traditional arts
Local and rapid trains around Tokyo carry two double-decker first-class cars that anyone can use for a small extra fare — from ¥750 with a Suica. The catch is that the platform machines take plastic IC cards only, and that you must tap a reader in the ceiling above your seat.
On an ordinary Tokyo back street, a freshly painted railing post had two signs beside it. One was the standard issue. The other was home-made, and said "wet paint" in eighteen languages — including Croatian and Slovenian. A small look at why Japan is covered in notices.
The house and studio where Taro Okamoto lived and worked for over forty years, hidden one street behind the Omotesando flagship stores. Small, loud, and full of things you cannot buy anywhere else.
On 2 January the gates of the Imperial Palace open and anyone may walk in — free, no booking — to see the Emperor and Empress appear on the balcony. Here is how the day works, gate by gate, and the one small piece of etiquette that matters most.
The traditional, top-grade matcha you are hoping for is not on the supermarket shelf. A Tokyo local explains how matcha grades and prices really work — and how to choose the right one.
An ancient art collection, a beautiful modern building, and a hillside garden that makes you forget the city. The Nezu Museum is Tokyo at its most graceful.