Look what's Happening
in Tokyo
Issue: February 2005
Public Holidays in February
11th February. Kenkoku
Kinen-no-hi This day celebrates the founding of Japan.
Bean Scattering, Snow Festivals, Plum Viewing and Naked Men!
Setsu-Bun - Bean Scattering Festival February
3rd
The general idea of Setsu-bun is to drive out any bad luck in
the house and to welcome good luck into the house by scattering
the beans around the house and at the person wearing the devil
mask. Finally, you must eat the number of beans equivalent to
your age to ensure good luck for the rest of the year. See the
public ceremonies performed for this festival at the following
places.
Zojoji Temple at 12:00 Access: 3
minutes walk from Shiba-Koen station on the Toei Mita line.
Sensoji in Asakusa at 11:30 & 13:30
Access: 5 mins. walk from Asakusa station on the Ginza line.
Hie Shrine at 11:30 Access: 8 min.
walk from Akasakamitsuke station or 15 mins. Walk from Nagatacho
station
Kanda Shrine at 14:00 Access: 5 mins.
Walk from Ochanomizu station. Or 5 mins. Walk from Suehiro station
on the Ginza line.
Flowers in bloom this month
Ume - 2nd week in February to the end of
March.The Japanese plum 'ume' trees are some of the first
blossoms to open in the year and are associated with the start
of spring. Throughout Japan people visit the local parks, shrines
and temples to view these beautiful flowers. You can do your viewing
at the following parks from around the 2nd week in February to
the end of March.
Hanegi Park - A small park with over
700 plum trees. Festivals are held throughout February and the
holidays.
To get there: Take the Odakyu line to Umegaoka station.
Yushima Tenjin Shrine - Feb 8th ~ March
8th Open-air tea ceremony & other activities happening
on the weekends.
To get there: A 1-minute walk from Yushima Station on the Chiyoda
Subway Line.
Kameido Tenjin Plum Festival - 200
plum trees the shrine grounds. Events such as tea ceremony &
rubber stamp collecting rally
To get there: A 10-minute walk from Kameido Station or Kinshicho
Station on the JR Sobu Line.
Yoshino Baigo Plum Festival - Feb 25th~
March 31st 25,000 plum trees, this is the largest plum
tree orchard in the Kanto area. On Sunday March 13th, the annual
"Citizen's Plum Viewing Festival" will be held and there
will be tea ceremony and koto concerts along with other local
celebrations and parades.
To get there: A 10-minute walk from Hinata Wada Station on the
JR Ome Line.
Camellia - There is said to be over
2000 varieties of Japanese Camellia. This beautiful flower blooms
in the mid-winter bringing warmth to the air. This month brings
the famous Camellia festival on the Island of Oshima just two
hours from Tokyo.
To get there: All Izu Island ship routes are serviced by the Tokai
Kisen company (03-5472-9999). Ferries leave from the Takeshiba
Passenger Terminal at Takeshiba station on the Yurikamome line.
Air Nippon flights leave Haneda airport departing to Oshima, Miyakejima
and Hachijojima.
Or you can stay closer to home and see the early bloomers at Hamarikyu
Park.
To get there: 7 min walk from Tsukijiichiba, Oeda line, or 15
min. walk from Shinbashi station.
What's going on elsewhere in Japan
56th Hokkaido Snow Festival February 7th
~ 13th
For 7 days in February every year, hundreds of snow statues and
ice sculptures line the streets of Sapporo City, Hokkaido.
To get there: Hourly operated flights by several airlines offer
easy access to New Chintose airport. From there you need to take
a train to the town centre.Hadaka Matsuri
February 21st
Since 767BC the Naked Man, otherwise known as Shin-otokoa, has
walked this same route going through sweaty, desperate men to
reach the Kounomiya Shrine. Tradition believes the Naked Man absorbs
all bad luck and evil deeds from the men who touch him. To get
there: You can take a train or a flight to the city of Nagoya.
From there take a short bus ride to Inazawa City
by Sarah Yamada
