Look what's Happening in Tokyo
Issue: September 2004

Public Holidays in September

Although not a holiday there is one date worth noting for September; the 1st is Tokyo Earthquake Anniversary Day. It is a time to not only remember the great damage inflicted on the capital in the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake but also gives
the local community a chance to practice out their disaster drills with the local emergency authorities.

20th is Keiroi no hi ~ Respect for the Aged Day in Japan.
23rd is Autumnal Equinox Day ~ Also called Higan-No-Chu-Nichi is one of the most traditional Japanese National Holidays.

Many Japanese visit their family tombs on this day in the middle of the week of HIGAN to pay their respects to their ancestors. People weed their family tombs and leave flowers, incense and ohagi (sweet rice balls covered with soybean paste.)

Festivals, Moon Viewing and Sumo.

The 2004 September Grand Sumo Tournament starts this month and lasts 2 weeks...... 12th ~ 26th September
Tickets can be bought in advance or you can choose to watch it in the comfort of your own apartment when it is shown daily on TV.
The tournament is held at the Ryogoku Kokugikan. For more information visit the Sumo homepage: http://www.sumo.or.jp/eng/
To get there: Take the Sobu line to Ryogoku Station

Fukuro Festival and Tokyo Yosakoi.... 25th ~26th September / 2nd ~3rd October
The Fukuro annual festival started in 1967 and has become the largest festival for this area of Tokyo. Starting with a parade of a
portable shrine on the 26th, Folk dance (Odori no saiten) on the 2nd Oct. and Tokyo Yosakoi the 3rd. (Yosakoi is a kind of dance)
To get there: Take the JR Yamanote line to Ikebukuro station. (West exit)

Otsu-ki-mi ~ Moon Viewing
In Autumn, when the air cools and the skies become clear you can see the one of Japan’s most cherished sights of the season, the
moon. Since Edo days people have gathered outside to hold Moon watching parties. Unfortunately Tokyo's skyline has changed
a lot since then but Tokyoites still like to enjoy Moon Viewing at a local park. (Both parks open till 21:00, gates close at 20:30)
Mukojima Hyakkaen 27th ~ 29th a chance to participate in the tea ceremony while watching the moon. 150JPY entrance fee
To get there: 8-minute walk from Higashi-mukojima Sta. on the Tobu Isesaki Line
Sankeien Gardens 24th ~ 28th in Yokohama is a beautiful park landscaped with trees, flowers, ponds and historic
buildings. 500JPY admission fee charged.
To get there: JR Negishi line to Negishi St. Then take any bus from the #1 bus stop to Honmoku bus stop. (5 min. walk from there)
or 20min. by No.8 bus to Honmoku Sankeien-mae bus stop from Sakuragicho Sta.

Flowers in bloom this month

Cosmos - A trip to Kurihama's Hana-no-kuni is well worth a visit. A million cosmoses bloom on the gentle slopes. The gardens open
from September 18th through to October 24th. On the last day you can pick the flowers quite freely until mid-afternoon. The middle
of September to the beginning of October is the best time to visit. Within the park grounds there is also a Herb garden & Café.
To get there: Take the Keikyu line from Shinagawa station to Keikyu-Kurihama station. It is 15 minutes walk from the station.

Cluster-Amaryllis - You can see over 3000 of these red and white flowers, known in Japan as 'Higanbana', at the Josen-Ji Temple
in Yamoto city.
To get there: There are various routes to Koza-Shibuya station. (Please call for your route) It is a 7 minute walk from the station.
Locally, you can see a lesser amount of these flowers at the Mukojima Hyakkaen garden on the JR Tobu line to Kameido station.

What's going on elsewhere in Japan

Hachiman-gu 'Reitai' Festival ~ Kamakura City in Kanagawa Ken
.....14th ~ 16th September
Kamakura was capital of Japan from 1185 ~ 1333. It is less than an hour from Tokyo and if you haven't been yet then visit it
during the Hachiman-gu festival, the largest of the annual festivals held in the city. Various events are being held over the 3 day
period including a parade of the Mikoshi and 'Yabusame' - horseback archery on the last day in the afternoon.
To get there: Take the Yokusuka line to Kamakura. (The Hachiman-gu Shrine is a 5 minute walk from the station)

Danjiri Festival ~ Kishwada city, Osaka
....14th ~ 15th September
Looking for some madness? Then the Danjiri Festival is for you. 33 intricately decorated wooden carts weighing 4-tons are pulled
at break-neck through the narrow streets. Not mad enough? On the top of each cart roof dances a member of the team! This one has
to be seen to be believed. If you can't go in person then check out the photos at http://www.kobe-photo.com/htm/maturi_d.html
To get there: JR Tokaido Shinkansen line to Shin-Osaka station. Take a local train to Kishiwada. (Need to change at Namba station.)

*Japanese summers are fun, but can be spoilt if you get bitten by a mosquito If you plan on going outside to a wooded area then we recommend you spray yourself first with an anti-repellant first. The most popular being Skin Guard and Saratekuto.
If you are bitten already then you can reduce the itching by using an ammonia based ointment called Kinkan, it smells awful but will result in your bite being quickly forgotten. If you want something less smelly try Muhi S For children there are Anpanman (A Japanese children's cartoon character) sticky labels for quick comfort

by Sarah Yamada