Cultural Immersion: Tokyo (Japan)

▪ The country (Japan)

Flag of Japan - Read more

Japan is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean with dense cities, imperial palaces, mountainous national parks and thousands of shrines and temples.

Tokyo

Tokyo, Japan’s busy capital, mixes the ultramodern and the traditional, from neon-lit skyscrapers to historic temples. Read more

▪ Tourist spots

▪ Sensō-ji
Sensō-ji is an ancient Buddhist temple located in Asakusa, Tokyo, Japan. It is Tokyo's oldest temple, and one of its most significant. Formerly associated with the Tendai sect of Buddhism, it became independent after World War II. (Read more)

▪ Shinjuku Gyoen
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden is a large park with an eminent garden in Shinjuku and Shibuya. It was originally a residence of the Naitō family in the Edo period. Afterwards, it became a garden under the management of the Imperial Household Agency of Japan. It is now a park under the jurisdiction of the national Ministry of the Environment. (Read more)

▪ Golden Gai
Shinjuku Golden Gai is a small area of Shinjuku, famous both as an area of architectural interest and for its nightlife. It is composed of a network of six narrow alleys, connected by even narrower passageways which are just about wide enough for a single person to pass through. Over 200 tiny shanty-style bars, clubs and eateries are squeezed into this area. In this area, shooting photograph and video on the street is prohibited. (Read more)

▪ Disneyland
Tokyo Disneyland is theme park at the Tokyo Disney Resort in Urayasu, Chiba, Japan, near Tokyo. Its main gate is directly adjacent to both Maihama Station and Tokyo Disneyland Station. It was the first Disney park to be built outside the United States, and it opened on 15 April 1983. The park was constructed by Walt Disney Imagineering in the same style as Disneyland in California and Magic Kingdom in Florida. It is owned by The Oriental Land Company, which licenses the theme from The Walt Disney Company. (Read more)

OFICIAL WEBSITE

OFICIAL WEBSITE

▪ DisneySea
Tokyo DisneySea theme park at the Tokyo Disney Resort located in Urayasu, Chiba, Japan, just outside Tokyo. It opened on September 4, 2001, at a cost of 335 billion yen. Owned by The Oriental Land Company, which licenses Disney characters and themes from The Walt Disney Company, Tokyo DisneySea attracted an estimated 14 million visitors in 2013, making it the fourth-most-visited theme park in the world. Read more

▪ Imperial Palace
The Tokyo Imperial Palace  is the primary residence of the Emperor of Japan. It is a large park-like area located in the Chiyoda ward of Tokyo and contains buildings including the main palace , the private residences of the Imperial Family, an archive, museums and administrative offices.

It is built on the site of the old Edo Castle. The total area including the gardens is 3.41 square kilometres (1.32 sq mi). During the height of the 1980s Japanese property bubble, the palace grounds were valued by some to be more than the value of all of the real estate in the state of California. (Read more)


▪ Cuisine

▪ Sushi 
Sushi is, perhaps, the most famous worldwide Japanese food, a trip to Tokyo would not complete without trying this gastronomical delight in its homeland. Amid the variety of sushi available, there's a staple ingredient present in all - vinegared rice. Topped with various seafood, e.g. raw fish – Nigirizushi, it forms one the best-known types of sushi. (Read more)

▪ Tempura
It was introduced to Japan by the Portuguese missionaries in the 16th century. The dish comprises vegetables, seafood and other ingredients, all battered in eggs and flour, and then fried in vegetable oil to form a crispy texture. (Read more)

▪ Sashimi
Sashimi is considered a Japanese delicacy, regarded by Japanese chefs as the finest dish in formal Japanese dining. In essence, it represents fresh, raw seafood or meat, thinly sliced and served with a soy sauce and other ingredients, such as wasabi or ginger - most commonly offered. Traditionally, sashimi is recommended as a first course, ahead of something strongly flavoured. (Read more)

▪ Soba
Soba is a type of noodles made from buckwheat flour, which has been known as a traditional Japanese food since the Edo period (1603-1868). The Japanese have different opinions on how to best enjoy soba, but the chilled version or that cooked as a noodle soup are the two most popular. Soba is usually taken with a soy sauce, called tsuyu, placed on the side for dipping (cold soba), or boiled in it (hot soba). The most common type of chilled soba is Mori Soba. (Read more)

Source: www.gpsmycity.com
Image Courtesy of: IQRemix

▪ Wagashi
Wagashi is a traditional Japanese confectionery which is often served with tea, especially the types made of mochi, anko (azuki bean paste), and fruits. Wagashi is typically made from plant ingredients. (Read more)

▪ Mochi
Mochi is Japanese rice cake made of mochigome, a short-grain japonica glutinous rice. The rice is pounded into paste and molded into the desired shape. In Japan it is traditionally made in a ceremony called mochitsuki. While also eaten year-round, mochi is a traditional food for the Japanese New Year and is commonly sold and eaten during that time. (Read more)

▪ Ryoku-cha
Ryoku-cha is the generic name for a variety of steamed, green leaf teas that are widely served in Japanese restaurants. Visitors may also encounter hoji-cha, which is roasted green tea with a brownish hue and delicately nutty flavour.Genmai-cha is green tea combined with roasted brown rice. With its pale yellow colour and mild flavour, genmai-cha combines the subtle, grassy tones of green tea with the delicious aroma of roasted rice. (Read more)

▪ Sake
Sake is a Japanese rice wine made by fermenting rice that has been polished to remove the bran. Unlike wine, in which alcohol (ethanol) is produced by fermenting sugar that is naturally present in grapes, sake is produced by a brewing process more like that of beer, where the starch is converted into sugars before being converted to alcohol. (Read more )



▪ Habits

The Japanese are very sensitive to their homes, so you should certainly take your shoes off at the entrance to the house.

Handshaking and any other physical contact during the greeting are not accepted among the local residents. Nodding replaces all forms of greetings usual for Europeans.

Read more about Bowing

Read more about Etiquette in Japan

Famous personalities

              Hayao Miyazaki                               Gackt Camui                                 Ken Watanabe 

            Animation director                   Musician, Singer, Songwriter,                        Actor 

                                                                Record Producer, Actor

▪ Climate


In Tokyo the climate is temperate, with fairly mild and sunny winters and hot, humid and rainy summers. Similar to the rest of Japan, the city is affected by the monsoon circulation. In winter the northwest cold currents will prevail, while in summer they will be replaced by hot and humid currents of tropical origin. (Read more)

▪ Cost of living


Japan is a beautiful country with a high standard of living, the country also has a reputation for being one of the world’s most expensive countries to live in. The majority of expats will head to Tokyo, wich is 23 different wards all rolled into one megacity. (Read more)

▪ Music

Traditional Japanese music is the folk or traditional music of Japan. There are three types of traditional music in Japan: theatrical, court music (called gagaku), and instrumental.

Theatrical:

 Court music:

Instrumental:

▪ Things to do in Tokyo

▪ Extra