While in Japan on the Hitachi Fellowship, we recommend that you spend as much of your spare time as possible learning about Japan, its people, and its culture. There are many English services available to visitors and temporary residents wishing to learn more about the country.
In addition to being the financial and political center of Japan, Tokyo is a historical city with many interesting tourist attractions. Known as "Edo" during the nation's feudal period under the Tokugawa Shogunate, Tokyo has been the central city of Japan since the early 17th Century. Today, Tokyo is one of the most exciting and fascinating cities in the world, with divine shopping districts, fine art and theater, as well as exhilarating nightlife. Tokyo offers visitors an interesting mixture of both traditional and modern culture. The following websites offer interesting facts on sightseeing in and around Tokyo:
Most city and ward offices in Tokyo offer lessons to the public on traditional Japanese culture. Some popular lessons are Kado (flower arrangement) and Sado (tea ceremony). You should contact your local city or ward office for detailed information regarding these courses.
At your request, Hitachi will assist with reserving tickets for traditional Japanese cultural events, such as Noh drama, Kabuki theater, Gagaku concerts and Sumo matches.
A. Noh Drama
Developed in the 14th century, Noh is a classical Japanese performance art, which combines elements of dance, drama, music and poetry into one highly aesthetic stage art. Based mainly in the cities of Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto, it is performed throughout the country by professional artists, mostly men, who have passed down the art to family members for generations and generations. There is also a wide amateur following, both male and female, who practice and perform its chants, dance, and instruments.
| Ginza Noh Theater | Ginza Noh Theater Bldg.6-5-15 Ginza, Chuo-ku | Subway Ginza Station |
|---|---|---|
| National Noh Theater | 4-18-1 Sendagaya, Shibuya-ku | JR Sendagaya Station |
| Kanze Noh Theater | 1-16-4 Shoto, Shibuya-ku | JR Shibuya Station |
| Yarai Noh Theater | 60 Yarai-Cho, Shinjuku-ku | Subway Kagurazaka Station |
| Hosho Noh Theater | 1-5-9 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku | JR Suidobashi Station |
| Kita Noh Theater | 4-6-9 Kami-Osaki, Shinagawa-ku | JR Meguro Station |
| Umewaka Noh Theater | 2-6-14 Higashi-Nakano Nakano-Ku | JR Nakano-Sakaue Station |
| Tessenkai Noh Theater | 4-21-29 Minami-Aoyama Minato-Ku | Subway Omote-Sando Station |
B. Kabuki Theater
Kabuki is one of Japan's traditional theatrical arts. Its beginning dates back to the late 16th century, and with extensive and continuing evolution, kabuki theater is widely popular around the world even today. A unique feature of the kabuki art is that it has no actresses whatsoever; all female parts are played by female impersonators. Another important characteristic of kabuki is that it incorporates parts of all preceding theater forms in Japan: Noh drama; Kyogen plays; comic interludes presented between Noh performances; and Bunraku (Japanese puppet theater).
Kabuki is performed at a number of locations in Tokyo. The Kabuki-za Theater, located in the Ginza district, is the most popular theater.
| Kabuki-za Theater 4-4-12 Ginza, Chuo-ku TEL (03) 3541-3131 (at Higashi-Ginza Station/Hibiya and Asakusa Lines) |
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C. Gagaku Concerts
With origins dating back to the 5th century, Gagaku is the oldest surviving form of music in the world. It is composed of ancient music and dance, both native and imported from the Asian continent, and has been performed mainly among the aristocratic society of Japan since late 900 A.D. The Japan Gagaku Society, founded in 1962 to popularize and expand Gagaku, continues this ancient tradition by performing concerts once every year in Tokyo.
D. Sumo Wrestling
Sumo is an ancient sport dating back some 1500 years. It has religious origins in the form of rituals dedicated to the gods with prayers for a bountiful harvest. During the medieval period, samurai developed sumo for military fighting, and formed the sport of Jujutsu, better known as the modern sport of Judo. Today, sumo remains the national sport of Japan, and professional sumo groups, organized under the Japan Sumo Association, hold six Grand Tournaments a year (three in Tokyo, one each in Osaka, Nagoya and Kyushu). Each tournament lasts 15 days, each rikishi (sumo wrestler) fighting a different opponent once a day.
Tournaments in Tokyo are held in January, May and September at the Kokugikan Stadium near JR Ryogoku Station.
| Kokugikan Stadium 1-3-28 Yokozuna, Sumida-ku TEL (03) 3623-5111 (2 minute walk from JR Ryogoku Station) |
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Below are some examples of weekend culture trips to destinations near Tokyo that fellows have enjoyed in the past. Organized tours to these locations are also available. Hitachi can help in making arrangements for these trips.
A. Hakone
Historic and scenic Hakone is a mountainous area southwest of Tokyo, best known for its natural hot springs. The area is often toured as a weekend day trip or as a one-night stopover at one of Hakone's traditional Japanese inns.
| 8:30am | Depart Shinjuku Station (Odakyu Line "Hakone" Express; seat reservations necessary) |
|---|---|
| 9:55am | Arrive Hakone-Yumoto Station |
| 10:03am | Depart Hakone-Yumoto Station (Mountain Railway) |
| 10:45am | Arrive Gora Station |
| 11:00am | Depart Gora Station (Cable car, leaves every 15 minutes) |
| 11:15am | Arrive Sounzan |
| 11:30am | Depart Sounzan (Toogendai Rope way) |
| 12noon | Arrive Owakudani Valley
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| 12:30pm | Depart Owakudani (Toogendai Rope way) |
| 1:00pm | Arrive Toogendai at Lake Ashinoko |
| 1:10pm | Depart Toogendai (Lake Ashinoko Sightseeing Cruise) |
| 1:50pm |
Arrive Moto-Hakone
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| 5:23pm | Depart Hakone-Machi Bus Terminal |
| 5:48pm | Arrive Hakone-Yumoto Station -- Dinner and souvenir shopping |
| 7:13pm | Depart Hakone-Yumoto Station (Odaku Line "Ashigara" Express; seat reservations necessary) |
| 8:44pm | Arrive Shinjuku Station |
B. Okutama
Another recommended day tour in the Tokyo vicinity is a trip to Okutama, or the quiet, mountainous area on the western edge of the Tokyo metropolitan area. The best season for this trip is autumn, when the deciduous foliage of the Okutama Mountains turns to a brilliant red. The trip involves sake rice wine tasting and a luncheon at a quaint restaurant to enjoy tofu delicacies.
| 9:06am | Depart Shinjuku Station (Chuo Line) |
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| 9:33am | Arrive Tachikawa Station, switch to Ome Line |
| 10:42am | Arrive Sawai Station, walk to Ozawa Sake Brewery |
| 11:00am | Tour Ozawa Brewery |
| 11:30am | Lunch at restaurant "Mamagotoya" (tofu delicacies) |
| 1:00pm | Visit Kanzashi Museum (traditional hair ornaments) |
| 2:00pm | Visit Gyokudo Museum (traditional Japanese art) |
| 3:43pm | Depart Mitake Station (Ome Line) |
| 4:57pm | Arrive Shinjuku Station |
Japanese language lessons are available at most Japanese language schools (Click here for list of schools). Online lessons are also available from the following websites for a basic introduction to the language.
Some city and ward offices provide Japanese language lessons for their residents. If you wish to register for these courses you should contact the information desk at your local city or ward office (see Foreign Registration).
Helpful information on famous sightseeing places in Japan (such as Kyoto, Nara, Nikko, etc.) can be found at tourist information centers around the country. We especially recommend visiting the Tourist Information Center Tokyo Office, located on the basement floor of the Tokyo International Forum Building in Ginza. In addition, the following websites offer tips on travelling in Japan: