Latest news with #Edo-period
Time Out
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
This exhibition of Japanese art at Haneda Airport features a traditional mobile tea room
We get it – there's never enough time in Tokyo, no matter how much time you spend in this incredible city. But now you can squeeze in one last Japanese experience before flying out, right at Haneda Airport. Located on the 5th floor of Haneda Airport Terminal 1, Art Dash Gallery is an exhibition space and art shop that aims to not only promote Japanese art, but also give travellers the chance to bring a piece of it home. Its latest exhibition, titled ' The Japan Art + ', does exactly that. Running now through November 9, the exhibition showcases a variety of Japanese art forms, from Edo-period (1603–1868) ukiyo-e woodblock prints to modern and contemporary nihonga (Japanese-style painting), as well as ceramics by emerging artists. Among them is Tokyo-born Yuta Omori, whose works are innovative yet remain deeply rooted in tradition. Many of the artworks are available for purchase, and they make for a much more memorable souvenir than some mass-produced trinket from Harajuku's Takeshita Street. But the real showstopper is the authentic mobile tea room, crafted by master temple carpenters using the traditional Japanese joinery technique known as kigumi. This elegant cubic structure is built entirely without a single nail. Even better, it's not just for show. Art Dash Gallery plans to host regular tea ceremonies inside. (Check the gallery website for the schedule.) In addition to the tea ceremonies, the exhibition will also feature a line-up of cultural events including ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arranging. All in all, this art exhibition is one more reason to get to the airport a little early. The Japan Art + is open Tuesday to Sunday, from 11am to 5pm, until November 9. Admission is free. For more details, visit the gallery website. The Fuji Rock timetable for 2025 is here
Japan Forward
02-07-2025
- Business
- Japan Forward
Fairmont Debuts in Tokyo Amid Japan's Luxury Hotel Boom
Fairmont Hotels and Resorts opened its first property in Japan on July 1, marking an entry into the country's fast-growing luxury hospitality market. Located in Tokyo's Minato Ward, the newly launched Fairmont Tokyo occupies the upper floors of the 43-story BLUE FRONT SHIBAURA tower, offering sweeping views of Tokyo Bay and the city's skyline. The property boasts 217 rooms and suites, an infinity pool, a spa and gym, and five dining venues that cater to international and domestic high-end travelers. Omer Acar, CEO of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, delivers a speech at the opening ceremony on July 1. (©Kenji Yoshida) The opening ceremony on Tuesday drew hundreds of guests, including members of the media. Under the moniker of TSUNAGU, it highlighted the hotel's vision of fostering cultural and people-to-people connections. "The opening of Fairmont Tokyo marks a major milestone as we proudly bring the Fairmont brand to Japan for the first time," said Omer Acar, CEO of Fairmont Hotels and Resorts. "This hotel blends thoughtful innovation with the spirit of omotenashi, the Japanese philosophy of hospitality centered on sincerity and anticipation." A performance at Fairmont Tokyo's grand opening ceremony on July 1. (©Kenji Yoshida) General Manager Karan Singh noted the synergy between Fairmont's global heritage and Shibaura's rise as a dynamic waterfront hub. "Shibaura's transformation from an Edo-period coastal village to a vibrant area beautifully aligns with Fairmont's legacy of timeless destinations worldwide," he said. "We aim to be Tokyo's social epicenter, offering authentic service rooted in place." Fairmont's launch comes amid a sharp uptick in upscale hotel development across Japan. The growth is fueled by the post-pandemic recovery of inbound tourism, increasing numbers of affluent travelers, and a strategic focus by developers on high-end urban revitalization. Fairmont Tokyo Gold Lounge (©Fairmont Tokyo) As part of the redevelopment of Tokyo's Nihonbashi district, for instance, real estate giant Mitsui Fudosan plans to open the Waldorf Astoria Tokyo Nihonbashi in 2026. Similar projects are underway across the country, from Nagoya to Okinawa, and many are tied to large-scale mixed-use developments that include retail, office, and residential spaces. While Japan has long attracted both business and leisure travelers, its upscale hotel landscape has historically trailed behind global competitors. That, however, is beginning to change. Japan's luxury hotel market size reached $7 billion USD in 2024 and is projected to reach $10 billion by 2033, according to IMARC Group. In Tokyo, international luxury brands such as Dorchester Collection and 1 Hotel Tokyo are set to open in the coming months and years, expanding the city's high-end offerings. Landmark properties, the Imperial Hotel and Capera Kyoto, are currently under construction in Kyoto, with openings scheduled for 2026. In April, Hilton's flagship luxury brand made its Japanese debut in Osaka, drawing attention for suites priced at a whopping ¥2 million JPY (approximately $13,000) per night. Author: Kenji Yoshida
National Geographic
30-06-2025
- National Geographic
Your next adventure: Unwind in Hakone, just outside Tokyo
Join National Geographic photographer Jonathan Irish as he explores the natural landscapes, iconic landmarks, and historical stops in this wellness oasis. Just a short trip from Tokyo, Hakone offers a peaceful retreat into nature—where misty mountains, tranquil lakes, and steaming hot springs invite visitors to slow down, breathe deeply, and restore both body and mind. Photographs by Jonathan Irish By Heather Greenwood Davis Tokyo's vibrant metropolis is a must-visit on any trip to Japan—but just a short journey away is the town of Hakone, a serene escape where natural hot springs, mountain views, and tradition peacefully await. 'Tokyo is really the center of everything,' says National Geographic photographer Jonathan Irish. 'But Hakone is the opposite of that. It's where people in Tokyo go to relax and recharge.' Southwest of Tokyo and nestled in Kanagawa Prefecture—a regional jurisdiction somewhat similar to a state or province—Hakone offers a serene escape from city life. Known for its rejuvenating onsens (natural hot springs), historic teahouses, and breathtaking views of Mount Fuji, it has long been a favorite day-trip retreat for those seeking the traditional wellness remedies of the region. And, luckily, getting there is easy—whether by car (a scenic drive just over an hour) or by train (the speedy Romancecar from Shinjuku will whisk you there in under 90 minutes). On his most recent trip, Irish grabbed his camera and shed his inhibitions for the ultimate wellness experience, discovering Hakone and a peaceful side of Japan where nature, culture, and healing all come together. There's a 12,389-foot reason to get to Hakone early in the morning: Arriving at Mount Fuji just before dawn offers a rare chance to see its summit emerge from the morning fog. For the best views of the famed landmark, Irish suggests heading for the Mount Taikan Observatory. To reach the observation point, you can either hike along designated trails—about five miles through serene, natural landscapes—or drive along Hakone's winding, scenic mountain roads. In Hakone, just beyond Tokyo, Mount Fuji rises in the distance, its snow-capped peak often cloaked in early-morning mist—reflected in the still waters of Lake Ashi below. On clear days, the view is utterly mesmerizing. Perched at 1,011 meters, Mount Taikan Observatory is a favorite sunrise and sunset spot for locals and travelers alike—especially on clear, crisp mornings, when Mount Fuji appears in sharp relief against the horizon. For Irish, seeing the iconic snow-capped peak of Mount Fuji—an image featured for centuries in Japanese art (often depicted in Edo-period woodblock prints), literature, and spiritual tradition—was a moment he'll never forget. 'It was everything that I was hoping it would be—a perfectly shaped volcano. It emulates Japan in so many ways, just because of how perfect it is.' Jonathan Irish , National Geographic Photographer But even when the peak is obscured by mist and cloud, the surrounding landscape's beauty allows for stunning photos. If you have the chance, do just as Irish did, and head down to Lake Ashi—a water-filled caldera formed about 3,000 years ago. It provides a stunning foreground for the rolling hills that surround Mount Fuji and Hakone, offering breathtaking photo opportunities all on its own. Restore at a historic tea house It's not hard to imagine the 400-year-old Amasake Tea House (Amasake-chaya) as it once was. With its thatched roof, wood beams, and crackling fire from an irori (sunken hearth), it remains a cozy, warm, welcoming stop along the once bustling route between Tokyo (then Edo) and Kyoto. It is also one of the few surviving working teahouses on the route. For Irish, taking off his shoes and stepping inside the building along this ancient route was a chance to experience history. Tucked along the historic Tokaido Road in Hakone, Amasake Tea House has been welcoming travelers for centuries with its thatched roof, warm hearth, and signature sweet rice drink. Step inside for a taste of tradition and a quiet moment of rest, just as weary wanderers have done since the Edo period. 'I was standing in a place where samurais walked and would stop to drink tea,' he says. 'You can step into their world—see what they saw, feel what they felt—all in the same, unique setting. I thought that was really cool.' The thing to taste now, as it was then, is a thick, fortifying, rice-based, healthy drink called amazake (amazake). Today, the 13th-generation tea house owners still make this naturally sweet, non-alcoholic, fermented rice refreshment using the original, historic, centuries-old recipe. 'If you were walking this exact road 200 years ago in the dead of winter, you'd be pretty cold. So drinking something warm and filling wasn't just for comfort—it was an absolute necessity,' notes Irish. With a cup of warm amazake in hand and delicious chikara-mochi on your plate, you'll feel transported—savoring centuries-old flavors in a setting steeped in history and charm. Earn 2X AAdvantage® miles at restaurants with the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® card. Learn more here . When you visit, be sure to also sample the delicious chikara-mochi—a traditional Japanese rice cake known for its chewy texture and subtle sweetness, that was once a popular snack for travelers on the old Tokaido Road. Rejuvenate in a traditional onsen The magic of the Fukuzumiro comes from both its historic architecture and the incredible natural setting. Founded in 1890, the building is registered as a cultural property of Japan. Surrounded by lush greenery, a simple soak here becomes a spirit-altering experience. Onsen, or traditional Japanese hot spring baths, are located near natural hot springs whose mineral-rich waters are believed to promote overall health and well-being. At Fukuzumiro, your soak in the geothermal waters is framed by large windows that open to the lush environment, filling the room with sunlight and the soothing sounds of the nearby river. Fukuzumiro, a charming traditional inn and onsen nestled in Hakone, invites visitors to experience authentic Japanese hospitality surrounded by serene gardens and timeless architecture. For centuries, onsens have been treasured in Japan for their healing mineral waters, offering a restorative escape deeply rooted in cultural tradition. 'You could just basically sit there, read a book, and watch the river go by. It was effortlessly serene.' Jonathan Irish , National Geographic Photographer Each onsen has its own rules: Many require guests to bathe nude, some restrict entry to those with tattoos, and only a select few offer day passes. Here, you'll find both indoor and outdoor baths, with options for private or public soaking—each thoughtfully integrated into their own unique domain. If you fall in love with the peaceful location, traditional ryokan inns are available for overnight stays. Expect incredible Japanese hospitality, traditional tatami rooms, futon bedding, and kaiseki (traditional multi-course meals featuring local, seasonal ingredients). Reconnect with your spiritual self From your first deep breath (in through your nose; out through your mouth) at this Soto Zen Buddhist Temple, guests are invited to reframe their connection to self. The Zazen meditation practice (Zen meditation usually conducted in the lotus position) cultivates mindfulness, inner stillness, and connection to the present moment. At this historic temple, surrounded by towering trees and serene gardens, it's an experience through which monks have been guiding people through since 1583. Peace and reflection find a home at the Soto Zen Buddhist Temple, where simplicity and serenity invite visitors to slow down and experience mindfulness in a tranquil setting. Guides like Hiro-san (pictured) dedicate their days to meditation and teaching, embodying the temple's spirit of calm and compassion. Irish's guide, Hiro-san, took him through a 20-minute private meditation during his visit, but guests can expect to join a small group of like-minded people in the serene space, centering themselves and identifying peace from within. Post-meditation, guests are invited to try homemade plant-based sweets including a delicious apricot oat milk pudding, inviting sweetness within. Respite done right From tranquil hot springs to forested trails and serene views of Mount Fuji, Hakone offers a restorative escape rooted in nature and tradition. As Irish discovered, this peaceful retreat invites you to slow down, breathe deeply, and reconnect with oneself. Whether you're soaking in an onsen, meditating in luxuriant spaces, or simply embracing the stillness of the landscape, Hakone offers the perfect counterbalance to Tokyo's vibrant pace and a chance to return renewed—in mind, body, and soul.
Hamilton Spectator
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
For a huge train nerd like me, rail travel in Japan is a dream. I took a trip on a train that feels like it's from the future
Right from the start, it's clear that something special is happening on Platform Five. Although the track is empty, the little guardrail is already lined three-deep with Japanese onlookers, their phones held aloft. Video mode: on and recording. An announcement heralds the Spacia X limited express as it pulls into Tokyo's Asakusa station. It looks like it's not just arriving from the ancient town of Nikko but also the future. The silvery, super-streamlined train sweeps around the bend, and I see the engineer at the controls. He eyes the excited waves of the small crowd and returns just one stern nod, as if to say, We're doing important work here: moving a whole nation, by track . This is just another day on the greatest rail system the world has ever seen. Every stat about Japanese trains seems like hyperbole. By one estimate, more than 22 billion people travel by train every year in this country. The nation is the birthplace of the fastest train on Earth. Still in development, the L0 Series Maglev (short for magnetic levitation — yes, it will 'float') has been clocked at more than 600 km/h in test runs. The vast majority of the world's 20 busiest train stations are in Japan. The busiest, Tokyo's Shinjuku, sees about 3.5 million riders pass through each day. Why all the fuss about the Spacia X ? It's quite new and very different from a typical Japanese train. The whole design takes inspiration from destinations along the Tobu Railway track. The window frames are a nod to Edo-period kumiko crafts, for instance, while the exterior colouring resembles the gofun pigment used on shrines. Perhaps the coolest part: compartments like you've never seen on a train, including a cockpit suite inspired by a private jet, and a cockpit lounge with a bar. (More on that later.) The cockpit suite aboard the Spacia X was inspired by a private jet. For a lifelong train nerd like me, riding the rails in Japan is a dream. I've travelled on the Trans-Siberian across Russia, and on the Indian Pacific for the breadth of Australia. But there's no feeling like buying an unlimited Japan Rail Pass and settling into a seat in the Green Car, with my destination still unknown. The JR Pass , sold only to overseas tourists, allows you to ride as much as you want for 7, 14 or 21 days, on the JR network, which operates all over the country. (Travelling on the Spacia X is a separate ticket.) My 'plan,' usually: Ride until I'm tired, then disembark at a town that, you know, looks nice. Then, do it all again the next day. Japan's transportation decision-makers went all-in on trains after the Second World War. They rebuilt their nation by binding it together with ribbons of steel. All that accelerated with the Tokyo Olympics in 1964, when the country wowed the world with the first Shinkansen (bullet trains). More and more trains and tracks have been added in the decades since. Trains operate all over Japan. The popular Tokaido Shinkansen, for example, makes it easy to zip between Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. But even if you're not a train nerd, rail travel is the best way to explore Japan, as tourists continue to visit in record numbers. Japanese trains are safe, efficient and almost always on time. And they'll whisk you away, right quick, from crowded cities to small towns and villages, big mountains and rugged shorelines in the countryside. Plus, riding the rails here is a cultural attraction in itself. Today's trip on the Spacia X will carry me only a couple of hours north of Tokyo. But in many ways, the ride is a microcosm of all the charm and quirk and fun features that create Japan's magic on the rails. Gliding away from Platform Five, the train slides along on an elevated track, slicing through the urban morass. Crammed little laneways roll by below, our viewpoint allowing peeks into people's tiny backyards. There are thousands of stations in Japan, and each stop is announced with its own unique jingle, called an eki melo . Here on this train, the seven-second song sounds like a 19th-century waltz being interpreted by an old-school Nintendo system. (Johann Strauss meets Super Mario, if you will.) Eventually, Tokyo falls away, and soon, dark mountains rise on the horizon. I make a visit to the cockpit lounge at one end of the train, right behind the engineer's controls. There's a gleaming bar with beer taps, huge hexagonal windows and cushy couches, plus the main attraction: a glass wall at the front. Those lucky enough to secure a seat in the lounge enjoy a constantly moving view of the oncoming track. In the cockpit lounge, travellers can enjoy beers along with a constantly moving view of the oncoming track. I snap a few photos, and vow that on my return trip, I'll secure a seat here. (I do.) After a chat with a friendly cabin attendant, who points out a few design elements, including geometric patterns that recall Japan's Edo period, I return to my seat. Hot springs and 17th-century temples and a snazzy stay at the lakeside Ritz-Carlton await me in Nikko. But what I'm most excited about right now, as we slow into our destination station? Getting back on board this train, for the ride back to Tokyo.
Korea Herald
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Meet the splendid and the unassuming Japanese art in Seoul
Marking 60th anniversary of Korea-Japanese diplomatic ties, National Museum of Korea and Tokyo National Musuem jointly host special exhibition on Japanese art in Seoul As part of a cultural exchange program between South Korea and Japan marking the 60th anniversary of their diplomatic ties, the National Museum of Korea and the Tokyo National Museum are jointly holding a special exhibition in Seoul for the next two months, shedding light on the aesthetics and subtle depths of Japanese art. Titled "Japanese Art from Four Perspectives," the exhibition invites visitors to trace the beauty of the neighboring country's ancient times from Tuesday until Aug. 10. The exhibition features a total of 62 pieces from the two museums, showcasing the beauty of Japanese art and the ideas and emotions behind it. The Tokyo National Museum, home to many of Japan's treasured artworks, offers a rare chance to see valuable and diverse Japanese cultural treasures up close with 40 pieces from its collection, including seven items designated as Important Cultural Properties of Japan. The highlights include a kimono with autumn grasses painted by Ogata Korin, an 18th-century Edo-period artist, and Noh theater masks used in the traditional Japanese performing art known as"shakumi." Noting that the two museums are at the forefront of fostering cultural exchanges and cooperation between Korea and Japan, Kim Jae-hong, the NMK director general, expressed hopes that the exhibition would give visitors a better understanding of Japanese life and culture. "We sincerely hope that the exhibition will strengthen the ties between the two countries, not just in politics and economics, but culturally and emotionally as well," Kim told reporters during a preview tour held at the NMK on Monday. Korea was annexed by Japan in 1910 and 35 years of colonial rule followed, brought to an end in 1945 by Japan's defeat in World War II. The two countries normalized relations in 1965. The exhibition is divided into four sections. The first perspective that greets visitors is the "Decorative Impulse," which explores the spirit of ornamentation and its aesthetic implications. Here, four pieces of Jomon pottery — some of the oldest pottery in the world — are on display. The artifacts, dating back to 3,000 BCE to 2,000 BCE, show how the ancient earthenware shaped Japanese art and culture. Multicolored glazed porcelain and lacquerware decorated with gold and silver are also on display in this section. In "Pursuit of Restraint," the charm of subtlety in Japanese art is on full display, offering insight into the humble beauty of tea bowls. The third section, "Beauty of Ephemerality," explores "aware," which is a core sentiment of Japanese culture that reflects a gentle sadness or deep emotion felt from the fleeting nature of life. "Aesthetics of Playfulness," the exhibition's last section, looks at how artists use fun and creativity in their work. Makoto Fujiwara, director of TNM, said he hopes the exhibition will help bring Koreans a step closer to Japanese culture. "Korea is geographically a close neighbor of Japan, and because of this, the two countries have deeply influenced each other. Today, Korean culture is widely loved in Japan, and vice versa. Japan's animation has gained immense popularity in Korea," Makoto said. "But Koreans don't really know about Japan's history, which serves as the foundation of its culture. The exhibition will give an easy-to-understand overview of 9,000 years of Japanese art to help people learn more about Japan's cultural roots," he added.
