From April, 2015
The beautiful season of the Sakura was upon Japan as the cherry-blossoms smothered the parks in an unforgettable spring sensation. The tranquility created by this unique sight was welcomingly contrasted with the usually uncharacteristically loud and expressive traditional celebration of this time. Hanami sees millions gather together in groups of friends and families to visit the Sakura to eat, drink and rejoice – in sunshine or rain. I was fortunate enough to experience seeing this glorious sight in the evening of the Ueno Park in Taito and in the daylight of Yoyogi Park in Shibuya.
The beautiful season of the Sakura was upon Japan as the cherry-blossoms smothered the parks in an unforgettable spring sensation. The tranquility created by this unique sight was welcomingly contrasted with the usually uncharacteristically loud and expressive traditional celebration of this time. Hanami sees millions gather together in groups of friends and families to visit the Sakura to eat, drink and rejoice – in sunshine or rain. I was fortunate enough to experience seeing this glorious sight in the evening of the Ueno Park in Taito and in the daylight of Yoyogi Park in Shibuya.
Drink inevitably followed and just hours after arriving in the city I was already gazing at the inspired streets of Tokyo, bleary-eyed. It was already clear to see that the overwhelming drinking culture in Japan has a significant place in day-to-day life. We visited an izakaya - a traditional bar and restaurant - in both Ueno, Taito and in Jingumae, Shibuya. Japan’s national beverage sake is fermented rice served in a tokkuri – a porcelain bottle – and drank like a shot from a porcelain cup called a guinomi. The 20% heated cup of fury tingled instantly and the ‘all you can drink in two hours’ deal was taken advantage of happily. Elsewhere, we enjoyed highball’s - commonly whiskey and soda water - which I assumed would be just awful, but for £1.12, that was irrelevant.
My baby knows what I want, he's gettin’ me in my thing, he better take what I got, or he won't see me again. Who can fail to remember those unforgettable lyrics from NME’s ‘catchiest song of 2009’ by British girl duo Mini Viva who stupidly left their hearts in Tokyo? One of the greatest sensations to come out of Japan in the 20th century, karaoke is undoubtedly the most common way to end a night out on the town. Eight of us booked a traditional private room and had an hour to belt out some absolute corkers - and we did not disappoint (ourselves).
Photos do not do the streets of Tokyo at night justice, so I can only apologise that you probably don't have my joyous views. It is a truly breathtaking sight and one that I thoroughly recommend to anyone who appreciates the beauty of cities at night.
The guy I'm staying with suggested some cultural places to visit, and although I appreciated his advice, I took it with caution. This is a man who went to visit Anne Hathaway’s cottage in Stratford-upon-Avon, and left fuming at the sheer cheek of the incredibly steep entrance fee to see the apparent home of the ‘Devil Wears Prada’ star. It was – of course – the former home of William Shakespeare’s wife. This inexcusable confusion only left him embarrassed and helpless as no other visitors appreciated his complimenting comments on the Brooklyn-born actress’ role in ‘Brokeback Mountain’.
The guy I'm staying with suggested some cultural places to visit, and although I appreciated his advice, I took it with caution. This is a man who went to visit Anne Hathaway’s cottage in Stratford-upon-Avon, and left fuming at the sheer cheek of the incredibly steep entrance fee to see the apparent home of the ‘Devil Wears Prada’ star. It was – of course – the former home of William Shakespeare’s wife. This inexcusable confusion only left him embarrassed and helpless as no other visitors appreciated his complimenting comments on the Brooklyn-born actress’ role in ‘Brokeback Mountain’.
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