This Week in Tokyo – 14 August 2018

The latest edition of This Week in Tokyo – a review of the Maction Planet week that was and a look ahead to what’s coming up in and beyond the city. Check out photos from our tours and read insights into our explorations as we get under the skin of the World’s Greatest Metropolis. This week’s edition is hosted by Mac, Founder and Lead Guide of Maction Planet. This week: Blooming Lotus, Peninsula’s Sunflowers, Fukagawa Matsuri, Totti Candy Factory shokunin and Tokyo Olympic countdown!   

Featured image – Blooming Lotus: Japanese lotus flowers blooming at Shinobazu Pond in Ueno Park. Associated with purity and rebirth, with strong connections to Buddhism, now is the perfect time to see these amazing flowers in in their full splendour.

Peninsula’s Sunflowers: It is also Sunflower season right now in Tokyo. While waiting to pick up guests who were staying at the Peninsula Hotel, I spotted this lovely display of the himawari. The Peninsula has amazing seasonal displays in its lobbies and meeting customers there is a real joy.

Fukagawa Matsuri: Tomioka Hachimangu’s Ninomiya Mikoshi on parade during the 2018 Fukagawa Matsuri. This year the main festival day was Sunday 12 August, and our guest Jon was able to get up close to the action as part of his Tokyo Private Tour. Built in 1997 by the shrine using donations from parishioners, the Ninomiya Mikoshi weighs 2000kg and is decorated with jewels – the eyes of the uppermost phoenix are inlaid with a pair of 2.5 carat diamonds!

Totti Candy Factory shokunin: Harajuku’s Totti Candy Factory is legendary. They are the creators of the 5-colour candy floss, the world’s most instagrammed. I snapped this photo while our guests were waiting for theirs. I always love seeing the concentration on the faces of the staff as they make the treat right in front of their customers – they have brought the concept of shokunin to the humble cotton candy. 

And finally… Tokyo Olympic countdown!: Olympic and Paralympic Mascots Miraitowa and Someity, here hanging out at Tokyo Skytree, are letting you know we have just under two years to go until the 2020 Tokyo Olympics!

Maction Planet runs bespoke Tokyo Private Tours and Experiences. To book yours, contact us on info@mactionplanet.com