This Week in Tokyo – 18 September 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: The Final Days of Tsukiji, Down low at the Sumo, Lucky Cats on tour, Rain-enhanced backstreets and Peace & Safety Patrol! 

Featured image – The Final Days of Tsukiji: After 83 years, Tokyo’s historic Metropolitan Central Wholesale Market AKA the Tsukiji Fish Market is scheduled to close on 6 October and move to a new site in Toyosu where it will reopen on 11 October. For tourists, access to the infamous tuna auctions ended on 15 September and the inner market will become inaccessible after 29 September. The relationships we have built over the years taking our guests to Tsukiji have been invaluable in maximising our guest’s experience. This photo sums up the fun we have had there. It was taken by Douglas, guest on a Maction Planet Tokyo Private Tour, and we loved it so much we asked his permission to share it in honour of the final days of Tsukiji.

Down low at the Sumo: The 2016 September Grand Sumo Wrestling is in full flow. Our guests have been enjoying it as part of their Maction Planet Tokyo Private Tours.  Sumo has its origins in the Shinto religion over 1500 years ago, but came into its modern form in the Edo period, beginning with the first licensed sanctioned ‘modern’ matches in 1684. An essential part of the Japan cultural experience, we can incorporate matches or Sumo training during the year on your bespoke, fully customised Tokyo experience with us.

Lucky Cats on tour: Leading a Maction Planet Tolyo Photography Tour, Yayu Wang took this incredible shot which makes us feel we are back in smack bang in the middle of the Showa Era. Maneki neko, the beckoning cat, can be found with the right paw raised, left paw raised, or both! They are seen here chilling in Kabukicho, Shinjuku, impassionately surveying the scene before them!

Rain-enhanced Backstreets: Our guests never let a little rain scare them from hitting the backstreets of the World’s Greatest Metrpolis. In fact, it can enhance the Bladerunner like feel of the city, as this shot shows from the backstreets of Asakusa.

And finally… Peace & Safety Patrol: All is safe on the streets of Ikegami thanks to the local Peace & Safety Patrol, spotted on a Maction Planet Tokyo Private Tour.

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