This Week in Tokyo – 5 October 2021

Welcome to ‘This Week in Tokyo’, a review of the Maction Planet week that was and a look ahead to what’s coming up in the city. Hosted by Mac, our Founder and Lead Guide, you can check out photos from our tours and read insights into our explorations as we get under the skin of the World’s Greatest Metropolis, and beyond! This week: Too Cool for Dog School; Saihoji Higanbana; Hebi Shimenawa; Happy Sake Day 2021 and Down at the Shizuoka Distillery!

Featured image – Too Cool for Dog School: Consistently, Maction Planet Private Tour guests love Tokyo’s pets, and their interactions with their owners. Here’s a classic situation that would have brought joy to those touring with me, in the too-cool-for-school district of Daikanyama!

Saihoji Higanbana: The Spider Lily is deeply connected with the start of autumn in Japan. Here it’s called higanbana, which means “equinox flower” or “death flower”. It’s believed that the latter meaning originates from the high poisonous nature of this plant. Regardless, they are spectacular. Most famously red, they also come in yellow, pink, white and other varieties, many of which can be enjoyed at the Saihoji temple.

Hebi Shimenawa: This traditional woven-straw rope is a shimenawa. Found at many shinto shrines, most of them are not stylised to look like snakes! This is, at the off-the-beaten-track Sugiyama Shrine in Nippa, on the outskirts of Yokohama, is!

Happy Sake Day 2021: October 1st is Sake Day, which marks the traditional start of the sake making season! I’m toasting you all direct from the Ponshukan at JR Nagaoka Train Station. 100 vending machines dispensing sake goodness. Check out my adventures there by clicking here: https://youtu.be/sc40rBTt1H8. Kanpai!

Down at the Shizuoka Distillery: I recently visited the Gaiaflow Shizuoka Distillery with my friend Armando. We enjoyed a fantastic tour of the facility, and I wrote about the experience for Tokyo Weekender! Maction Planet can incorporate distillery visits like this into any itinerary. Contact us at the details below to start planning your perfect, personalised time in the World’s Greatest Metropolis, and beyond.

Maction Planet runs bespoke Private Tours and Experiences in Tokyo, and beyond. To book yours, or to purchase a gift card, contact us at info@mactionplanet.com

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