To live in Japan is NOT expensive anymore. It must have been some kind of legend or misunderstanding or exaggerated media saying about JPY10,000 melon (still there in many department stores not for daily consumption), but truth is that local people usually enjoy eating JPY500 melon, actually we just bought and enjoyed JPY398 melon from local supermarket in Asakusa. For your rate comparison, we pick some everyday "local" price range at this page. Average can determine that Tokyo is less than London, less than Paris, less than New York City, less than Zurich, less than Melbourne, but more than Roma, more than Athen, more than Lisboa, more than Bangkok, maybe similar to Singapore now.

Life should not be discussed by 5-percent or 10-percent or money-exchange-rate. If your heart tells you, it's the high time that you should visit Japan. Would you like to live in Tokyo already? RealTokyoEstate has lists of apartments and houses. Still worry about money? Hope you could taste a pot of green tea with this page (brown eyes of the far east?!). Wanna share a wooden house here in Japan? This page would introduce you best place to stay in downtown Tokyo. Wanna ride around all over downtown Tokyo with local driver? This page shall do support your dream.

And this page would like to introduce several good quality, content feedback, worth-to-invest, Japanese language school in Japan. Thanks to Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, wherever we are, night and day, we can all learn what we'd like to learn. Japanese language or Nihongo is not an exception, but it is also true that your Kanji words are doubled and tripped much faster if you were actually living here in Japan. With the good exchange rate, well, actually let's not minimize our opportunities due to MONEY, we can ANYTIME do what we'd like to achieve, let's get flight tickets to Japan for next semester (or even next week) to join the circle of the world/universe!

So, here's the free lesson for you => NHK WORLD's Japanese lesson in your own language
And these on-line lessons are highly "rocketed" (^^) => Rocket Languages and www.italki.com

Meiji Daigaku : Japan study short programs, very intense course, in the heart of downtown Tokyo. The university has the library of manga and subculture.

MLC : www.mlcjapanese.co.jp/

INCUL : www.incul.com/

KAI : http://en.kaij.jp/

Kyushu in Kagoshima : http://kyushunihongo.weebly.com/

Temple University in Tokyo : www.tuj.ac.jp/

Kudan Institute in Tokyo : www.kudan-japanese-school.com/

Subaru in Gifu (west of Nagoya) : www.nihongo-subaru.com/

Kokusai Daigaku in Niigata : www.iuj.ac.jp/

Nanzan Daigaku in Nagoya : www.nanzan-u.ac.jp/

Kumamoto YMCA : www.kumamoto-ymca.or.jp/

Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University in Beppu, Oita : www.apu.ac.jp/home/

Asakusa can see the Skytree over Sumida River. Ando Tadao is the advice supervisor of the tower. His masterpiece of architect buildings are listed on this page. Pro and con, hope you will be inspired. If you were looking for other/better works by another architects, we would like to recommend you ARCHI-DEPOT.

Marufukuro in Kyoto
Nintendo + Ando
https://marufukuro.com/

The Tokyo Toilet (#10)
Sxxx in his style!
https://tokyotoilet.jp/

The Shinmonzen in Kyoto
Stay in his style!
www.hetgallery.com/ando.html

Paramount Rokko Apartment
Live in his style! of 1983 and 1993 in Rokko (Rokkou) near Kobe www.maedarealestate.co.jp/rental/B0001023/paramount-rokko/

Kaminoge Station
Done by Kajima Corporation in 2011.
www.kajima.co.jp/project/works/detail/201103tkkmn.html

Fukutake Hall
"Fortune Samurai Hall" in the University of Tokyo (Hongo Campus)
http://fukutake.iii.u-tokyo.ac.jp/

Tokyo Art Museum (TAM)
Sengawa station on Keio Line is the nearby station
www.tokyoartmuseum.com/

21_21
Design Sight in Tokyo Midtown Roppongi
www.2121designsight.jp/

Omotesando Hills
Located between Omotesando and Harajuku
www.omotesandohills.com/

Shibuya Station
Tokyo Metro Fukutoshinsen (Fuku-Toshin-Line)
https://www.shibuyabunka.com/keyperson/

Kokusai Kodomo Toshokan
Children's Library in Ueno Park
www.kodomo.go.jp/

Grand Nikko Awaji
Near Akashi Bridge, Himeji, Kobe and Osaka
https://awaji.grandnikko.com/

Chichu Art Museum in Naoshima
Chichu Museum in the small Benesse Art Site
http://benesse-artsite.jp/en/art/chichu.html

Chapel in Tomamu
Water Chapel in Hokkaido
https://tomamu-wedding.com/waterchapel/

Hyogo Museum of Art
Also in Kobe, Hyogo
www.artm.pref.hyogo.jp/eng/index.html

Honpukuji
Same island where the Westin is located
http://mirutake.fc2web.com/06/120honpukuji/honpukuji.htm

Outside over there
Madonosotonosonomatamukou in Fukushima
https://kankou-iwaki.or.jp/spot/10061

Pabellon de Japon
Sevilla Spain
google view page

And if you would like to meet future architect (student) and real professional architect, should you be interested in finding all architects related books (free to read and relax), also how about exploring the design shops with their show-room for not only exterior and interior but bath tub, wooden floor, paper window, shikkui wall and more, we would like to strongly recommend Housing Design (ozone space) in Shinjuku Park Hyatt.

NISHIZAWA RYUE san?
Came to this point, thanks for your reading all the way down to this bottom of the page, maybe you prefer more nature-soft-touch style like Garden & House (in Hatchobori or Hacchobori, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, where is it? what's the address? middle of nowhere downtown Tokyo) like this beautiful tree house? Japan is the place to make it happened, we sincerely hope that you can contribute your talent to the society. Arigatou gozaimasu.

KUMA KENGO san?
Not only beautiful JR station Hoshakuji but "woodenly" designed Asakusa Bunka Kanko Center and especially 2020 (held in 2021) Olympic Stadium you may visit while in Japan. Baisoin Temple in Minami-Aoyama is also done by the architect. Shikoku the 88 temples island has his arts.

It was one kind of sadness of human era, yet this is done by all natural power of earth (except Fukushima nuclear power plant). One can be wise if possible to learn the same wisdom as these people who actually faced the event seen on Youtube.

Asakusa had only minor damage in limited nubmer of old wooden house. Tokyo bay area, mainly Urayasu, got liquefaction (liquid type of dirt comes up from underneath, which is not due to drain damage). 30km north of downtown Tokyo, say Omiya, had their Japanese style roof (kawara-yane) fell off.

When something sad, terrible, difficult happened to us, we tend to think it is not fair. But in the end, what end? we have to use our most careful thoughtful mind to consider, probably it takes 10 years or even 50 years to understand, but in the end, it DOES pay off. All burdens we experience look like unnecessary items at the moment, but it surely will change its shape becoming food of our soul/heart. Everyone (no exception) can learn this life-theory from someone's experience, but if you were crying over someone's sadness, if you felt worry for someone's facing difficulties, you are the one who can complete your mission of life. All 7 billions people are no difference to us ourselves. Thanks for all the kind passion and compassion.

Who says that Japan is unique country? Only the country which became this rich in culture after being destroyed down to zero (WW2)? All the nation and all the area around the world is the same (again, no exception). Despite location, era, sex, age, belief, financial or whatever status, single or married, single-parent or lost-both-parents, job or jobless, with paper/license or without, if we could hang in there with our teeth gritted, yes, endurance we need to overcome all the difficulties, yes, love we need to share to conquer the sadness, hopefully with vision of love and vision of peace in full color in each of our brains, we can reach there in the end (actually right at this moment). Good example drama/movie is Oshin which, believe or not, only happened just 100 years ago here in Japan.

Fukushima Daiichi (Number One) Nuclear Power Plant has a Live Camera on your computer. Watching this does not ease pain, but at least you can find that it is under control?! Actually you can ride JR Joban Line through the "area where returning is difficult" with your geiger counter rising!

Tokyo is trying to control the usage of electric power especially in hot summer days. So far no sudden black-out (power shortage) happened yet. Nothing to do with controlling the fall-outs, but TEPCO's stock fell to 1/10th one time (JPY2,000 => JPY200) now back a little bit.

Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology is monitoring the figure/number of radioactivity level in every prefecture (state/province), and it looks like some places are worse than Chernobyl. We must listen to our own heart, not always (many times?) government is right. MAFF (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries) prohibited the rice planting in the red zone (dead zone?). Monthly radioactivity level is available on this page. Amazingly, STILL TODAY after more than decade! Japan is paying a lot, not only money.......

Reconstruction is in rapid, but still better not to visit this area and not to live long in this area if you are young (physically growing age), please. Fukushima prefecture radioactivity measurement map is available at this page. Some of our relatives are there living for this long even after the leak of Fukushima nuclear plants, saying their life (including ancestors and spirits) is based there in Fukushima, very Japanese and/or Asian way of viewing the fact. Our ancestors' spirits are with the soil there.

Tokyo's updated results can be found at this page.

Odaiba has Tokyo Rinkai Disaster Prevention Park where you can learn and experience the great earthquake of M8.0.
Ikebukuro Bosaikan has facilities called Earthquake Simulation Section where you can experience the great mega giant earthquake similar or more JMA (Japanese Meteorological Agency) Seismic Intensity of March 11th, 2011. Are you ready? There is a direct bus service (TOEI BUS) #63 and #64 between Asakusa and Ikebukuro.

Serching a position? Hunting a job? The window seems like closed? No, the other side, main gate is wide opened! The 100-year-old man who climbed out the window of hospital then disappeared? Let's follow him before we get 100 years old. There is actually a man who lives more than 100 years here in downtown Tokyo, who opened his own cafe when he was in his 80s, now delivery his beans to neighborhood customers on his own bike! There is also a 100-year-old man who did climb Mt.Fuji the other day!

Still worry a bit? Please, you should not be because happiness is right inside of you if you swept all worries away. And here's some job list you may be able to fit in .......

Reddit "senpai" helps you
WWOOF Japan
Tokyo Notice Board
Ohayo Sensei
Working Holiday Programmes
JET Programme

(WHP is only for young adults from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Korea, France, Germany, UK, Ireland, Denmark, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Norway, Portugal, Poland, Slovakia, Austria, Hungary, Spain, Argentina, Chile, Iceland, Czech, Lithuania, Sweden, Estonia, Netherlands and more to be listed).

Nakano san - One of the 23 districts of Tokyo.

Nintendo TOKYO - All about Nintendo opened in Shibuya.

Yuru-Chara - This is the parallel world (^^)

Nyangostar - Born in Aomori-ken.

Funassyi - Born from pear in Funabashi, Chiba.

Kumamon - Born in Kumamoto, Kyushu.

Anime 88 spots all over Japan - This is the Seichi Junrei. Taito-ku has 4 of them!

Rilakkuma - Just opened in the First Avenue Tokyo Station. Not Ralikkuma ;p

COPiC - Not only fine art design but for Manga and Animation, let's color your life with 358 choice, yes, every single day has different color to paint (^^)

Kyoto Animation - Life is filled with sadness but more with happiness!

Les Gouttes de Dieu (Kami no Shizuku) - All about wine, not only French nor Italiano but some Japanese dew drops of "God" (^^) And Asakusa Beer Building has the Taiyo Beer Wine company (in the manga/anime/drama story).

VR ZONE (Shinjuku) - Virtual Reality becomes such exciting experience, especially for someone knows Virtual Insanity.

LINE Manga - Most advanced, featured, updated, newest, highlighted, popular, fresh, raw Manga-Animation is listed on LINE. It is fun and useful to learn the language if you devote your life into.......love life, then life will love you back!

NAMJA TOWN in Sunshine City, Ikebukuro - The town also has anImate cafe if you are not gint to Akihabara, Sendai, Nagoya, Osaka, Okayama and Fukuoka.

Tetsujin 28 go - You may confuse if this was Gandum!? Of course not! This is the iron man no.28, personally observed much "stronger" than the one in Odaiba, Tokyo. Located in once devastated by Hanshin-Awaji earthquake, this is the hope of standing up again from ground-zero.

Kiddy Land - The dream come true shop for everyone! Rilakkuma, Miffy Style, Jackie's Marche, Blythe Dolls, Snoopy, Disney, Sanrio, Hello Kitty, Tomica and more. In downtown Tokyo, there are several shops, the leading one is Harajuku and Venus Fort in Odaiba, but also in Kichijoji near Ghibli Museum.

Tezuka Osamu - After all, he is the God of Manga in Japan. Universal floating energy? Inner-Child? Urim and Thummim? Let's find out during our life time. It is not too late, we are still breathing alright, our responsibility is everywhere until we take the last breath, and happiness is always within ourselves.

City Hunter and Angel Heart - Hojo Tsukasa sensei is one of the best manga story writer.

Natsuiro Kiseki (izu peninsula) - Now you can ride on izu-kyu-train with them! Manga wrapped train with their voice announcement are cute and awesome.


More SEICHI JUNREI

Kimi no suizou wo tabetai (Let me eat your Pancreas!)
Hakata, Fukuoka / Kimi-Sui

KonoSekainoKatasumini (Thanks for your finding me, at the very corner of the world)
Kure, Hiroshima / Yamato Museum

Kiminonaha (Kiminonawa, Your name is)
Hida Furukawa, Takayama, Gifu / How to get there
One in thousand two hundred years? Have you met your spiritual partner in this life time?

Hanasaku Iroha (i-ro-ha)
Yuwaku Onsen, Kanazawa / Map
Hana-iro has the onsen ryokan story. Kanazawa also has Kenrokuen and 21st century museum.

ANOHANA (Anohi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi ha Mada Shiranai)
Chichibu, Saitama / Map
Not far from downtown Tokyo. Had lost loved one recently? Let's meet Menma there.

FMA or FA (Full Metal Alchemist) or HagaRen (HAGANE no RENKINJUTSUSHI)
Makubetsu, Hokkaido
She says her story is "give me a break, but let's enjoy" in her very fist comic book. Although, truth is that's what's happening in the universe (only if you could believe in it, it ain't no more fictions), and you may enjoy The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, too. Death and Live are in One. Good always win over Evil, actually they are also in One.

DEATH NOTE
How many pages could you remember of your previous life? Do you sometime see "strange" dream, do you remember some of the dream of your young age, usually less than 10-year-old? Hope you find your own "notebook" to clear karma so that you will be able to step forward, in the end, you would not need to come back to "class room" or this world.

CLANNAD
Sayama, Saitama / Map
Best crying animation. Let's visit west of Saitama to enrich our life, shall we! The full After Story Song is here for todos. Vamos!

SAKURA TAISEN
Asakusa, Tokyo / Map
This is one of the most famous game in Japan made by SEGA. If you could catch the opening of the original version, come to Japan to see the Sensouji Temple in Asakusa, you'll be alive in the games! TV official page is also available.

SAIKANO (SAISHUHEIKI-KANOJO)
Otaru, Hokkaido / Map
This is the final love story of the earth. How can Shuuji love Chise, the normal high school student whose body is transformed into an ultimate weapon of war? Held in beautiful canal town of northern island. The house the couple live is Shibetsu station of JR Hokkaido.

KANNAGI : CRAZY SHRINE MAIDENS
Sendai, Miyagi / Map
Jin made a Zen statue out of the shrine sacred tree. The goddess, Nagi, was born out of the wooden masterpiece. Miyagi is one of the prefecture which is hit by tsunami on March 11th, 2011. School comedy, but deeply related to Japanese spiritual fact. Kanpachi is the spin-off comic out of Kannagi.

CRAYON SHINCHAN
Kasukabe, Saitama / Map
The kindergarden boy, Shinchan = Shinnosuke Nohara, is living in Kasukabe-shi , Saitama-ken, about 35km north of Asakusa. The trouble making boys and girls are based in real life there, and you may find their house, families, park, school and daily activities.

SAILOR MOON
Azabujuban, Tokyo / Map
The kawaii girl, Usagi Tsukino, transforms into a warrior in sailor outfit and tries to vanquish ghosts terrorizing Tokyo (story based on Azabujuban). Not only manga animation, but here you'll meet 5 cuties.

DIGIMON ADVENTURE
Digimon is an adventure story in imaginary digital world, Tokyo. Seven children start first adventure one summer, followed by Digimon Zero Two.

TOARU KAGAKU NO RAILGUN (including S)
Tachikawa and Tama-Center, Tokyo
Set in a university town of Tokyo where 80 percent of the whole population (2.3 million) are students, one of whom, a super power girl, Mikoto Misaka, can wield bolts of electricity, and she solves cases throughout the city. Tachikawa is 40 minutes JR Chuo Line ride from Tokyo central station, Tama Center is 40 minutes KEIO ride from Shinjuku station.

THE MELANCHOLY OF HARUHI SUZUMIYA
Nishinomiya, Hyogo / Official
A kawaii young student, Haruhi Suzumiya, together with Kyon, found a secret circle at their school called SOS-dan. Aliens, time-travelers from the future, and people with supernatural powers, the series is said to take place in Nishinomiya City in Hyogo Prefecture. There are many spots throughout the city idential to places seen in the anime and manga, such as the high school, the Shukugawa Park, and the path along the river bank. Been there? Haruhi Negai (Hope) completed (^^)

PONYO
Tomonoura, Hiroshima / Map
Ponyo was created when Miyazaki Hayao san enjoyed staying few months there in the small village port, not far from Onomichi, which actually related to JiuFen in Taiwan (Sento Chihiro no Kami Kakushi) if you combine this Asian trips with Taiwan and Japan together in one candy. Mecca for bicycle riders, please ride Shimanami Kaido.

TRUE TEARS
Nanto, Toyama / Map
The animation is originally made (not based much in the same named game) by P.A.WORKS in Nanto, Toyama-ken, north of Takayama or Shirakawago or Gokayama. If you cannot meet Shinichiro Nakagami, a boy main character in the story, or Noe, Hiromi, Aiko, Nakagami san, still you can feel the town there in reality. ANA has 6 round trips everyday from Tokyo Haneda Airport. Noh theater just 10 minutes walk from the Toyama Airport is highly recommended apart from the animation. Many of the scenes in the anime feature beautiful shots of the scenery in Toyama.

SUMMER WARS
Ueda, Nagano / Map
It is not special talented person who save the world, but just a normal person who you encounter in everyday life. The story is about Jinnouchi families along with Kenji, Takashi, Natsuki and Kazuma, officially held and supported by the real town called Ueda in Nagano-ken. JR East has Shinkansen access from Tokyo and Ueno. You may hit this page (JR East Nagano Branch) for the local information, please. Global crisis, internet space, time journey, Sanada samurai and more, but the highlight is the entrance to the Jinnouchi family's residence, the Higashi-Koguchi Yagura gate of Ueda Castle. On your way to Yudanaka Onsen where monkeys are enjoying onsen life, you will be also relaxing in authentic Japanese style house (now guest house with nice modern restaurant) at Kura.

LUCKY STAR (LAKI SUTA)
Kasukabe, Satte and Washimiya, Saitama / Map
Welcome to Japan already, please pay a short visit at the shrine illustrated in the story. Ryouougakuen school is actually this school in reality called Kasukabe Kyouei High School (good combination trip along with CRAYON SHINCHAN). Hiiragi families are living in the shrine called Washinomiya Shrine which is 5 minutes walk from Washinomiya station on Tobu Line, about 50 minutes train ride direct from Asakusa (Tokyo Skytree Line and Isesaki Line is directly connected with through-train service). The story is about the laid-back everyday lives of 4 cute unique spirited girls, Konata Izumi, Tsukasa Hiiragi, Kagami Hiiragi and Miyuki Takara. Reminds you those good old days in your local high school, you bet. As family name tells, Tsukasa and Kagami are sisters at Hiiragi house (their father is the priest of the shrine). Together with Kasukabe city (due to Crayon Shinchan, the other animation), this Kuki city is also well known by anime-otaku (anime-fan).

EVANGELION at Fuji-Q Highland
No need to explain these stories that much popular to the world. It was Shinji's 14 year-old life to pilot the humanoid mecha Evangelion and stand against a series of mysterious enemies called "Angels". Shinji with Rei and Asuka and a some adults from NERV. Together they fight to defeat the "Angels" in a battle that will decide the fate of the Earth. This series has Tokyo-3 which is set near Hakone, a place in Kanagawa-ken known for its onsen (hot springs) and majestic view of Mt.Fuji. EVA lovers must not miss Owakudani (between Sounzan and Togendai), Kintokiyama or Kintokisan and Ashinoko (Lake Ashi), please!

GHIBLI MUSEUM
Kichijoji or Mitaka, Tokyo / Lawson convenience store in English
English page is not selling all tickets, which means that Japanese page sometimes still has a chance! All about Hayao Miyazaki and the works by Studio Ghibli (pronounce as Jibli, J as in Jeep, a bit of Japanese language lesson?). Kazenotanino Naushika, Tonarino Totoro, Mononoke Hime, Tenkuno Shiro Rapyuta, Hotaruno Haka, Majono Takkyubin, Omohide Poroporo, Mimiwo Sumaseba, Sento Chihirono Kamikakushi, Ponyo and more! They are not only manga animation but the universal spirits in them! No time to visit Tokyo, but would love to work in animation at Toyota (Kaizen and Just-In-Time) in Nagoya? Ride on the "Cat Bus" and find the way! Perfect location inside Inokashira-koen park and zoo.

GHIBLI PARK
Nagoya / Opens late 2022

In Japanese language, knife is called as Hocho or Hamono, and there are various shapes and lengths and thickness for what you would like to cut. For instance, to cut soba noodle, it has to be Soba-Bocho (Soba-Hocho). Your thought might reach to Tsukiji Fish Market, even market itself re-located into Toyosu, still outer market is active and available, but Kappabashi Dougugai (Kappabashi Tool Street) in Asakusa has following knife shops to choose from. If you would like to deal direct with Hocho Maker (Producer), Fujitora Industory has Tojiro. Ceramics? Kyocera founded in Kyoto is highly recommended.

Yamaya
Kamata (nothing but knives)
Kanesoh
Kama-Asa (highly recommended)

Kiya Hamono has main shop in Mitsukoshimae, highly recommended. One of the best knife shop in Tokyo. Seki, in Gifu (between Nagoya and Kyoto) very strategic location for samurai time, has fame in sword including knife. Touken Sword Museum in Tokyo is worth visiting along with Asakusa.

45,422 people
109,223 people
34,663 people

First one is the number averagely calculated per day at Asakusa station on Tobu Line for the year 2019. The year 2011 made numbers declined due to the earthquake/tsunami/fukushima disaster, but recovered it to this figure. It includes ride-on passengers as well as get-off passengers.

Second one is at another Asakusa station on Tokyo Metro Ginza Line.

Third one is for Tawaramachi station daily (Tokyo Ryokan's most nearby station).

Curious about the numbers/figures for another big stations? Here's some statistics of major JR stations. Please note that JR counts ONLY ride-on passengers, therefore, to compare with Tobu Line and Tokyo Metro Line, JR figures need to be doubled.

www.jreast.co.jp/passenger/index.html (link shows covid influenced 2020, below shows 2019)

Shinjuku : 775,386
Ikebukuro : 558,623
Tokyo : 462,589
Yokohama : 419,440
Shinagawa : 377,337 (new mag-lev station in near future)
Shibuya : 366,128
Above is Top 6 of JR

Akihabara : 248,033 (Top 9th)
Ueno : 182,704 (Top 13th)

Maihama (Disneyland) : 78,811
Narita Airport (T1) : 7,248
Narita Airport (T2&T3) : 5,629


Hirataki : 2 (only 2 passengers daily did ride on Iiyama line from this station)

You might have heard of that Shinjuku has 3 - 4 million (3,000,000 - 4,000,000, depending on statistic and on which area specificly measure) people everyday which is the figure including not only JR but other private railways such as Toei Subway, Tokyo Metro, Odakyu and Keio. The X crossing, diagonal crossing, scramble intersection in front of Hachiko (the dog statue), Shibuya station, has about 800,000 people a day. It may take several lives to shake all of their hands, so let's not take it (each encounter) for granted.

Do you like numbers/figures? Here's more to satisfy your brain (^^) with how many people live in Top 10 cities in Japan!

Tokyo 23 districts : 9,100,000
Yokohama : 3,700,000
Osaka : 2,700,000
Nagoya : 2,300,000
Sapporo : 2,000,000
Kobe : 1,500,000
Fukuoka : 1,500,000
Kawasaki : 1,500,000
Saitama : 1,300,000
Hiroshima : 1,200,000
Sendai : 1,100,000
.......
.......
.......
Taito-ku (1 of the Tokyo 23 districts, where Ueno and Asakusa and Yanaka are located) : 203,000 only!

Sumo is relatively small in terms of stadium size (numbef of fan) but J League (football is getting popular) and Nippon Professional Baseball (still major "national" sport of Japan) are the big sports here in the far east Asia.

Baseball (Yakyu in Japanese) is one of the most popular sports in Japan. Nomo, Ichiro, Fukudome, Daisuke, Sasaki, Kuroda, Matsui, Aoki, Shinjo, Tanaka, Darvish (IranianJapanese) and more played national professional baseball in Japan. 2nd popular is football (soccer) which has relatively young history, but baseball was introduced from the United States during the early Meiji period. Isn't it funny to imagine that samurai changed their sword replacing to baseball bat ?(^^)?

There are two professional baseball leagues (the Central League and the Pacific League) in Japan, each consisting of six teams therefore altogether 12 teams. It is held from spring to autumn (until early November). In Tokyo region, you may enjoy watching games at Tokyo Dome and at Jingu (both in downtown), Makuhari in Chiba, Seibu in Saitama, Yokohama in Kanagawa.

Football is Soccer, J1 has 18 teams, J2 has 22 teams, in small islands. Japan is still learning from Europe and South America. In Tokyo region, you may enjoy watching games at Nissan stadium in Yokohama, Ajinomoto stadium in Chofu Tokyo, Todoroki stadium in Kawasaki, Saitama stadium in Saitama.

2019 Rugby World Cup was held here in Japan => www.rugbyworldcup.com/

AmeZaiku (candy art)
Asakusa has many traditional culture experience, and AmeShin is the candy one.

Ozu Washi (Japanese traditional style paper)
Nihombashi is the zero-kilo-post of Edo "highway" ....... nearby MitsukoshiMae on Ginza Line.

Inkstand by Kakimori
You may find your own color to paint your wonderful life ....... just south of Asakusa.

Yanesen (Yanaka, Nezu, Sendagi)
While you are in downtown Tokyo, you may like to fulfill traditional Japanese culturel activities.

Tokyo Tradition
While in Tokyo, you may like to experience Tokyo's traditional culture

Nature Tokyo Experience
Is this Tokyo? Wild nature in Tokyo? Let's feel earth in the far east capital city.

Washoku Cooking
Japanese cuisine cooking class, Sake & Matcha class, available in Asakusa

Wanariya Dyeing
It is a traditional Japanese craft shop where you can try Kimono (Yuki Tsumugi), Aizome indigo dye (coloring) which is also called Somemono, and Hataori which is weaving (wooden traditional machine knitting).

Rakugo
It is a traditional Japanese sit down comedy with all performances conducted in Japanese, therefore, you may say that this is bit advance class (^^). It originated in the end of the 17th century, and there are about 300 classic Rakugo stories. The linguistic confusion would be somehow mitigated by lively facial expressions and traditional props (performers use only a hand towel and a folding fan)

Manzai
It is a style of stand-up comedy in Japan, which usually involves two performers, a straight man (tsukkomi) and a funny man (boke) trading jokes at great speed. All in Japanese language, indeed, much more advanced in Japanese modern culture. Originally based around a festival to welcome the New Year, Manzai traces its origins back to the Heian period. In recent times, Manzai has often been associated with the Osaka region, and theiri comedians often speak in the Kansai dialect during their acts. Takeshi Kitano is a famous Manzai comedian in from Asakusa.

Kabuki Single Act Tickets
It is a traditional Japanese form of theater with its origins in the Edo period. In contrast to the older Japanese art forms such as Noh. Kabuki plays are about historical events, moral conflicts, love relationships and the like. The actors use an old fashioned language. KabukiZa Theater is located in Ginza.

Noh? Yes, please!
Five main theaters in donwtown Tokyo. National Noh Theatre in Sendagi. Kanze in Ginza. CeruleanTower in Shibuya. Yarai in Kagurazaka. Hosho nearby Tokyo Dome.

Engeki at Mokubakan
In Edo period, SanzaYakusha was Hanagata but most of actor/actress played in Koyagake, you may say that Engeki is bit casual type of Kabuki. Expect closer relation between stage and audiences. Far less international touristic experience, heavily touch-the-ground raw type.

Costume Play (Cos-Play)
Wanna be Geisha and Maiko instantly? Wanna make your girlfriend/wife like Geisha and Maiko for your life? Kimono walk in Asakusa, taken professional picture in their studio and around temple and shrine. Very first western born Geisha, Sayuki, knows more about real Kitsuke (how to design yourself in Japan style). Basic lesson for Kimono at Cocomo and Nadeshiko.

Drum Taiko (WaDaiko)
As good as Kodo, thanks to the Olympic gold medalist of Askausa, you may enjoy good taiko drum lesson throughout Tokyo.

Zen in Awaji
Would you like to experience beyond yourself? In another words, would you like to find true meaning of why you are here on this planet? Lofi music on Youtube might give you some sort of relaxation, but only for such short while. If you are interested in calm heart regardless what's happening around you (no matter what you face) The East including Japan has this, here in Japan, we call it Zen (not Yen) ....... your remaining life may find worth visiting this small island of Awaji.

Osore-zan (not Zen but Mt.Osore) in Aomori
You are not interested in Zen meditation? but interested in feeling your loved one who had passed away sadly? then, Osorezan or Mt.Osore is the souls meeting spot. Your body may not be capable doing so (yet) but their sharman can do on behalf of you. One of the best sulphur onsen is also at the site, surely your heart and soul will be purified in many ways. Mind you, this is not a sightseeing tourist attraction but for one who's been struggling between death and live, just like front and back of thin paper (n_n)

Unique, "reluctant" and funny shaman in Nagasaki
Wanna know why you are reading this? Nearby JR Kawatana station in Nagasaki also has a shaman who is actually a restaurant owner there (^^) ....... again, it is worth visiting him so that you will be able to find actual living person doing more than "magic" ....... anyway, life is wonderful stage, and you are the master!

Studying of Buddhism Through English
Already been to Tibet, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, Mongolia, China, Korea? You may please add Japan in your bucket. Actually, international language is not English but Smile. And tell you the truth of no needing studying at any academy, you may just hit the roads of Shikoku island ....... called 88 Temple Pilgrimage. You may also like surfing on Route 88. Well, in the end of this column, you seem like already finding your purpose and goal of this life! Yes, each daily life is our class of universe, maybe (n_n)