Tra le novità della newsletter di questo mese: un corso di cucina casalinga giapponese; lezioni di preparazione di mochi; la prima visita dell’anno al santuario shinto; le tavolette di legno con i desideri per l’anno nuovo; il quartiere coreano di Tokyo,

People

Nella sua Little Kitchen, dal 2015, Mayuko dà lezioni di cucina casalinga giapponese ai turisti stranieri. Le lezioni sono in inglese e insegnano come preparare piatti di tutti i giorni, le basi della cucina giapponese, i condimenti e il galateo in un’atmosfera disinvolta.

Experience

The Sudari Table offre lezioni sui wagashi, i dolci giapponesi. Nella classe di mochi si può imparare come realizzare diversi tipi di palle di riso, da dolci a salate.

Past

Hatsumode è il termine con cui si indica la prima visita dell’anno ai santuari shinto. Una meta d’obbligo per lo hatsumode è il Meiji Jingu a Harajuku.

Trend

Gennaio è il mese dei propositi e dei desideri per l’anno nuovo. A Tokyo è possibile scriverli sugli ema, le tavolette di legno che si trovano presso templi e santuari in tutta la città.

Tokyo Diversity

A metà tra Shinjuku e Takadanobaba c‘è Shin-Okubo, un quartiere ricco di ristoranti e negozi con piatti e prodotti provenienti dalla Corea del Sud.

Experience Tokyo from the distance 

Scopri i video-approfondimenti su Tokyo: hatsumode ad Asakusa; il Capodanno giapponese al Meiji-jingu.

Welcome to the Tokyo Now Newsletter.Our goal is to help you enjoy the high-tech urban atmosphere of Tokyo combined with ancient shrines, festivals and old-fashioned manners.Prepare to discover Tokyo you have never seen before! January means new years celebrations and family time in Japan. New year is a very special and peaceful time resembling christmas time elsewhere. Enjoy visiting Tokyo’s famous shrines and mochi making. Make sure to bundle up as you might even encounter snow.

PEOPLE – Mayuko’s Little Kitchen – The taste of Japan Born and raised in Choshi City in Chiba city, Mayuko was strongly influenced by her mother, who was a professional cooking teacher.After a chance encounter with a couple who kept returning to Japan because they fell in love with the country and the cuisine, Mayuko was inspired to introduce the flavors and manners of Japanese home cooking to visitors, then she has been managing her cooking classes in TOKYO since 2015.   The cooking classes at Mayuko’s Little Kitchen are held in English and teach how to prepare Japanese everyday meals, the basics of Japanese food, seasonings, and table customs in a warm, friendly atmosphere. ▶ https://www.mayukoslittlekitchen.com/

EXPERIENCE – The Suyari Table – Learn how to make Authentic Mochi   Mochi making is an essential part of Japanese New Years. It is traditionally eaten as part of the new years food in Ozoni, or new years mochi soup.The Suyari Table is an English-language class for traditional and contemporary Japanese confectionery – wagashi. Since 2014 Miyuki Suyari, a bilingual teacher, holds the classes at her home in Tokyo for foreign residents and tourists in Tokyo . The lessons are designed to be fun and enjoyable in an at-home atmosphere. She tries to keep the recipes as simple as possible so that you can easily reproduce them at home!In the mochi making class you can learn how to create several different kinds of mochi from sweet to savory and you can even learn how to make breathtakingly beautiful traditional wagashi sweets.▶ https://www.simplyoishii.com/in-person-classes.html PAST – Hatsumode – Tradtional New Year`s Shrine Visit at Meiji Shrine Hatsumode is a traditional Japanese event to visit shrines and temples at the beginning of the New Year.While you can visit any shrine for Hatsumoude, Meiji Shrine sitting in Yoyogi, Shibuya Ward is one of the most popular destinations for many Tokyo citizens. Normally, the shrine has clearly set opening hours, but from New Year’s Eve to New Year’s Day it stays open all night long to accomodate the yearly flood of people who want to make their first and last wishes of the year. Many people gather for Hatsumode at Meiji Shrine, but it is worth the experience. If you do stay in Tokyo during the new year’s, make sure to visit one of the big Shrines, such as Meiji Shrine, to feel the atmosphere of the Tokyo`s New Year. ▶ https://www.meijijingu.or.jp/en/  TREND – Ema – Unique shrine plaques across Tokyo   During your temple or shrine in Japan you will probably recognize the wooden praying plaques called ema. These are traditionally used to write prayers or wishes on, but people also have gotten more creative in recent years by drawing pictures or decorating them to make them stand out more. Most ema are very simple in design, but several shrines have started to create their unique designs which often makes visitors traveling to several different shrines to collect the most unique ones.   From the creative drawings on the ema of the Kanda Shrine in Akihabara, over the Geta※ ema of Koenji Hikawa Shrine to the variety of beckoning cat related ema at the many Tokyo shrines and temples dedicated to cats, there is always much to see and read on these traditional wishing plates. Make a wish and leave your ema at the shrine or take it home with you as keepsake. the choice is yours.※Geta: is a traditional Japanese footwear▶ https://en.japantravel.com/tokyo/unique-ema-across-tokyo/68980 Tokyo Diversity – Shin-Okubo – Tokyo’s Korea Town

Tokyo has various international areas that incorporate foreign cultures.Located in close proximity to Shinjuku on the JR Yamanote Line, Shin-Okubo is known as Korean Town. Stepping into the lively streets lined with authentic Korean restaurants and import stores while Korean music is blasting from the screens makes you feel like you just left Japan. Shin-Okubo is a place where even Korean people go if they are homesick and want to enjoy the taste and feel of Korea.  One might think that the Korean Town in Shin-Okubo is a result of the Korea boom that has also a hold on Japan for several years. However, this assumption would not be right as Korean Town has a long tradition and developed through Korean immigrants settling in the area a long time ago.Enjoy authentic Korean food and shop for unique gifts in Shin-Okubo while visiting Tokyo. This unique area in the heart of Tokyo is worth a visit for the fun atmosphere and tasty treats.▶ https://en.japantravel.com/tokyo/korea-town-shin-okubo-top-10-things-to-do/23011

– MOVIE: EXPERIENCE TOKYO FROM THE DISTANCE –Finally, on October 11th, 2022, the ban on entry from abroad, including FIT, has been fully lifted. To make it easier for you to find exciting places to visit during your stay,we have prepared a variety of movies to help you to enjoy this magical country to the fullest!

Cool Hatsumode in Tokyo   Japanese New Year at Meiji Shrine, Tokyo

– Information –In order to offer travelers a safe and fun experience in Tokyo, do not forget to check the information on COVID-19 provided by the Japanese government and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government here.▶ https://bit.ly/3PzFN2b