Every summer, thousands of fireworks transform the night sky into a dazzling array of kaleidoscopic colors at one of the many Hanabi Taikais or fireworks displays that take place throughout Japan.

The word for fireworks in Japanese is hanabi, which translates as fire-flowers. Originating in the Edo period, fireworks were used as part of the celebrations at the summer festivals that honor different deities that are believed to protect the Japanese people. Since then, these fireworks displays have grown into a major spectator sport for the Japanese who will dress up in yukatas, or traditional lightweight Japanese kimonos, and camp out hours in advance just to secure a prime viewing spot for the pyrotechnic extravaganza.

In order to make the most out of the major fireworks festivals in and around the Tokyo area, here are some helpful tips that every fireworks aficionado should take note of.

1. Choosing the right venue:

There is at least one, if not more, major fireworks festival every weekend throughout the summer, making the decision to select which one to go to somewhat daunting. When choosing which fireworks display to attend be sure to research a bit in advance and find out how many fireworks will be displayed, which will help gauge the scale of the event. For the latest up-to-date information on the various fireworks show click here. Please remember that the festivals with the most number of fireworks, such as the Tokyo Bay Grand Fireworks Festival, are typically the biggest draw, which means they are also the most crowded.

2. Avoiding Crowds:

Though Japanese fireworks displays are renowned for being the most extravagant in the world, they are also equally as well known among the most crowded events around. As such, if you have a car, don’t take it. Instead, take public transportation. Not only is parking very difficult to find, but when you are trying to go home after the event, you will be stuck in traffic because of the massive crowds of people pouring out into the streets. After arriving via public transportation, in order to avoid being crushed in the throng of revelers pushing their way forward trying to get a better view, there are several things you can do. If you can, arrive several hours early and explore the neighborhood where the fireworks show is to take place. Try to book reservations well in advance at a nearby restaurant that has a view or, if the fireworks are being launched by a river or beach, check to see if you are able to get reservations on a boat. For instance, one opulent way to obtain a private bird’s eye view of the Tokyo Bay Grand Fireworks Festival is to watch it from a yakatabune, which is an old-fashioned Japanese houseboat (http://www.funasei.com/fsei_english.htm). This way, you will be able to observe the fireworks lighting up the night-time sky against the backdrop of Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo Tower while dining on tasty tempura.

3. Securing a good seat:

If, on the other hand, you would prefer to join the thousands of people watching from the streets to experience an authentic Japanese hanabai takai up close, there are several items you should bring to make sure you have a great night out.

• Purchase entry tickets and arrive well in advance: Check if you have to pay an entrance fee to get into the nearby grounds. For instance, you can buy tickets for a reserved seat in the Meiji Jingu Gaien Sports ground for the Jingu Gaien Fireworks.
• Bring a folding chair or a plastic sheet to sit down on.
• Take along some drinks since it may be difficult to make your way to a refreshment stand or vending machine.
• Insect spray is a must bring item since most of the firework displays take place near or on water.
• Purchase your return train ticket beforehand to avoid having to stand in the long lines after the festival is finished.
• Bring a hand fan to cool yourself if there happens to be no breeze
• Ask the locals where the best place to observe the fireworks is since they are knowledgeable on where the best spots are. Also, it is better to avoid being in the direction of the wind since the smoke from the fireworks could cloud your view.
• Try to avoid sitting by the stands and street lights since they can obscure your view.

4. Yukatas

The term yukata comes from the word “yu” or bath and “katabira” or underclothing. Originally donned thousands of years, by the Japanese nobility after bathing, currently yukatas are a popular piece of clothing worn by men, women and children attending the fireworks festivals. Unlike kimonos, which are made of silk, yukatas are made of lightweight cotton and can be found in an astounding array of colors and patterns that will suit even the most trendy and fashion forward fashionistas. It takes a little practice to wear the traditional garb properly as it is wrapped around the body and then intricately tied into place by a matching obi or belt, but with a bit of trial and error even a complete novice can master the technique. Yukatas range in price and can be found in high-end department stores and specialized boutiques as well as large retailers such as Uniqlo. Also, if you wish, wear geta, traditional wooden sandals, to go with your yukatas. Geta too can be purchased at the previously mentioned places.

Whether, you are planning to attend a Japanese fireworks festival for the first time or are a regular visitor to the hanabi scene, by following these simple tips you will be able to increase your enjoyment of this traditional Japanese pastime. Have a happy fire-flower viewing summer!

Written by Erika Wiseberg

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That’s circadian, not cicadas.  Circadian rhythms are basically the daily cycle everyone goes through.   Wikipedia calls them; “a roughly-24-hour cycle in the biochemical, physiological or behavioural processes of living beings”. 

These tend to get all out of whack when jet lag kicks in and makes you fall asleep on your keyboard at work, the day after returning from that trip of a life time.   Anyone whose experienced jet lag knows what a drag it can be.  Though variable between individuals, the general recovery period for jet lag is supposed to be one day for each time-zone crossed during the flight.  Lots of home remedies are out there, but none are deemed truly effective.  However, there are some things you can do to minimize the effects:

1.  Go along with the local meal and bedtime schedules to get into a new daily routine.

2.  Avoid over-eating, eat small meals more often and include lots of fruits and vegetables.

3.  Get enough sleep before you leave.

4.  Exercise as much as you can both while on vacation and when you get back.

5.  If you do use, don’t overuse sleep medications.  2 days usage max.

6.  Avoid excessive drinking (we realize that this last one may be tough…but try.)

These won’t stop jet lag, but they might help you recover a little quicker and prevent you from being face down, snoring at your desk upon your return.

Story by Agoda Company, http://www.agoda.com

Agoda (agoda.com) is an online hotel reservations service which specializes in securing the lowest discount hotel prices in Asia. Agoda is part of Priceline.com (Nasdaq:PCLN). Agoda’s network includes 8,290 hotels in Asia and more than 49,700 worldwide. The staff of over 300 professionals, located throughout Asia, provides a first-rate reservation service that uniquely combines local knowledge and local connections to provide the best hotel deals to both business and leisure travelers.

In addition, Agoda customers participate in the Agoda Rewards Program, earning further discounts and free stays. Unlike programs that limit travelers to a single chain, the Agoda Rewards Program allows customers to redeem Rewards Points at thousands of hotels around the globe, at any time. A member of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), Agoda’s aim is to promote travel by making it more affordable and more accessible to more people. 

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As the number of air travelers continue to grow, so do the size and complexity of the world’s airports.  If you’re like us, you like visiting new airports, checking out the amenities and indulging in some duty free shopping…or a lot of duty free shopping.  But if you’re also like us, you’ll get off the plane after a 13-hour flight, sleepy-eyed, disheveled and disoriented with about 30, panic-filled minutes to find the connecting flight at the other end of the airport. So here’s our tip and it’s brilliant in its simplicity…check out the airport before you land, relax and save yourself some time. 

Some airlines will post advertisements/directions on the flight prior to landing so keep an eye open for them.  Or better yet, check out the airport’s website, print off the map and keep it with your travel documents before you take your trip.  Not sure of the website, check out http://www.airlinequality.com/Airports/AirportA-Z.htm.  It lists the websites of most airports around the world.

Story by Agoda Company, http://www.agoda.com

Agoda (agoda.com) is an online hotel reservations service which specializes in securing the lowest discount hotel prices in Asia. Agoda is part of Priceline.com (Nasdaq:PCLN). Agoda’s network includes 8,290 hotels in Asia and more than 49,700 worldwide. The staff of over 300 professionals, located throughout Asia, provides a first-rate reservation service that uniquely combines local knowledge and local connections to provide the best hotel deals to both business and leisure travelers.

In addition, Agoda customers participate in the Agoda Rewards Program, earning further discounts and free stays. Unlike programs that limit travelers to a single chain, the Agoda Rewards Program allows customers to redeem Rewards Points at thousands of hotels around the globe, at any time. A member of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), Agoda’s aim is to promote travel by making it more affordable and more accessible to more people. 

Related posts:

1. Behind the Curtain: Getting Upgraded to First Class
2. Jet Lag: Circadian Rhythms Are Not Dancing Locusts!

First, are you sure you want to get upgraded?  Think about it carefully, because once you’ve tasted the good life, it’s nearly impossible to go back.  But if you do want to try for that free upgrade, here are a few suggestions:

1. Dress nice and look good.  Yeah, we know how nice it is to relax in sweatpants and a hoodie on those long flights, but it’s the truth.  Airlines want first class to look first class, so dress the part and leave the jeans and Ozzy t-shirt packed away.
2. Ask.  Obvious isn’t it?  And generally you’re going to get a big fat “No”, but if they’re overbooked and the only available seats are in first class, you want to be on their radar when they look for people to move.
3. Take advantage of special days.  If it’s your birthday, honeymoon, anniversary mention it to the service agents.  You may catch them in a good mood (note: good moods tend to be rare).
4. Become a frequent flyer member.  They’re generally free to sign up and airlines will reward return customers.
5. Be nice.  It’s amazing how far a smile goes.  Be nice to everyone you encounter and get to know them (don’t stalk or annoy them, just make polite conversation).  If you make an impression, they’ll remember you when the time comes.

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2. Jet Lag: Circadian Rhythms Are Not Dancing Locusts!

Other larger bookstores with an English books section are Logos Shibuya, Junkudo in Shinjuku and Ikebukuro and Maruzen.

Second-hand bookstores have increased in number in recent years, among them Good Day Books in Ebisu and Blue Parrot in Takadanobaba. A great place to pick up foreign magazines isTower Records Shibuya–their seventh floor bookstore offers them at the lowest prices we’ve seen in town.

Amazon Japan
URL: www.amazon.co.jp

Aoyama Book Center (Aoyama)
URL: www.aoyamabc.co.jp
Tel: 03-5485-5511
Station: Omotesando (metro exit B2)
Hours: Mon-Sat 10:00-22:00
Closed: Sun, holidays

ABC Outlet Roppongi (2nd floor of Aoyama Book Center Roppongi)
URL: www.aoyamabc.co.jp
Tel: 03-3479-0479
Station: Roppongi (metro)
Hours: Mon-Sat, holidays 10:00-5:00/Sun 10:00-22:00

The Blue Parrot Bookshop
URL: www.blueparrottokyo.com
Tel: 03-3202-3671
Station: Takadanobaba (JR, metro exit 6)
Hours: Mon-Sun 11:00-21:30

Good Day Books
URL: www.gooddaybooks.com
Tel: 03-5421-0957
Station: Ebisu (JR, metro exit 1)
Hours: Mon-Sat 11:00-20:00/Sun, holidays 11:00-18:00

Junkudo (Ikebukuro)
URL: www.junkudo.co.jp
Tel: 03-5956-6111
Station: Ikebukuro (JR)
Hours: Mon-Sun 10:00-22:00

Junkudo (Shinjuku)
URL: www.junkudo.co.jp
Tel: 03-5363-1300
Station: Shinjuku (JR east exit)
Hours: Mon-Sun 11:00-21:00

Kinokuniya (Main Store)
URL: www.kinokuniya.co.jp
Tel: 03-3354-0131
Station: Shinjuku (JR, metro), Shinjuku-Sanchome (metro)
Hours: Mon-Sun 10:00-21:00

Kinokuniya (Takashimaya Times Square Building)
URL: www.kinokuniya.co.jp
Tel: 03-5361-3301
Station: Shinjuku (JR, metro)
Hours: Mon-Fri, Sun 10:00-20:00/Thurs 10:00-20:30

Logos Shibuya
URL: www.libro.jp/web/logos
Tel: 03-3496-7362
Station: Shibuya (JR, metro)
Hours: Mon-Sun 10:00-21:00

Maruzen (Marunouchi)
URL: http://mis.maruzen.co.jp/home/tenpo/maruhon.html
Tel: 03-5288-8881
Station: Tokyo (JR, metro)
Hours: Mon-Sun 9:00-21:00

Maruzen (Nihonbashi)
URL: www.maruzen.co.jp/home/tenpo/nihonbashi.html　
Tel: 03-6214-2001
Station: Nihonbashi (metro)
Hours: Mon-Sun 9:30-20:30

Shibuya Tower Records
URL: www.towerrecords.jp
Tel: 03-3496-3661
Station: Shibuya (JR, metro)
Hours: Mon-Sun 10:00-23:00
Closed: 4 days of the year, call to confirm

Tokyo Random Walk
URL: www.bookshop.co.jp
Tel: 03-5545-4593
Station: Akasaka-Mitsuke (metro Sanno exit)
Hours: Mon-Fri 11:00-22:00/Sat, Sun, holidays 11:00-20:00

(Bookstore information was accurate at the time of this article’s first publishing date. Confirm with each shop for the most up-to-date informatiotn.)

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Whether it’s the bouncy beat of a pop song, the grinding guitars of rock or the sweetly, sad vocals of a ballad, nothing releases the stress of life in the big city like a little live music. And, like all big cities, Tokyo has plenty to offer. The real problem is where to start. Here are five good bets.

Shibuya O
Buried in the backstreets of Shibuya, finding O can be a bit of a chore, but once there, finding something worth listening to is easy. The reason: O is not one hall but a complex of four. From tiny, bar-like O-Nest, to O-East, whose wide stage and tiered floor make even 1,100-person events intimate, O has all it’s bases covered. The acts are equally diverse. On same night, one might see a punk act ravaging O-Crest, whose low stage and 200-person capacity make it perfect for such mayhem, while a young songbird sings her heart out in O-West. Although most of the acts are Japanese, foreign musicians have been known to make appearances as well. To further sweeten the deal, the entire complex was redone in 2003 so the sound, lighting and amenities are all modern. The O is definitely worth the search.

Shinjuku LOFT
Most of Japan’s biggest and most admired rock acts have played a gig or two (or 20!) at Tokyo’s answer to Manhattan’s CGBG. Sprawling beneath the heart of the infamous Kabuki-cho, the 800-person LOFT boasts two bars, several lounges and, in one corner, the small, low main stage. Acts that have graced the stage include garage rock heroes Thee Michelle Gun Elephant, pop-punk superstars Ellegarden, alternative rock chart-toppers the pillows and, many, many others. Any night of the week you are guaranteed a no frills, no filler rock experience, while you absorb the club’s history in the battered walls, low ceilings and lingering scent of cigarettes. “LOFT is Rock!” declared the joint’s 30th anniversary campaign, and it’s hard to disagree.

Shibuya Club Quattro
While Japan’s music scene is one of the most-varied in the world, sometimes you want a little taste of home. One popular venue for foreign artists touring Japan is Club Quattro. Quattro’s location on the top floor a department store is not exactly inspiring, but once you enter its dark, neo-industrial confines, visions of sale rack after sale rack of sportswear are banished. The beauty of the wooden floor, extensive lighting and easily visible stage belie the venue’s nearly twenty years existence. On top of that, the venue’s 500-person capacity means you could be seeing a legendary act like Dinosaur Jr. in a much smaller venue than you could ever dream of back home.

Yoyogi Park
Of course listening to music cooped up in a black box is not to everyone’s taste, so on nice weekends, a stroll around the edge of Yoyogi Park might be just what the doctor ordered. While street musicians don’t come with guarantees in experience and charisma, the ones around Yoyogi Park tend to be a grade above what your brother and his friends sounded like in high school. This is perhaps due to the proximity of the Tokyo School of Music. To increase your listening pleasure there are always plenty of stalls selling food and a constant festival atmosphere in the area. So whether you prefer the bands that gather on the outskirts of the park or the pop groups that line the avenue across the street, Yoyogi Park is a great way to experience the raw zeal of Tokyo’s street scene and up-and-coming artists.

The Nippon Budokan
The 800-pound gorilla of Tokyo’s live venues, the Budokan is in fact primarily host to 300-pound wrestlers. But starting with the Beatles in 1966 this traditionally designed martial arts arena opened its doors to rockers and has been the stuff of musicians’ dreams ever since. Have you ever seen a “Live at the Budokan” recording? Yes, that was here. With a capacity around 14,000, the Budokan can hardly be called intimate, and newer venues might have more to offer in terms of faculties and sound. However, you are guaranteed a spectacle as artists, domestic and foreign alike, aim to inscribe their name into the legend of the Budokan.

No matter which of these venues you choose, make it a point this summer to experience Tokyo’s live music scene for yourself.

About The Writer:
Emily is a freelance writer and translator living in Japan and always heading to wherever the best music is.

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Beer Gardens have been a summer tradition in Tokyo, where large groups of people sit at long tables outdoors, hoisting mugs of yellow suds and picking on green soybeans and fried chicken nuggets.

In recent years, though, beer gardens have declined in popularity for a number of reasons. Rooftops of large buildings have now been largely taken over by all manner of equipment, from huge air conditioning units to scaffolding for large signs. Keeping a roof free and clear just for the operation of a beer garden for a few months in the summer is not economical these days. Also, escalating land prices during the bubble years wiped out a lot of great classic places, most notably the 2005 closing of Hanezawa Garden in Hiroo, a sprawling estate of greenery that once offered Tokyo’s best outdoor beer experience.

Perhaps the most significant reason is that beer gardens are, well, just plain old fashioned these days. Back when air conditioning was a luxury, spending a summer evening atop a building, bathed in breeze, was actually more refreshing than huddling in a stifling six mat room with the fan going full blast. For most Japanese, beer gardens recall the Showa Era, which ended almost 20 years ago.

In another 20 years, beer gardens are likely to become extinct. So while there is still time, pack yourself off to a beer garden some evening for a real retro-Japan experience. From the classic 1930s Kudan Kaikan, to the sleek and modern TY Harbor Brewery, you’re bound to find a beer place that fits the bill.

Here are a few suggestions…

Kudan Kaikan Beer Garden
Oh, retro! This beer garden in the classic style from the 60s and 70s, though the building itself dates back to 1934. Still, the place is usually packed, with sporadic entertainment throughout the evening. While the beer is ordinary draft, in regular and black, you can go a bit special with Kirin Braumeister. The edges of the rooftop seating give you great afford views of the Budokan and Imperial Palace moat, while a large awning over one side is a lifesaver in the event of rain. Most people opt for the two-hour all-you-can-drink deal; men pay Y2,100 (Y1,600 on Mondays) and women pay just Y1,600 (Y1,200 on Wednesdays). This includes beer, wine, and other popular drinks. In addition to normal fare such as edamame (boiled green soybeans), fried potatoes and chicken nuggets, there is also heartier fare, such as yaki-niku, from ￥1,000, and even a deluxe meal sets from ￥3,900 per person.

Open daily through Friday, Sept 28th. Open 5 pm to last order at 9:15 (8:15 on weekends and holidays).
1-6-5 Kudan Minami, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; 03-3261-5521
http://www.kudankaikan.or.jp/restaurant/beer/index.html
Kudan Kaikan is right above Kudanshita station on the Tozai, Hanzomon and Toei Shinjuku subway lines. The building also houses a hotel (singles around ￥10,000, twin/doubles around ￥17,000).

TY Harbor
The spacious outdoor deck makes TY Harbor Brewery Restaurant the pick among the two microbreweries in central Tokyo. Here they brew several different styles of beer － be sure to order the sampler set to find out which one you like best. The pale ale seems to be most popular, but check out the regularly changing Seasonal Beer. They also serve some of the best California-style food in town, brilliant creations of Executive Chef David Chiddo. Be sure to phone ahead to reserve outdoor seating. Also check out their Waterline floating lounge tied up on their own front pier.

Open daily for lunch and dinner, last order 10 pm (9 pm Sun. and holidays)
2-1-3 Higashi-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; 03-5479-4555
http://www.tyharborbrewing.co.jp/restaurants/tyh_e.html

D Lounge
If you are looking for a special place in Shibuya with rooftop ambience, you might check out this well-hidden urban hipster joint with a tropical-themed rooftop beer bar with views of the greater Shibuya skyline. On the menu are a number of beers from around the world. Some may find the location convenient; just across the street from Japan’s largest agglomeration of short-term hotels.

Open from 6 pm to 5 am (until 11 pm on Sundays and holidays); call ahead to see if there is space.
Island Creation Tower 9F, 1-22-2 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; 03-3770-0008
http://www.d-lounge-shibuya.com

Trocadero House Sky Bar
Where else but in Funky Shimokitazawa would you find a place like this? A normal shopping street building has been turned into four floors of bistro/wine bar/live music/rooftop bar fun. From the Sky Bar on the 4th floor, you can enjoy a great view of the skyscrapers in Shinjuku, six stops away on the Odakyu Line. Open daily

Open daily from 6 pm to 5 am; call ahead.
3-30-3 Kitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo; 03-3467-1991
http://www.trocadero-house.com

Fussa-no-Biirugoya
This charming outdoor brewery restaurant offers one of the most pleasant outdoor beer drinking experiences in Tokyo. It’s located on the grounds of sake brewery Ishikawa Shuzo, who also brews Tama-no-Megumi beer. Along with several varieties of their extremely fresh and clean-tasting beers, the restaurant serves great meat and fish dishes, pizza, salads and more. A 12-minute walk from Haijima station, on the Ome line four stops Tachikawa. Also served by the Seibu Line from Shinjuku and Ikebukuro.

Open daily from 11:30 am to 10 pm (summer hours); call ahead on weekends.
1 Kumagawa, Fussa City, Tokyo; 042-553-0100
http://www.tamajiman.com/english/koya.html

Shonan Beer / Trattoria Mokichi
On the other end of the greater Tokyo area is this lovely brewery restaurant two stops from Chigasaki on the Shonan Coast, past Kamakura. Trattoria Mokichi is mainly an Italian-style restaurant with a Japanese-style interior and comfortable outdoor seating. It is on the site of old-line sake brewer Kumzawa Shuzo, which in 1997 began brewing beer. The brews are collectively branded as Shonan Beer, and are headed up Bitter, Ruby and Liebe (pale, amber and dark ales). When paired with the superb wood-oven pizzas and other well-crafted dishes at Trattoria Mokichi in the Shonan Beer complex, the result is sublimely satisfying.

Open weekdays from 11:30 am to 3 pm, and 5 to 10 pm, weekends from 11:30 am to 10 pm.
7-10-7 Kagawa, Chigasaki-shi, Kanagawa; 0467-52-6111
A seven-minute walk from Kagawa station, on the JR Sagami Line, two stops from Chigasaki (Tokaido Line) and six stops from Ebina (Odakyu Line).
http://www.kumazawa.jp

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If you’ve ever been trampled by a bag-toting obaachan in Shinjuku station as she runs for the last train (why she’s out shopping at 12:30 a.m., I have never understood), the concept of “slow life” in frenetic Tokyo probably is borderline comical. But LOHAS (“Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability”) has taken hold of Japan like the plague, and its now teetering between a serious subculture and just another boomu, or trend.

The term was first introduced to Japan in 2002 when sociologist Paul Ray, Ph.D. was invited to introduced his concept of “the Cultural Creatives” at a Tokyo symposium. In his book of the same title, he describes a growing sector of society that is interested in health, the environment, and spirituality, against wanton consumerism and waste, but willing to spend top dollar (or yen) on products that are high-quality and not harmful to the Earth. Co-written with his wife Sherry Ruth Anderson, Ph.D., the book was the first to explain why natural-food and cosmetics companies were posting record profits all over the U.S. and Europe, and how companies could better court these “green consumers.”

Enter Japan and the kawaii marketing army. Before you could crack open a pair of rainforest-killing waribashi, Natural Lawson convenience stores and Eco-Mansion concrete condos have sprouted all around. The LOHAS acronym is splashed across cosmetics billboards and a drugstore where I recently bought toilet paper. “Help! Will LOHAS require me to sign up for a new credit card?” many are wondering.

Another interesting aspect of Japanese LOHAS is that many believe it means buying a lot of expensive foreign products, many of which smell weird, like housecleaners made from olive oil and recycled penciles from Christmas-tree woodchips. The list goes on. Luckily for us, LOHAS is much simpler, and can be achieved without buying barely anything. LOHAS is for skimpy budgets! Here are some of my favorite LOHAS activities in Japan.

1. Gardening
When I taught English seven years ago in industrial Hamamatsu City, I found cute seed-and-tin sets from the local 100-yen store, and started gardening on my 9th floor balcony. Soon half my balcony was filled with tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, various flowers, and a tiered herb garden with sage, rosemary, fennel, and lavender. I seriously considered filling in the rest of the balcony with a few centimeters of soil and an irrigation system. Luckily for my landlord, I got lazy. But the experience taught me that gardening is pretty fun. Plants make good friends because they’re usually in a good mood and like to dance to music. They also freshen the air and give a nice tropical feeling even in the most cramped Tokyo cellblock. Try it!

2. Eat vegetarian one day a week
Besides being good for your skin and fighting cancer, vegetarianism uses less of earth’s resources and tastes delicious. Café Slow in Kokubunji and Kushi Garden Café near Tokyo Station are two of my favorites.

3. Bring more drinks in thermoses and food in bento box
Nothing more “health” or “sustainable” than bringing your own weird beansprout experiment to work and happily unwrapping it at lunchtime. As for drinks, 360,000 tons of PET bottles are discarded in Japan yearly － if we all brought thermoses or reused plastic bottle even half the time we would save incredible landfill space and use less petroleum and timber. Japan makes it easy with their large variety of cute bento boxes and furoshiki; portable hashi sets easily fit in a purse or back pocket. Unfortunately, the thermos selection I recently checked out at Shibuya Loft was still rather utilitarian － Yohji Yamamoto, how ‘bout a branded thermos for next winter, hmmm?

4. Use less lights
Am I the only one who gets headaches in Japanese shopping malls? Tokyo’s Candle Night Project began in 2003 to address the problem of wasted electricity and over-lighting. They’re also trying to get people to re-appreciate Japanese traditional lighting techniques, including darkness. Remember how fun it is when a storm knocks out all the lights? When the Candle Night Project coordinates a worldwide lights-off every summer and winter solstice (www.candle-night.org), we can bring back that feeling anytime.

5. Improve at yoga (or any physical activity)
If you spend as much time as I do behind a computer screen, you know how important exercise is. Paradoxically, by moving the body faster (or at least MORE), the mind can slow down and everything works better. I am still searching for a really good and low-cost yoga center in Japan that doesn’t include the words “Power-UP!” or “Sulim-DOWN!” In short, a relaxing and slow yoga studio. Please submit any studios I’ve missed to the editor. If you’d like to get out of Tokyo, really out of Tokyo, try the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Vacations in the Bahamas － its fairly cheap and they take all levels of students, anytime (www.sivananda.org/nassau).

6. Eat organic
A fun diet fact: organic food tastes better and richer (due to its higher vitamin content), so you eat less. A win-win situation! Dai-ichi Organic Co-op was one of the first (and is still considered one of the best) Japanese home-delivery services of organic produce (www.daichi.or.jp). For the best selection of foreign foods available through mail-order anywhere in Japan, try Tengu in Saitama (www.alishan-organic-center.com).

7. Go to sento or onsen!
This is a no-brainer. Japan has the best and cheapest hot springs of anywhere in the world. For a country that can work really hard, it can also reeeeeeeelax － and sento is how. It’s a shame that many old traditional sento are closing, so visit your local sento and help keep this tradition alive! Watch the grandpas and grandmas if you’re not sure what to do once inside.

***

To keep the LOHAS concept meaningful, there are certain principles that we should hold companies accountable for. Here is my highly subjective list of LOHAS points, for you to test against your friendly local retailer (or multinational corporation) and see how they stack up:

a. LOHAS means green business practices
Does the company constantly challenge its internal policies to protect the environment and consumers? Do they go beyond the law, possible losing a measure of profits in order to avoid polluting the earth or using unnecessary resources?

b. LOHAS means social justice
Are workers paid fairly? Are women respected and families supported? Are measures in place to reward employees for their environmental commitment (for example, employer donation matching to respected NGOs)?

c. LOHAS is local
Is the product produced relatively locally? Was it transported a million miles, wasting transportation fuel just to make a brief appearance on your dining table or medicine cabinet?

d. LOHAS is fun
If something labeled “LOHAS” feels like being flogged with a stick, eating cardboard, or sitting atop a bed of nails, it’s not sustainable. Nor healthy. Please stop doing it. The point of LOHAS (I believe) is to enjoy life by being conscious of all our decisions and infusing them with more love, respect, and sympathy for others. That’s it!

Good books for your LOHAS life:
Nature in Tokyo by Kevin Short (Kodansha International)
The Japan We Never Knew by Keibo Oiwa & David Suzuki (Stoddart)
In Praise of Slowness: How a Worldwide Movement is Challenging the Cult of Speed by Carl Honore (HarperSanFrancisco)
Grub: Ideas for an Urban Organic Kitchen by Anna Lappe & Bryant Terry (Tarcher)
Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser (Harper Perennial)
The Cultural Creatives by Paul H. Ray, Ph.D. and Sherry Ruth Anderson, Ph.D. (Three Rivers Press)
Legacy of Luna by Julia Butterfly Hill (HarperSanFrancisco)

About The Writer

Nina Kahori Fallenbaum is a Monbusho graduate student at Meiji Gakuin University in Kanagawa-ken. She previously co-translated the as-yet unpublished English version of Slow is Beautiful (Heibonsha), sometimes called “Japan’s Slow Life Bible.”

Related posts:

1. Expecting in Tokyo Part 1
2. Hold the Dashi! Going Veggie in Japan
3. Expecting in Tokyo Part 2

What with all the brilliant cable and satellite television, the Tsutayas, the plush movie theater complexes sprouting around the city – not to mention the ease of illegally downloading TV and movies – expats here have little trouble finding entertainment in their mother tongue. However, in the century preceding such blessed electronic ease, plenty of bored Tokyoites came together to put on live entertainment for our communities. And they’re still going. And they are forming more theater companies. In fact, theater in Tokyo is getting very exciting lately. So here’s a breakdown of the many groups now operating in the Kanto plains. Take note, wannabe actors and backstage techs: they are always looking for new faces.

Tokyo International Players

This year marks the 112th season of the Tokyo International Players (TIP), the longest-running English-language community theater group operating in a foreign country. (Sadly, this is too much of a mouthful to get put into the Guiness Book of World Records.)

With the closing and renovations planned for TIP’s long-time home, the way-too-stuffy Tokyo American Club, TIP has been branching out into better theater spaces. This move is turning this community theatre group into an increasingly professional outfit, producing shows worthy to be put up on Broadway.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, from the demented mind of Stephen Sondheim, takes place at the Shinjuku Sun Mall Theatre.

More information on upcoming productions can be found at: www.tokyoplayers.org

Tokyo Theater for Children

Listen: your kid, who you love to death, has probably been watching that damned SpongeBob Squarepants DVD over and over. And over. And yeah, you thought it was cute the first few times you had to sit through it, too. You can now quote the entire movie at length, and you slowly feel yourself dying inside.

So, not only to expand your child’s entertainment horizons but for your sanity as well, bring him/her/them down to one of the shows that Tokyo Theater for Children puts up. Live theater at 2,000 yen a pop? That’s the same amount you’d pay to see a movie in Japan, except the stars come down and hang out with your kids afterwards. Kewl!

Each spring the group puts on a touring show that hits all the good international schools in Tokyo and Yokohama. Relying heavily on audience participation, you’ll find your kids laughing and dancing along with the actors on stage. That’s an extra feature not included in any Disney DVD.

More information on upcoming productions can be found at:
tokyotheatreforchildren.blogspot.com

Yokohama Theater Group

Based out of the Yokohama Country and Athletic Club (the low rent version of the Tokyo American Club, although apparently its just as outrageously expensive as its hoity-toity cousin in Tokyo), the Yokohama Theatre Group is dedicated to bringing world-class English theatre to the people of Yokohama and Tokyo. Focusing on smaller shows with an emphasis on local playwrights, YTG shows are quirky and incredibly accessible.

The Yokohama Theatre Group also runs workshops, including an ongoing Playwriting Workshop for aspiring Stoppards. At 1,000 yen per session, it’s a great, cheap way to get your work read and seen by a rising theatre scene.

More information on upcoming productions can be found at:
www.yokohama-theatre.com

New Worlds Theatre

As the new kid on the block, Alec Harris and his company are gearing up for an exciting year of plays. New Worlds Theatre was created in 2006 as a production vehicle for stage plays in and around central Tokyo. Designed to provide a new voice in the capital, its sole aim is to bring together people interested in and committed to creating new theater, no matter what the language.

More information on upcoming productions can be found at:
www.newworldstheatre.com

Tokyo Comedy Store

12 years and going strong, the Tokyo Comedy Store now gives Tokyo three comedy shows a month, two of which are at the beautiful entry price of F-R-E-E.

The centerpiece of the group is their monthly Main Show, located at the Crocodile on Meiji-Dori, right between Shibuya and Harajuku stations. For 2,000 yen, you get the best the Tokyo Comedy Store has to offer, with its strongest stand-ups, tightest sketch teams, and the best improv team in town, Spontaneous Confusion. The Main Show takes place every 4th Friday of the month.

For those looking for a free stand-up fix, Tokyo Cynics, the stand-up arm of the Tokyo Comedy Store, has a free show at The Baron in Nishi-Azabu every 2nd Friday of the month. Starts at 9PM, so get there early to get as drunk as possible to maximize the entertainment.

For sketch comedy and improv, the Pink Cow in Shibuya hosts Improv-A-Go-GO!, yet another free showcase of comedy gold. It’s on every 3rd Wednesday of the month, starting at 8PM. The Californian cuisine of the Pink Cow goes great with a girl pretending to be a talking tree onstage.

For show information and maps, log onto their website at: www.tokyocomedy.com

About the Writer:
Dillon Font is a comedian and writer. You can see lots of sketch comedy he’s written right here on Spinshell.TV, as well as on www.youtube.com/dillonfont

Do you have information about living in Japan we should know?
We pay for your words of wisdom!
Pitch us your ideas: production[at]spinshell[dot]tv

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Ladies Day at Tokyo Dome City Attractions (Korakuen)

Tel: 03-3817-6001
Station: Korakuen (metro), Suidobashi (JR)
When: Every Wednesday (except holidays and when Wednesday falls between obon, Christmas and New Years)

This free-entrance amusement park located alongside the Tokyo Dome is a successful marriage of attractions and the city. Hop on the Dolphin rollercoaster for breathtaking dips and loops that feel like you are flying through the city, be dropped from 80 meters above ground on Tower Hacker, parachute up and down while enjoying the city view on Skyflower, and enjoy the two dozen other attractions available. Every Wednesday, women receive￥500 off the regular price of an all-day Ride Free pass (regularly priced at ￥4,000) or a Night Ride Free pass (regularly priced at ￥3,000, sold from 4pm). This is a must-visit location to take adventurous out-of-town guests or just to unwind after a long day at the office.

Ladies Day at Chiba Lotte Marines Stadium (Kaihin Makuhari)

Tel: 03-5682-6341 (Marines Information Center)
Station: Kaihin Makuhari (JR)
When: Every Thursday

Every Thursday women are invited to draw a Japanese fortune from the Valentine Shrine (named after current manager Valentine) which becomes a discount coupon to get infield unreserved seats for just ￥1,000, regardless of your fortune! If you want to stay away from rowdy drunk businessmen, there’s even a special women’s section behind third base (accompanying male companions and children also welcome).

Ladies First Night at The First Bar (Roppongi)

Tel: 03-5474-5547
Location: The First Bar
Station: Roppongi (metro, Toei)
When: Every Thursday and Saturday from 6pm

Every Thursday, women are treated to their first drink on the house and then discounted ￥500 off all drinks until 1am. On Saturdays women receive free shots all night, while all other drinks are priced at ￥500 until 11pm. The low price isn’t the only reason to stick around–these complimentary shots on Saturdays are often colorful, fruity, and change every week—sometimes with every round!

Ladies Day at IKSPIARI (Maihama)

Tel: 047-305-2525 (Information Counter)
Station: Maihama (JR)
When: Every Wednesday

Stores and restaurants within the Tokyo Disney Resort shopping mall have special gifts and discounts for women (offers vary, check the website for details). Their movie theater, Cinema IKSPIARI, also celebrates Ladies Day with a special entrance price of ￥1,000 per showing for women.

Ladies Day at Meiji Jingu Gaien Golf Course

URL: www.ehills.co.jp/rp/dfw/EHILLS/townguide/sports/golf/exercise/meijijingu.php
Tel: 03-3401-4359
Station: Shinanomachi (JR)
When: Every Monday

On Mondays, women receive a 30% discount on rental golf balls at this golf shooting range.

Ladies Day at AquaLine Golf Club (Chiba)

Tel: 0438-53-3800
Station: From Kawasaki station East exit there is the toll-free bus that will leave at 7:00 (must reserve in advance). This is the only bus that will take you directly to the golf course, and it runs only once a day. Take note that no golf bags are allowed inside the bus, so you must send your bags by takkyubin (mail delivery).
When : Every Friday

After brushing up on your form, put it to use on a day on the golf course—lunch is on the house! Post-course lunch and dessert is complimentary for any group with one woman (doesn’t have to be an all-female group. You will all be treated to lunch) and that signs up for any plan including a caddy.

Ladies Day at Ace Lane

Women receive ￥100 off the price of a game at this bowling range (excluding Junior Free Time, Masters, and when reserving in advance).

Tel: 03-3531-9181
Station: Kachidoki (Oedo), Tsukishima (metro exit 7)

When: Every Monday

Being A Broad’s Girls’ Night Out at Paddy Foley’s Irish Pub (Roppongi)

Tel: 03-5549-2038 (Being A Broad)
Location: Paddy Foley’s Irish Pub
Station: Roppongi (metro, Toei)
When: Every third Wednesday of the month, 7pm until late

An event where foreign women can network with other foreign women. Participants receive a complimentary SKYY Blue vodka beverage and have a chance to win prizes provided by local businesses, like a free hair cut at Gaienmae’s Sin Den. Event is free of charge and open to all English-speaking women. No need to sign up, just stop by Paddy Foley’s. A great way to meet other foreign women in Tokyo and expand your network!

Ladies Day at United Cinemas Toyosu (Toyosu)

Tel: 03-6219-3000
Station: Toyosu (metro, Yurikamome)
When: Every Wednesday

As with most other theaters in the city, every Wednesday is Ladies Day: women can watch any movie for just ￥1,000 per showing. United Cinemas Toyosu is a new theater in the developing bayside town of Toyosu, within the shopping mall Lalaport. The décor of the theater is stylish and the theaters themselves provide good sound and comfortable chairs. A café and bar lounge area called Breathe within the theater complex features a view of the waterfront and is perfect for that pre- or post-movie drink. One of our favorite theaters.

Related posts:

1. Open Mic Nights
2. English Bookstores in Japan
3. Sakura 2008 (Cherry Blossom Viewing Guide)