ashley brooks 
A Tokyo dojo that teaches in English is closer than you think, and stepping onto the mat as a complete adult beginner is genuinely possible at more than a handful of schools across the city. Aikikai Hombu Dojo, Shinjuku (aikido) Aikido was founded by Morihei Ueshiba and is headquartered at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo in … Read more
Obon Tokyo quietly transforms every neighbourhood in mid-August, and foreign residents are not just welcome to join, they are expected to. What Obon actually is and why it matters to you Obon is Japan’s midsummer homecoming: a period when families gather in the belief that their ancestors’ spirits return. Lanterns are lit to guide those … Read more
Repair cafés are changing how Tokyo residents think about the things they own, and there are more of these gatherings in the city than most people realise. What a repair café actually is A repair café is a free community gathering where skilled volunteers help you fix items you have brought from home. Repair cafés … Read more
Art markets in Tokyo show up quietly, usually on a Saturday, in a park or riverside plaza you pass every week without thinking twice about it. What makes Tokyo’s art markets different Tokyo is a city of careful curation. Even its street-level creative events reflect that. Art markets here are not random garage sales. Vendors … Read more
Tokyo headquarters are not a consolation prize. More multinationals are choosing this city first, and the reasons are more practical than you might expect. What the numbers actually say Tokyo is home to over 2,300 foreign-affiliated companies, which is 76 percent of all such companies in Japan. The city also ranks at the top globally … Read more
Tokyo Idol Festival is more than a summer concert in Odaiba. It is 3 days of live performances, fan events, and crowd energy that remind you exactly why Japanese pop culture travels so far beyond Japan’s borders. What Tokyo Idol Festival actually is Tokyo Idol Festival is the world’s largest celebration of idol culture. Fuji … Read more
Tokyo kilns are busier in summer than most people expect, and the studios running open sessions right now make it easier than ever to book a single afternoon and walk away with something real. Uzumako Ceramic Art School, Shiba (Minato) Uzumako lets you use a potter’s wheel or handbuild, and the workshop is open to … Read more
Kissa culture is one of the quietest things happening in Tokyo right now, and it is worth paying attention to. What kissa culture actually means The ongaku kissa, or “music café,” is a unique Japanese style of coffee shop that originated in the 1920s for listening to music on vinyl records. Music is not background … Read more
Shitamachi is the honest side of Tokyo, the part that survived wars and earthquakes and still smells like grilled food on a Sunday morning. Start the morning in Nezu before the heat arrives Nezu is part of the Yanesen area, which includes Yanaka, Nezu, and Sendagi. It is one of the few pre-war shitamachi districts … Read more
Urban beaches give Tokyo residents a real option when late July humidity climbs past 75% and every concrete street starts to feel like a furnace with no exit. Why the Tokyo waterfront matters in late July When humidity sits at 75 to 85 percent, typical for July and August, a 31°C air temperature produces a … Read more