Tokyo Sweets Ningyo-Yaki

Ningyo-yaki, which literally means 'baked doll', is one of traditional Tokyo sweets. Those small baked cakes are formed into dolls and have red bean paste inside traditionally, but nowadays you can also find ones filled with chocolate or custard.

This video was taken at a ningyo-yaki shop at Nakamise Street in front of Sensoji Temple, Asakusa. You can watch how the cakes are made and get fresh cakes there.

Tokyo Sweets Ningyo-Yaki [iPhone 4S/HD]
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Jul. 9th, 2012

Local Mikoshi Festival at Kawaguchi, Saitama

Numerous matsuri, or Shinto festivals, take place during summer to autumn in Japan. Usually they are held at a Shinto shrine to welcome Shinto gods who are related to the community and ask them for prosperity and good harvests. Many of the festivals have mikoshi parades in which people march through a town with carrying mikoshi, or portable Shinto shrines.

The mikoshi festival was also held at a shrine near my place on the national holiday, Marine Day. People gathered and paraded ebulliently although it was a pretty hot and humid day.

Local Mikoshi Festival at Kawaguchi, Japan [iPhone 4S/HD]
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Jul. 16th, 2012

What the Hell are These Footprints?

I found these mysterious footprints near my place. What the hell are they for??

What the Hell are These Footprints? [iPhone 4S/HD]
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Jul. 6th, 2012

How to Make Umeshu, or Japanese Plum Wine

Ume is an oriental fruit tree similar to western plum and apricot. It blooms from late winter to early spring and bears edible fruits in late spring. Umeshu, or plum wine, is one of the most popular products made from ume fruits. It is a bit sweet and a bit sour light liquor with a clean finish. Many people love its taste. You can get it at a store, or make it by yourself.

It is not so difficult to make umeshu at your home. What you need for ingredients are ume fruits, liquor and sugar. They are all easily available at a supermarket here. Fortunately there is an ume tree in my small garden and I can make umeshu without paying a penny for the fruits. I enjoy homemade umeshu at a reasonable price every year. I have to wait to make it till early summer because my tree is late-blooming and late-bearing, but it is not a big deal.

Why not try some umeshu when you visit Japan, or make it at your home?


I would like to thank my friend Yuki for joining this video as a voice cast. Her clear narration made the video intelligible.

How to Make Umeshu, or Japanese Plum Wine [iPhone 4S/HD]
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S

Sensoji Temple, Asakusa, Tokyo ~Bladder Cherry Market Day~

Sensoji Temple, located in Asakusa, is Tokyo's oldest Buddhist temple and one of the most popular tourist attractions in Tokyo. It is always crowded with numerous people, and the number of the people rise further when some festivity takes place.

Hozuki-ich, or Bladder Cherry Market, is one of the festivities. It is held on July 9th and 10th every year, related to "Day of 46,000 Blessings". It was said that worshiping on July 10th was equivalent to worshiping for 46,000 days and called "Day of 46,000 Blessings", but people wanted to become the first worshiper on that day and got to visit there the day ahead. In time, also July 9th came to be called "Day of 46,000 Blessings".

On those days, the temple bustles more than usual with the people who visit there to worship and get bladder cherries, summer fruits which were once used for medical herbs but are now mainly planted for decoration.

Sensoji Temple, Asakusa, Tokyo ~Bladder Cherry Market Day~ [iPhone 4S/HD]
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Jul. 9th, 2012

The Tokyo Sky Tree Illumination

The Tokyo Sky Tree, the world's tallest TV tower at 634 meters, is illuminated from dusk to midnight by LED floodlights installed entire the tower. It shows two illumination patterns alternating daily: Iki, sky blue; Miyabi, purple.

Seeing the tower brightening across the Sumida River, you could feel calm while being in the hustle and bustle of Tokyo.

The Tokyo Sky Tree Illumination [iPhone 4S/HD]
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Jul. 9th, 2012

The Tokyo Tower Milky Way Illumination

By the completion of the Tokyo Sky Tree, the world's tallest TV tower at 634 meters tall, the Tokyo Tower ended its service as Tokyo's main TV tower. The 333 meters tall tower is no longer tall enough to cover all the broadcasting area for the capital filled with skyscrapers. It is now being operated as the backup tower of the Tokyo Sky Tree.

It is still a popular tourist attraction although it ceded the spotlight to the brand new tower. Personally, I think its look inspired by the Eiffel Tower is more gorgeous than the gangly new superstar.

An illumination show associated with Tanabata, a wont based on the Chinese myth about the star Vega, the star Altair and the Milky Way, takes place at the observation deck of the Tokyo Tower during Tanabata season every year. You can enjoy the glorious illumination that reminds you of the Milky Way.

When I visited there to see what the show was like, they were giving free admission to people who wore a yukata. Oh my goodness; I didn't know that! I should've worn a yukata!

The Tokyo Tower Milky Way Illumination [iPhone 4S/HD]
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Jul. 5th, 2012

Click below to learn more about Tanabata and the Chinese myth!
Tanabata, the Day of the Star Festival ~Zojoji Temple, Tokyo~