Aokigahara Adventure trip for kids
A fun filled trip designed to promote interest in the outdoors and recharge tired minds. Kids will explore caves, forests, do some camp cooking, and enjoy a safe and fun weekend with other kids.
Community project taught by American and Japanese Outdoor education experts
November 23, 24, Ages 8-12

Itinerary
Sunday: November 23
8:00 leave from Takaido by van and travel to Fuji on Chuo expressway.
10:30 transfer to camping site near Kawaguchiko
11:30 easy fun hiking to Eboshiyama and enjoying part of the old Tokaido road.
visit to cold springs.
3:30 return to camp for camp craft skills, games, and cooking dinner.
5:00 dinner
7:00 night hike and camp games
8:00 bed

Monday November 24.
6:00 rise and shine. Clean up camp.
7:00 Breakfast
8:30 leave for hiking.
9:00 easy fun hiking near Omuroyama and visit to Fuji Fuketsu cave
12:00 lunch
1:00 visit to Fuji Volcano Museum to learn about the Animals and plants we saw this weekend.
3:00 Leave for Tokyo
5:00 Arrive back at Tokyo

Fees are 15,000 yen per person and include some equipment, food, lodging, and transportation.
If you are interested, contact me at the e-mail below and I will forward more information to you directly. I will send a list of what to bring, waivers, and more information after you sign up for the trip.

Thank you, Brien Chartier caverbrien[at]yahoo.co.uk

"ICHIGO-GARI" day trips:
I'd like to go for a day trip for strawberry picking and i believe this is the right season. Could someone suggest me some places near Tokyo please! I will prefer a train ride but if we have to drive, that's also okay.

Hi, does anyone know if there is a Fire Brigade Parade (shobo dezome-shiki) in Yokohama tomorrow (sunday january 8th)?
Thanks! Yelena

Hi. There is a strawberry farm in the Chiba district which is about an hour away and is accessible by train. I haven't been there yet and have been meaning to go. Here is their website. http://www.chiba4u.com/1583/e/index.htm

Yes. According to the Yokohama City Fire Bureau's official website, 3 dezome-shiki's will be held in various places tomorrow.

Kanagawa-ku: At Tanmachi Koen 10:00-11:30
Midori-ku: At Tokaichiba Shoubou Kunren-jo 10:00-11:30
Tsuzuki-ku: At Toshi-saisei-kikou Kanagawa-chiiki Branch 10:30-11:30

I will paste the link, although it's only in Japanese. If you need some addresses to be translated, post again or phone either Fire Bureau for details. http://www.city.yokohama.jp/me/ycfb/information/06dezome.htm

Yelena, by the way, you might know, but I think dezome shiki is supposed to be more like an acrobatic traditional show than a parade, which of course should be fun for families anyway.

Pottery Fair, Azalea Festival and Antique Fair all in Kasama City, Ibaraki

[Himatsuri - Pottery Fair]
This is the biggest one held in Kanto region.
http://www.kasamayaki.or.jp/matsuri/
It starts this Saturday, April 29, and ends on [Friday, May 5], not May 7.

Special trains called "Kasama de Osampo-goh" will leave Ueno Station at 8:05AM on May 3 and 4 which will arrive at Kasama Station at 10:22. The trains to Ueno will leave at 14:42 & arrive at Ueno at 17:06 on both days.

There are also 4 highway buses to Kasama Shopping Center from Tokyo Station. However, the first bus to Kasama doesn't leave until 13:00. It's supposed to take about 2 hours, but you never know.

I think the fastest way to get to Kasama from Tokyo area would be by car. It only takes about 30-40min from Misato Junction on Joban Expressway.

[Azalea Festival]
http://www.intio.or.jp/kasama/s_event.htm
This festival has already started on April 15, but the azalea blossoms will be at their peak next week! This Azalea Park is located in the small mountain (or is it a hill?), so the view from the top of this park is great. The admission is 500yen for adults and the junior high school age and under gets in free.

[Antique Fair]
http://www.intio.or.jp/kasama/s_event2.htm
Kasama Kottou Garakuta Ichi will be from May 2 to 5. This will be held around Kasama Inari Shrine* which is about 15-20min walk from the Azalea Park.

The shuttle bus service will be available throughout the day:
http://www.intio.or.jp/kasama/basujikokuhyou2.htm
*Kasama Inari Shrine has a website in English:
http://www.kasama.or.jp/english/index.html

Just wanted to add that the shamisen player appearing on May 3 at the above Himatsuri Pottery festival is one of the best performers I've seen in Japan. His show is all in Japanese.

Kunimoto Takeharu plays mostly modern folk and rock type music on a fat-neck shamisen (usually used for Tsugaru Jamisen) and plays some moving ballads of his own, standard American bluegrass, and some tongue-in-cheek tunes. His hilarious banter between songs makes the show and his version of sections of the Chushingura is eye-opening, modern, and hard to hear it all because it makes you laugh so loud.

He recently came back from about a year in the US where he played in a major theatrical production and honed his already well-polished entertainer skills. I know I am probably gushing, but I've seen several of his shows and have been blown away each time.

Non-Japanese speakers may enjoy the energy of the one-man show and see a very accessible and enjoyable side of shamisen musicianship. Highly, highly recommended.

He has an English site at http://www1.accsnet.ne.jp/%7Eball/kt/
And his Japanese homepage is at http://takeharudo.music.coocan.jp/

Free admission days!!
... at Potiron no Mori in Inashiki City, Ibaraki http://www.potiron-no-mori.com/

June 15, Thur., Chiba Prefectural Day
- free admissions to the residents of Chiba pref. Bring something to prove your address.

June 18, Sun. Edosaki Pumpkin Fair
- Free admissions to all
- Enjoy various pumpkin cuisine
- Dance and Japanese drum performances
- Win a Nintendo DS at the BINGO game!!!
[The parking is Y500, but you'll get a parking pass that's valid for 1 year.]

Potiron no Mori is only 30min from Narita Exit on Higashi Kanto Expressway. You'll be on route 295 when you exit from the expressway, but it will change to 408 in 5min or so. You'll need to turn right at the intersection of 408 and 18, which I think is near McDonald's. You'll just need to stay on 408 after that(you'll be driving through narrow country roads, but don't let that make you nervous :-D!! ). There are a couple of places where you need to turn left, but just follow the sign that says Tsuchiura (土浦), or Edosaki (江戸崎), I think.

Looking for an excuse for fresh air, exercise and vagan vegetarian food.....check this out next weekend.


Organic Market Day by Tengu Natural Foods at the Alishan Organic Center on Saturday September 1st, 10AM-4PM. fresh organic vegetables, homemade breads, veggie food vendors, live music, true handcrafts, workshops and seminars. Guided walking tours of area farms. 15% off sale at Tengu. Located at a beautiful, green riverside location 60 minutes from Ikebukuro on the Seibu Line at Koma Station

Tel:weekdays 042-982-4811 and weekends 042-982-4823 or info@alishan.jp or http://www.alishan-organic-center.com

I have a one-year old and am would like to meet people who go hiking with their children. At the moment I put my son in a back carrier but parents with children who are old enough to walk by themselves would be great too.
Generally I am free on Wednesdays and Thursdays but flexible.
Please email if you are interested.
jayneuruh@yahoo.com

BIG DAY OUT
Family Picnic in Yoyogi Park
Sunday May 18th 2008

There will be family yoga in the park
Magic, clowns, face-painting and games
A silent auction
and more

See http://www.blueskytokyo.com/picnic.html for more details and a map of Yoyogi Park showing the exact location.

TOKYO: Hoop it up in Yoyogi Park!
Come and join us the 4th Sunday if every month to hula-hoop in Yoyogi park. Level doesn't matter. Lots of hoops already there, you don't need to bring your own.
Make friends, hoop and listen to music. Drop in/out anytime. 1pm - 5pm. (Cancelled if raining.)
Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KavD1Y7n5LE
Pics:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mediatinker/sets/72157626375773754/

TOKYO Marathon 2012
Sunday, Feb 26 from Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku to Tokyo Big Site
09:05 (Wheelchair Start)
09:10 (Elite and General Race Start)
10:50 10km Finish
16:10 Marathon Finish
http://www.tokyo42195.org/2012_en/
The registration for the Tokyo Marathon 2012 closed on August 31st. Total number of applicants ( Marathon and 10km) was about 284,000 with an over-subscription rate of 9.6

Course:
Marathon: Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building - Iidabashi - Imperial Palace - Hibiya - Shinagawa - Ginza - Nihonbashi - Asakusa Kaminari-mon - Tsukiji - Toyosu - Tokyo Big Sight (The course is certified by the JAAF and AIMS)

10km Race: Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building - Iidabashi - Imperial Palace - Hibiya Park (No official time record will be issued)