The Moon in Tea

Today, my tea instructor hosted an afternoon tea event for another student and me.  I took a lot of photos, but I'll have to show you the rest later next week.  Right now I'm rushing to get some things done, but I have to share this photo before this weekend's Otsukimi festivities kick off!

This is the lacquered tea caddy- natsume- that our instructor chose to go with our tea event, in honor of the Harvest Moon. The silver moon and gold-and-silver Japanese pampas grass make this an official Otsukimi-themed natsume.  Gorgeous, isn't it?  I hope this weekend's typhoon doesn't ruin our moon-viewing plans!

The Story Of Sushi

I love to read.  And I love Japan (mostly)!  I am constantly prowling for new titles to stuff into my already-bursting bookcases and help fill quiet, deployment evenings.  Most of my reading material on Japan can fit into a few general categories, such as: 

-Decorating with Japanese stuff  (How many different ways can I repurpose this obi?).

-Explaining Japanese customs (How bumbling are my attempts at bowing?).

-Unpacking Japanese gender roles (Why are so many English-language students female, educated, and single?).

-Uncomfortably common ethnocentric attitudes  (Why is "gaijin"such an offensive term?).

-Japanese beauty routines (If American women engage in fairly thorough body hair removal, why do we still seem so hairy to Japanese?  Hint: check the arms of every single Japanese woman you see from now on.)

-Japanese cooking (I have to press the liquid out of tofu before cooking with it!?).

So when Amazon.com recommended The Story Of Sushi as a book that I might enjoy, I pounced on it.  The only things that I had learned about sushi- after two and a half years of living in Japan- is that authentic Japanese sushi doesn't have cream cheese in it (WHAT!?) and that you are supposed to eat each piece of sushi or sashimi whole. So I was excited to learn more about another aspect of Japanese culture.

Amazon and its brilliant algorithms strike again!

The Story Of Sushi, by Trevor Corson, follows Kate Murray, a young American woman who stumbles upon the California sushi industry and decides to take a stab (haha) at it.  The only problem is, women can't be sushi chefs.  It's not that they aren't allowed to be sushi chefs...its that they just can't, by virtue of being female.  Behind the sushi counter is sacred space. In Japan, a female sushi chef would be unthinkable.  Women in Japan often even have a hard time eating in sushi bars without a man to accompany them (Since this book was published five years ago, I hope that there is a female sushi chef in Japan now).  Fortunately for Kate, she is studying in the United States.  The reader travels with Kate as she enters a California sushi school and learns a lot about sushi... and herself.

Woven throughout Kate's story is a fast-paced history of sushi- its ancient, murky origins in Southeast Asia's Mekong Delta, the role the American Occupation played in bringing sushi to its current prominence, the secret soy recipe that every respectable sushi bar owner develops, the wasabi paste we buy in grocery stores that doesn't actually contain any wasabi, and the invention of the (infamous?) California Roll.

Once I started this book I could not put it down.  I wouldn't say that reading it has made me more confident at our favorite sushi bar, however.  For me, this is one of the painful and humbling parts of living in Japan- the more I learn, the more I realize that just about every interaction I have with Japan and the Japanese is peppered with gaffe after gaffe.   For instance:  That thing we Americans do with wasabi and soy sauce?  You know, mixing them together into a grey-ish soup and then dipping our sushi into it?  HUGE FAUX PAS.  DON'T DO IT. EVER.

At least that's the one thing I can do right in sushi bars, now, after reading this book.


Disclaimer:  I do my best to make sure all my information is accurate.  However, details may change or I may just be flat-out wrong.  Please let me know if something needs a correction.  Thank-you!

Yummy Bunnies

Since we are now in the Japanese micro-season of Otsukimi, or Harvest Moon-viewing, I swung by my neighborhood wagashi shop for some appropriate treats with which to celebrate.  I was not disappointed...these wagashi are almost too cute to eat!

The fluffy, pink marshmallow bunny is for Little TF's after-preschool snack.

The little sugar bunnies and larger moon-with-a-bunny treat are for me to enjoy with my afternoon tea.  Notice the bunny/moon/pampas grass combination, which puts this treat firmly in Otsukimi Appreciation territory.  Rabbit-themed, moon-viewing treats are popping up everywhere right now, so check your local grocery store's sweets section if you don't have a wagashi shop nearby!

Bunnies, Mochi, and the Moon.

This coming weekend is the celebration of Otsukimi- which literally means moon-viewing.  An ancient Japanese tradition, the original, aristocratic celebrants of Otsukimi would compose haiku, enjoy special snacks, and hold dreamy, moon-viewing parties.  Part of the celebration included arrangements of Japanese pampas grass and dango- a type of mochi/rice dumpling- which were offered to the moon in prayers for a good harvest.  Fortunately for us, Japan still celebrates Otsukimi, and many gardens and temples schedule seasonal events around this time of year!

How does the Rabbit fit into all this?  Just as American children look for the Old Man in the Moon, Japanese children search the moon for a Rabbit.  But the Rabbit in the moon is quite busy. He is hard at work pounding mochi!  

Celebrating Otsukimi is one of my favorite events of the Japanese calendar year.  When we first moved here, my good friend, Mari, took me to my first moon-viewing party at Sankeien Gardens in Yokohama.  It remains one of my top three, Most Amazing Experiences In Japan.  I was unable to celebrate Otsukimi last year, but this year I've made sure to block off the evening!  I am so excited!

I bought a pack of face-blotting papers from the shop in yesterday's post.
The cute cover depicts the moon, bunnies, and the pyramid of dango mochi!

I'll be posting about Otsukimi all week.  For more articles and Otsukimi events, head over to Facebook and "like" the The Tofu Fox page.  I'll put putting something up every day!

Disclaimer:  I do my best to make sure all my information is accurate.  However, details may change or I may just be flat-out wrong.  Please let me know if something needs a correction.  Thank-you!

Soaking Up The Last Of Summer (Literally)

With the weather cooling down, autumn seems to be just around the corner.  But I'm not letting it fool me!  Last year, things didn't cool down until mid-October.  Even once cold weather finally arrives, I'll still be hot.  I feel like I'm always hot in Japan.  In the summer, everyone sweats their way through trains and buildings. Fall brings a month or two of respite, and then we sweat our way through winter when all the stores' heat starts blasting. I asked my student about this a few months ago.

"Why am I always hot in Japan?  I mean, if trains and department stores turned their AC down a little more in the summer, and then turned their heat down a little more in the winter, wouldn't the costs average out and result in everyone being more comfortable?" -Me

"Perhaps there is too much body heat in Japan." -My student.  

She has a point.  

I relay this little anecdote to explain why the cute, little face paper shop that I stumbled upon in Kamakura this past Thursday, is selling autumn-themed, face-blotting papers even though the weather seems to be cooling down.  These are needed year-round here in Japan!

The signboard outside the shop displayed its new, seasonal prints.  Sadly, the cute print is only on the little paper case- the actual papers are just a solid, matching color.  Many of the papers are made with special compounds to promote healthy skin (green tea, for example), or infused with scents such as lavender or jasmine.  Pick up an autumn-themed set to celebrate the change in season!  

I can't wait for the brilliant, Japanese maple and ginko displays!

This cute little shop is located in Kamakura and accessed via Hase Station on the Enoden line.  Exit the station and walk up the main street, keeping the sea to your back.  Stay on the right side of the street.  Go through the four-way intersection (you'll see the entrance to the Hasekannon shrine down the left spoke of the intersection). The cute, little face paper shop will be on your right, before the next side street.  Pay attention- when I went, there was a large, blue piece of fabric covering one of the windows...I almost missed it!

So I joined Ikebana International!

A few weeks ago, our military base's spouse group circulated an announcement about Ikebana International.  The Kamakura chapter of this organization has been looking for more involvement from our base's spouses.  Hoping to get a few new ladies to attend the monthly meetings, the Ikebana International rep also included a calendar of events.  Since I've been a floral designer since my senior year of high school, the organization's name alone caught my attention; once I took a look at  the awesome events listed, I immediately filled out the registration form and excitedly sent in my membership payment.  Yesterday was this year's first meeting, which took place at Kamakura's Kotoku-in Temple!

Kotoku-in Temple is kind of famous.  The temple complex houses one of Japan's two, most famous Buddhas.  We're talking an ENORMOUS Buddha that dates from the 1200s.  I've taken just about every one of our visitors here. We don't have giant buddhas in the States, and visitors are easily impressed.  

We arrived- on a slightly cooler morning than we've had in months- at Kotoku-in's gates. A small path, fenced with bamboo, directed our steps to the private residence of Mrs. Sato.  Mrs. Sato is the wife of Kotoku-in's head priest. She graciously hosts several of the Kamakura Chapter's meetings each year in her exquisite home.

We passed over a swiftly flowing stream...

and slid open the garden door of Mrs. Sato's private entrance.

I'm used to entering Kotoku-in Temple, on the other side of the wall, through this entrance.

It was hard to stay on the stone path when there were so many exquisite features of the residence's garden to admire!

The Buddha himself.

A gate to an inner garden.  The blue tiles symbolize heaven.

Once I finally managed to make it through one of the most beautiful Japanese gardens I've ever seen, I joined the other American and Japanese ladies congregating inside Mrs. Sato's residence. 

Ikebana International is not a teaching organization.  Rather, it is, first and foremost, dedicated to the appreciation of Ikebana, or Japanese flower arranging.  Other cultural events may also be included in each of the various chapters' schedules of events.  Thursday's event was a talk given by Mme Olga Kamaldinova, the wife of an ambassador to Japan, to promote understanding of her own native country- Kazakhstan.  

Mme Kamaldinova's talk, given in English and translated into Japanese, was fascinating.  I had no idea that Kazakhstan is such a beautiful country!  She brought examples of traditional clothing, dolls, and other, various handicrafts to visually accompany her talk.

We had a delightful time listening to the speech, asking questions about Kazakhstan, taking a group photo (Of course! This is Japan!), enjoying a catered lunch, and buying raffle tickets for a charity bazaar sponsored by the Kazakh embassy.  I actually won something!

Of course, since this was an Ikebana International meeting, scattered about the expansive room were elegant, seasonally appropriate flower arrangements.  They were stunning.  I think I shall declare my first Ikebana International meeting a resounding success and can hardly wait for October's event to get here!

 Ikebana International has many chapters in Japan.  These include the one in Kamakura, as well as a chapter in Tokyo (the founding chapter), Fukuoka, Okinawa, Nagoya, Kyoto, Saitama, Hiroshima, etc.    For my readers outside of Japan, get excited!  There are also chapters scattered across the globe, including the United States.  Chapters are located all over the country.  Mobile, AL (Mari, this one's for you!), San Diego, CA, Washington, DC, and Chicago, IL all have chapters.  Visit Ikebana International's website, http://www.ikebanahq.org for a complete list of chapters and membership information.  If you live near Kamakura?  Hurry and sign up!  October's meeting is on the 18th and will feature a ikebana demonstration by Rishi Otsuka, the headmaster of Koryu Katabami-kai, himself! 

 Disclaimer:  I do my best to make sure all my information is accurate.  However, details may change or I may just be flat-out wrong.  Please let me know if something needs a correction.  Thank-you! 

Deployment Dinner

For those nights when I just don't feel like making dinner for myself (don't worry, Mom, I still feed my kid), the 7/11 convenience store down the street comes to my rescue with delicious noodle salads.  Or egg salad sandwiches.  Or seaweed and rice triangles.  Or bento boxes.  Hooray for delicious and relatively healthy convenience food!

To Ice, Or Not To Ice?

I received this delicious, Pineapple Barley tea as a gift a few weeks ago.  I love hot tea and have been enjoying this new flavor immensely, even through the summer heat.  I always serve tea to my English students, and usually stick to American tea (my students are always interested to see all the  different fruit flavors with which Americans contaminate green tea), but this Pineapple Barley was so delicious that I had to share.  I'd never had barley tea before, and the pineapple was an extremely bright, unexpected addition.

"Mmmmmmm.  Is this Barley tea?"  -My student

"Yes, it is!  How did you know?"  -Me

"Barley tea is very popular in the summer!  Sometimes, it's served iced." -My student

Now, I've lived in Japan long enough to know that any time one of my students makes a statement which is preceded by "sometimes," "maybe," "possibly," or "perhaps," I need to pay attention, because said statement is often NOT a maybe/possibly/perhaps situation, but actually a statement of fact.  As in, "Maybe this situation with my coworker is very stressful." This is definitely a stressful situation.

The Pineapple Barley tea is from Lupicia, a popular tea shop chain.  The super cute mug is from a local shop.

I went for further clarification.

"So you're saying barley tea is sometimes served iced?  Or always served iced?" -Me
"It's usually served iced, yes!"  -My student
"I'm serving this incorrectly, by brewing hot barley tea?" (I'm American! I like definitive answers!) -Me
"Oh, no, it's delicious!  I think I've only ever had cold barley tea, though." (You idiot, why would anyone drink barley tea hot?)  -My student

And that's the story of my life in Japan!  I bumble around doing something completely incorrect for months, until finally an English student clears up the situation for me.  Thank-goodness for my students.  I always wonder, in my English classes, who is actually teaching whom?


The weather is finally cooling down outside, and hot tea sounds much more pleasant than iced tea, right now.  So tuck this post in your memory for next summer, and serve delicious, iced barley tea!

Disclaimer:  I do my best to make sure all my information is accurate.  However, details may change or I may just be flat-out wrong.  Please let me know if something needs a correction.  Thank-you!

Let's Paint Kokeshi Dolls!

This past fall,  our base MWR sponsored a tour to a kokeshi doll factory in Gunma Prefecture.  Since I love cute, wooden kokeshi dolls- I have a flea market collection that I have been working on since we moved here, and Little TF has a few on display in her room- I jumped at the chance to go on this tour!

The Usaburo Kokeshi factory is the only remaining kokeshi company that operates completely in Japan.  All other companies out-source at least some parts of their production to countries like the Philippines or Thailand.  Keeping Japanese business in Japan is not the only thing that makes this factory awesome, though- Usaburo Kokeshi also sponsors tours of their factory!

We got to see every step of the kokeshi doll production, minus the tree chopping.  It was fascinating seeing how these cute and personable wooden dolls come to life!

JMSDF military kokeshi.

All the artisans working at the factory are very skilled.  Many of them have won awards, including the Prime Minister's Award.  The artists at this factory specialize in Creative Kokeshi.  Traditional kokeshi are said to have originated in northeastern Japan (the Tohoku region), and are very simple, tubular dolls in a limited range of colors.  They are charming in their own way, but I prefer the creative kokeshi.  The artist's imagination is the only limit!

Somewhat creepy, disembodied kokeshi heads.

The creative kokeshi even include Mickey Mouse.  Of course, Japan.  Of course.

Headless hair...also slightly creepy.

This room is where the basic kokeshi shapes are carved.

Tubes of wood are excited to turn into kokeshi!

The tour was fascinating.  But the real draw of Usaburo Kokeshi is in their showroom, where you can paint your own kokeshi.  This is the main reason I had to go on this tour.  You can buy kokeshi in many places in Japan.  Maybe not kokeshi created by people with Very Impressive Awards, but kokeshi, nonetheless.  You can't paint one just anywhere, though!

Brushes and paint are at the ready!

Beyond excited to paint my kokeshi...

I forgot to take an "after" picture. But I painted my kokeshi for Little TF, and put a Hello Kitty on a hot pink kimono.  She loved it. Kawaii!

Artisans paint the carved kokeshi.

Once our kokeshi dolls were painted, we had to wait while Usaburo Kokeshi applied a sealant and dried them.  The factory's extensive showroom was conveniently on hand, with shopping to help us pass the time!

Chinese Zodiac kokeshi.  Since I went last year, in the Year Of The Rabbit, the rabbit is on display in the middle.

Hinamatsuri (Girls' Day) kokeshi.  These Prince and Princess kokeshi are properly displayed in late February/early March.

Let's not forget the boys!  Fearsome, samurai kokeshi! 

Adorable Christmas kokeshi.  

Gorgeous kokeshi.  Most of the kokeshi in the store were reasonably priced, but these were much bigger and quite expensive.  

So cute! And pricey!

Back on the reasonably priced side of things were the rows of seasonal kokeshi.  I picked up a winter plum blossom kokeshi for my daughter.  It had a pink kimono and white hair, which I thought was most appropriate as my daughter is blonde.

For those who prefer a little more whimsy, there were silly, cartoon character kokeshi.  So funny!

Of course, everyone on the tour had to get photos taken behind the huge, wooden kokeshi outside of the showroom.  If you have extra time, make sure to visit the factory's museum.  The handiwork of former craftsmen are showcased inside!

Don't want to wait for another MWR tour? Usaburo Kokeshi is open year-round, with the exception of the New Year Holiday from December 29-January 4.  The painting area can accommodate individuals or groups, and is open from 8:30 am to 3 pm.  For more information on kokeshi painting, including pricing, types of kokeshi, and group painting  times, please visit Usaburo Kokeshi's information page.  The factory conducts tours from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, with a lunch break from 12 pm to 1 pm.  The tour takes about 50 minutes (I'm not sure if the tour is offered in English or not). There is free parking on site.

Can't make it to Gumma Prefecture but still want to shop?  Visit Usaburo Kokeshi's home page to place a kokeshi order!

Usaburo Kokeshi CO.,LTD.
 Maker, Wholesale, Sell direct)
Zip 370-3501
1591, Nagaoka, Shinto-mura, Kitagumma-gun, Gumma Japan
TEL+81-279-54-6766
FAX+81-279-54-8684
E-mail info@usaburo.com


Disclaimer:  I do my best to make sure all my information is accurate.  However, details may change or I may just be flat-out wrong.  Please let me know if something needs a correction.  Thank-you!

Why Not Knot?

In the environs of any temple or shrine, pretty strips of paper are tied onto tall, wire racks, or, sometimes, around tree trunks.  These are omikuji- bad fortunes received by worshippers- and the papers are tied at the shrine in the hope of weakening the recipient's impending bad luck. Omikuji are often printed with little flowers and patterns...it's always been hard for me to believe that such delicate items harbor such unpleasantness.  

Omikuji are tied onto wires at Hodosan shrine, in Saitama Prefecture.

In one of the tea ceremony procedures that we study, the bamboo tea scoop is kept in a brocade "envelope" of sorts.  After removing the scoop from its slender, fabric bag, we tie the bag into a small knot and put it away.  "This looks like those papers tied at the shrines," I mused to our instructor.

"This type of knot was very popular during the Heian Period," she replied. "The court lords and ladies would tie their love letters into this same type of knot.  It was believed that the knot had power to make their love come true." This is why I love tea class...random, Japanese history lessons!

In keeping with the habits of the grand, Heian lords and ladies, modern-day Japanese continue this ancient tradition and tie their  bad fortunes into knots. Rather than the bad luck following the recipient home, the knot's power will hopefully keep it at the shrine for a deity to deal with, instead!

Disclaimer:  I do my best to make sure all my information is accurate.  However, details may change or I may just be flat-out wrong.  Please let me know if something needs a correction.  Thank-you!

Green Tea...Ice Cream?

If you have ever wondered if green tea ice cream would make an acceptable chocolate ice cream substitute...stop wondering.  It won't.  I took one bite and promptly dumped the rest of the carton in the trash. I enjoy green tea. I drink and thoroughly enjoy the frothy brew on a weekly basis;  regretfully, the ice cream is just gross.

I hope I've got chocolate in my apartment, somewhere...

Throwing Haagen-Dazs in the trash is painful.

I was wallowing in a major, deployment funk yesterday, moping around the grocery store and glumly tossing stuff in my basket.  I hate cooking during deployment.  It's just a reminder that our family is temporarily incomplete.  

Then, on my way to the milk, I stumbled upon this cheerful can of peach juice.  My mood was instantly brightened!  How could it not be, with a Happy Happy can of Joyful Fruit Drink? Of course, I had to toss it in my basket.  It's just another thing to love about Japan: random, super-peppy English-language labels!

My new favorite deployment drink!

As I type this, Little TF and I are in the middle of a major bedtime disagreement.  She thinks she doesn't need to stay in bed.  I think she does.  This has been going on for over an hour. I may need to transition to a slightly stronger deployment drink.

Christmas Shopping In Kawagoe.

It's so hot that just the thought of roaring fires and wooly sweaters makes me itch. I can't believe I actually just typed the words "Christmas shopping"! Usually, I wait till the last minute to buy and mailed our families' Christmas gifts.  This is a bad habit.  It's stressful. It's expensive. This year, I want to take advantage of that cheap, Parcel Post shipping deal!  I've got to have my gifts ready to be sent back to the States by November in order to do that, so the shopping has already started.

 Last year's holiday season was an incredibly stressful time.  Mr. TF came home right before Thanksgiving, his parents came to visit the first week of December, the squadron celebrated various shenanigans, and in between all that we had to buy and wrap gifts, and ship them off in time to make it to the States.  I am NOT doing that again.  I am a wiser Fox this time around!  I am buying presents now.

After this past weekend's delightful time of boating down the river, our tour bus drove us to Kawagoe.  I love Kawagoe.  We've visited this historical town for festivals and to visit the old, imperial residence; this time, the tour was specifically for shopping.  Without the crazy festival crowds, it was a different- but still charming- experience!

Kawagoe is famous for its historial district.  So much of Japan feels like one big slab of concrete.  Old shrines and temples are tucked here and there, but it can come as a shock at how little of "Old Japan" seems to still exist.  Earthquakes, war, and over-eager developers have all done too much meddling.  The buildings in Kawagoe, however, are exact replicas of 17th century Edo architecture, many of which date back to the 1800s. It's fun to walk down the streets and appreciate the buildings, but it's even more fun to go inside them!  The streets are packed with fun, traditional shops...the perfect places to get Christmas shopping done!

My favorite shop in Kawagoe is this cute, little textiles store. Not textiles as in bolts of fabric. Everything in this uber-kawaii shop is made out of beautiful, Japanese fabrics!  Bonus: it's all so cute I can hardly stand it.  Most of the stuff is totally random...like this squishy sweet potato wearing a kimono...

Apparently, Kawagoe is in an area famous for sweet potatoes.

...but seriously, how cute would one of these little froggies look, sitting on a window ledge?

So cute, I was momentarily forgot that I wasn't buying Christmas presents for myself.  A little froggie, hiding under a clover leaf, is now beaming at me from my kitchen window sill.  

If only I had teenage nieces!  These shoes would have been a perfect gift!

This little bunny prince and princess set is for Hina Matsuri, or Girls' Day.  These would be a perfect gift for Little TF's cousin.  Too bad I already got her gift!  To visit this shop, head to the same side of the street as the old bell tower (you can't miss it), and keeping the tower behind you, go down the street to the right.

Maybe your friends and family would prefer something more tasty?  Just a few storefronts down from the too-adorable textile shop was this gourmet honey store.  All the flavors were available to taste, so it was quite awhile before I stopped licking the sampler spoons and picked one out.  The Kyohou Grape and Honey was delicious, as was the Mango and Honey.  Being a sucker for yuzu (A type of Asian citrus), however, I had to go with the Yuzu Mitsu.  Once again, I forgot that I wasn't shopping for myself.  Dang it!

I didn't have time for this shop, but the last time we visited Kawagoe, we bought a small painting for our house.  On the opposite side of the street from the honey store, this is a great place to come for prints and hanging scrolls!

Japanese knives scare me.  The only thing I know about Japanese blades is that hundreds of years ago, the Spanish attempt to introduce Toledo swords to Japan was a miserable failure.  Japanese metalworkers' swords were that superior.  If this country can produce swords that good, I have no business fumbling around with one of their knives.  But if you want to buy one, Kawagoe has a shop!

Lots of ceramics and traditional footwear...

...and umbrellas.  My mom bought one here when she visited.  She gets many compliments back home!

Getting tired and thirsty? There are plenty of cute restaurants and cafes!

Kawagoe's bell tower is a replica of the original.  That painting and scroll shop mentioned above sells several beautiful woodblock prints that illustrate this famous landmark!

I don't know what this sign says.  I just thought it was beautiful with all those morning glory vines.

Can anyone translate?

The shop sure to delight everyone on your Christmas shopping list lies on opposite side of the street as the bell tower.  This store not only sells gorgeous chopsticks, but it can also engrave them in English or Japanese.  

Of course, fabulous chopsticks demand fabulous chopstick rests.

Beautiful chopstick sets take the stress out of choosing from so many options!

Want to take your chopsticks on a picnic?  This store sells absolutely beautiful bento boxes.  I love that these big ones come with spiffy handles!

And for kids (and adults) who haven't quite gotten the hang of chopstick eating? These genius chopsticks will save beginners from throwing down their utensils in frustration!

Kawagoe's not just famous for shopping. It is also one of Japan's famous festival destinations.  We went to this festival two years ago, and it was amazing.  Enormous floats, many of which have been designated Important Cultural Properties, are danced through the streets.  Expect huge crowds, swinging lanterns, festival food, and lots of noise!  The festival is celebrated on the third weekend of every October, so get it on your calendar, now!

Other fun places near Kawagoe's main street include Confectionary Row and the Festival Museum.  A short bus ride away is the famous Kitain temple and an old residence of one of the Shoguns.  Click here for excellent instructions on how to get to Kawagoe from Tokyo, and how to get around the city once you're there.

Disclaimer:  I do my best to make sure all my information is accurate.  However, details may change or I may just be flat-out wrong.  Please let me know if something needs a correction.  Thank-you!