TOKYO'S CULTURAL HOT SPOTS

January 2022

01.The Show

The Show is new evening entertainment that presents Japanese performing arts to the world. It unfolds at the Edo Culture Complex (EDOCCO), recently built on the grounds of the historic Kanda Myojin Shrine. As a nonverbal, theatrical dinner performance, The Show introduces the music, costumes, and swordplay of Japanese theater in a way that's accessible to all, regardless of language. Tokyo’s only samurai show, it also fills a gap in the city’s evening entertainment options, and is sure to make Kanda Myojin a sacred place for Japanese entertainment.

Meiji Jingu, the Shinto shrine dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken, is an inner-city oasis on Harajuku's doorstep. The newest attraction in these tranquil environs is the Meiji Jingu Museum, designed by celebrated architect Kengo Kuma, the man behind Tokyo’s New National Stadium. With Kuma’s penchant for natural materials, the museum blends in perfectly with the 100-year-old forest surrounding the shrine. Inside, on 3,200 square meters across two floors, is a treasure trove of priceless artifacts associated with the former Emperor and Empress.

For centuries, the sword has been a symbol of Japanese culture and craftsmanship. The Japanese Sword Museum is one of only a handful in the country to focus wholly on these iconic items. Its elegant building is set at the corner of a public park that once belonged to a samurai lord-take a stroll during your visit and feel centuries of history surround you. Inside, you'll find exhibits tracing the evolution of Japanese swords as works of art, religious objects, and status symbols.

The famed ukiyo-e artist, Katsushika Hokusai, is best known for his iconic print Under the Wave off Kanagawa, from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji. Born and raised in the area that includes today's Sumida City, Hokusai was active in the late Edo period and achieved recognition beyond Japan for his works. At the Sumida Hokusai Museum, dedicated to its namesake artist, enjoy an in-depth introduction to Hokusai’s life and works through life-size high-resolution replicas, accompanied by multilingual panels. Original artworks are also displayed in the special exhibition..