Chiba is a city with a rich history and culture and paying a visit to the Chiba City Folk Museum is one of the best ways to get to know more about it. Built on the site where Chiba castle once stood, the white colored museum building draws inspiration from the original castle. The museum gives insight into the history of the Chiba Clan that dates as far as the 12th Century and also sheds light on the city's modern history. From Samurai armors, weaponry to a replica of a 13th-century Japanese home, the exhibits are very interesting. The museum also holds the Arquebus firearms demonstration every August. Here, you can also try the traditional Samurai robes on the third Saturday of every month except for January and August. During the cherry blossom season, the castle with the pink trees around is a sight to behold.
This huge, two-building general science museum was established in 1877 and covers a wide variety of scientific knowledge including the evolution of living things, the Earth's formative history, nature, and astronomy. The giant dinosaur fossil, a moon rock and the stuffed body of Hachiko, the famous loyal Akita dog are some of the unmissable exhibits here. Taxidermy specimens, steam engines and the life of Japanese people are also some of the intriguing permanent exhibitions. If you cannot read Japanese, it is better to bring along a Japanese friend who can translate things for you.
The Tokyo National Museum displays a bevy of sculptures, paintings, calligraphy, archaeological objects and other decorative arts. Divided into sections spanning Japanese as well as Korean and Chinese art, the museum's collections are nothing short of artistic preservation of Asian history and culture. Exhibitions, lectures, gallery talks and workshops are held regularly, so visitors can gain access to some valuable information about the world's largest continent. The museum also stores historical documents dating back to the 10th and 11th Centuries.
Located in the Taito-Ku area of Tokyo, The National Museum of Western Art is known for its amazing collection of drawings, sculptures and paintings by European artists. Designated a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO, the architecture of the main building can be credited to renowned Swiss Architect Charles-Edouard Jeanneret-Gris, famously known as Le Corbusier. You can admire the great works of Monet, Cezanne, Manet, Signac and many masters that shaped the history of art. Visitors are treated to the rich artistic heritage of the West during the numerous thematic exhibitions held regularly at the museum's gallery.
Suntory Hall is one of Tokyo's best concert venues for classical music. It harbors two concert halls: the Main Hall with a capacity of 2006 and the Blue Rose Hall with a capacity of 432. The larger hall mainly features orchestral concerts and pipe organ recitals, while the smaller hall offers a wide range of different classical genres, including popular children's concerts. Wines, cocktails and coffee are available at the Bar Intermezzo before each concert and during intermission. The concert halls gives the impression of opulence with great, ambient lighting and the stage right in the middle, with the seating arranged in a semi-circle on different levels. So, definitely go for a show here, it is well worth the price.
Ryogoku Kokugikan is one of the largest indoor venues in Tokyo and serves multiple purposes. It hosts a number of local sporting events such as boxing and wrestling, as well as musical concerts. The arena is designed keeping international standards in mind, as a lot of overseas tourists flock here during matches which are held every January, May and September. Refreshment stands serving alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages, and easy parking facilities are available. Do not forget to try out the legendary Yakitori which is Japanese style barbecue chicken, served during matches. A visit here is not merely a visit to an arena; it is a taste of a slice of the Tokyo life.
Azabu-juban is an upscale neighborhood of Tokyo in the Minato-ku. Which is why here one can find mega sized residential buildings, hotels, trendy restaurants, schools and universities as well as eminent embassies of various countries. This municipality is also home to various retail stores, services shops, gourmet shops as well as household stores. With a handful of attractions to explore, Azabu-juban has its own share of history and has gone on to become an integral part of Japan's rich tourism sector. The entire neighborhood comes to life when events like the February Setsubun and the Flower Festival kick-off.
Founded in 2008 and located in the Shinjuku ward of Tokyo metropolis, Totem Pole Photo Gallery is a refined center for display of contemporary photography. The spacious facility of the center serves as a platform for talented amateur artists and provides various elements like aluminum and wooded frames, adequate lights and LCD projectors to make the exhibition successful. A perfect place to view skillful photography display by professional artists from time to time. Call or visit their website for more information.
The name really does say it all - the Photographers' Gallery is a collective of thirteen photographers, all of whom exhibit on the premises. They also exhibit the works of non-members throughout the year, as well as hold lectures and other events. The founders strive to keep photography a wide and varied medium, without subjecting it to any artistic - or other - limitations.
Photography is hugely popular in Japan and a majority of Japanese people both enjoy it as a hobby and appreciate it as an art form. The Photo Gallery International is a popular gallery and bookshop dedicated to the photographic arts. It organizes exhibitions and several other events surrounding the theme of photography and welcomes patrons of all ages. Renowned photographers like Ansel Adams, Edward Weston, Harry Callahan etc. have featured their works in the gallery.