Tokyo: Nakai and Shiinamachi district
Shiinamachi district, a stone’s throw from Ikebukuro, can’t claim to be one of Tokyo’s must-sees. And for good reason, being mostly residential. But it still has a certain charm …
Particularly its quiet alleyways, shotengai (shopping streets) a bit retro as we like them, and small family restaurants. The only notable aspect of the neighbourhood is to have hosted quite a few famous manga artists, including anime godfather Osamu Tezuka, who set up Doraemon Fujiko Fujio.
A little further on we arrive in Nakai. My home! Between two rivers (Kanda and Myoshoji), it was in the Edo period this was the district favoured by master dyers. Their ancestral know-how persists today through a dozen workshops (against 300 in the golden age).
The neighbourhood continues to celebrate its dyeing heritage with an annual festival, Some No Komichi. On the last weekend of February, dozens of 15-metre lengths of fabric are suspended over the Myoshoji River. A colourful show that brightens up winter.
Winter in Japan: Dry Cold and Hot Onsen ♨️
Who said that winter wasn’t the season to visit Japan? On the contrary! This is a perfect time to avoid the sweaty summer heat and the crowds of spring and autumn tourists.
Of course the climate is harsh, but still quite varied within the archipelago. Between the extreme north of Hokkaido with its –15°C and the mild climate of Okinawa (+20°C), the range is immense.
In the central belt between Tokyo and Osaka, temperatures generally vary between 0 and 15°C. The advantage of winter in Japan, unlike France, is that the weather is much drier and sunnier. Perfect to walk around and visit tourist spots while avoiding crowds.
But, let’s be honest, the best reason to come to Japan in winter is to enjoy a delicious onsen, outdoors, watching the snowflakes fall on the surface of the water. What more could you wish for?! ♨️
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