Explore Ueno with Ueno Joshi! A Day Tour with an Unforgettable Group of Girls
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CONTENTS
With the crowdfunding campaign underway, we took a special Ueno Joshi guided tour around Ueno! Take a look at some of things you could get up to with them!
What is Ueno Joshi?
Ueno Joshi is a tour group that looks to give tourist in Japan an amazing customized experience that not only looks at the places you want to go to but also the people you meet! With their main idea being the idea to try make your memory of Japan more of the people you encounter rather than just the places, they are focused on giving the best tour guide service possible.
Each premium tour lasts about 3-4 hours and will give you a deeper understanding of the local people, places, and things!
When it comes to Ueno, many people think of Ueno Park or Ame Yoko-cho but there is much more to Ueno! This is what we experienced in Ueno thanks to Ueno Joshi!
Let's Go!
①Tour Explanation at cafe in front of the Western Art Museum, a World Heritage Site
②A look at Kanei Temple where the Tokugawa Family from the Edo period are enshrined
③A brilliant experience at an antique store, choosing from 15 bowls and taking part in a real tea ceremony
④Looking around a renovated old manor house
⑤Experiencing a former liquor store called Yoshidaya
⑥Finishing the tour at Seiyoken, and getting to know each other more!
Tour Explanation at cafe in front of the Western Art Museum, a World Heritage Site
After arriving at JR Ueno Station Park Entrance we headed to the cafe.
When we got there our guide was there to greet us wearing a kimono.
After introducing ourselves to each other in the cafe, we took a look at our itinerary and then we set off!
②A look at Kanei Temple where the Tokugawa Family from the Edo period are enshrined
The first stop was Kanei Temple, where the Tokugawa family is enshrined! We never realised that this temple was found in Ueno! We had a great explanation from our guides and we got to visit the temple itself.
③A brilliant experience at an antique store, choosing from 15 bowls and taking part in a real tea ceremony
Our big experience for the day was here! We came to an antique store, and was able to choose a special tea bowl out of 15 that changes monthly! Then we got to participate in a real tea ceremony!
The family that runs this antique shop/ tea shop introduces people to the traditional tea ceremony, but instead of sitting on a tatami mat on the floor, you get to sit comfortably in a chair and relax while enjoying the tea!
④Looking around a renovated old manor house
After taking part in that amazing tea ceremony experience, we headed to Ueno Sakuragi, home to a collection of old but now revenovated homes!
This beautiful area was rebuilt in 1939 and was transformed into a beer hall and common working space! We were able to look at the building and taste the beer that was available there!
⑤Experiencing a former liquor store called Yoshidaya
After our small rest, we visited the site of an old liquor store called Yoshidaya.
Now it is a museum of old customs and ways of life that's found on near the Shinobazu lake in Ueno.
We met with the extremely knowledgeable curator of the restaurant, who was able to explain a lot about this old culture! We also got to see a lot of items used in the creation of making alcohol!
⑥Finishing the tour at Seiyoken, and getting to know each other more!
We finished our amazing day off at an old fashioned restaurant in Ueno, where it's famous for it's special sauce that they have!
The area is like a large dining hall, and extremely hard to get a reservation there.
With it overlooking Ueno, it makes an impressive place to eat while talking and checking out the view!
It was the perfect place to end our little outing!
Each guide that belongs to Ueno Joshi have their own area of expertise, be it culture, architecture, food, even dance! With this, whether it be you want to speak to a master of traditional Japanese dance, or a guide with large amount of knowledge of Japanese and Western architecture or a guide that is a kimono model, there is a vast amount of knowledge between the guides!
At the end of the tour, we felt rather refreshed even after 4 hours, with a reinvigorated love for Ueno! We heard that a couple from Ehime of ages of 75 and 69 took the same course and they still had energy to go for more after!
What we felt at the end though, was that even we went to a multitude of different places, it wasn't those that stuck in our mind, but the girls that took us around. The chance to get to know these Japanese people and have a whole new outlook on the area was a great take-away and much better than just focusing on the places and food and things we tried.
Crowdfunding for 2020! Making a tour aimed at giving visitors the best experience possible!
So are you interested in Ueno Joshi and the unique tour that they offer? If you are you can join via Japankuru Funding, where if you back the project at certain levels you can try out the tour, as well join in with the creation of a special community that will give you access to travel help from the guides up until next year for Tokyo!
You can find out more on the project page:
https://en.japankurufunding.com/projects/ueno-joshi/
Hey everyone! We hope that we can help you keep up to date with all the projects and things we have going on over at Japankuru Funding! We hope that you find the projects on the site as interesting as we do!
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Niki, in south-west Hokkaido, is about 30 minutes from Otaru. The small town is rich with natural resources, fresh water, and clean air, making it a thriving center for fruit farms. Cherries, tomatoes, and grapes are all cultivated in the area, and thanks to a growing local wine industry, it's quickly becoming a food and wine hotspot. Together with the neighboring town of Yoichi, it's a noted area for wine tourism.
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Niigata is a prefecture on Japan's main island of Honshu, situated right on the coast of the Sea of Japan, and abundant with the gifts of nature. It's known for popular ski resorts such as Echigo-Yuzawa, Japanese national parks, and natural hot spring baths, plus local products like fresh seafood, rice, and sake. Visitors often spend time in the prefectural capital, Niigata City, or venture across the water to Sado Island.
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Shizuoka Prefecture is sandwiched between eastern and western Japan, giving the prefecture easy access to both Tokyo and Osaka. Not only is it known for beautiful natural attractions, with everything from Mount Fuji to Suruga Bay, Lake Hamanako, and Sumata Pass―Shizuoka's Izu Peninsula is known as a go-to spot for hot springs lovers, with famous onsen like Atami, Ito, Shimoda, Shuzenji, and Dogashima. Shizuoka attracts all kinds of travelers thanks to historic connections with the Tokugawa clan, the Oigawa Railway, fresh eel cuisine, Hamamatsu gyoza, and famously high-quality green tea.
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Kansai (関西) is a region that includes Mie, Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, and Shiga Prefectures. Kansai contained Japan's ancient capital for hundreds of years, and it's making a comeback as one of the most popular parts of Japan. Kyoto's temples and shrines, Osaka Castle, and the deer of Nara are all considered must-sees. Plus, the people of Kansai are especially friendly, making it a fun place to hang out.
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Kyoto flourished as the capital of Japan between the years 794 and 1100, becoming a center for poilitics and culture, and to this day it's a great place for close encounters with Japanese history. The cobbled streets of Gion, the atmospheric road to Kiyomizudera Temple, Kinkakuji's golden walls and countless historic attractions, even Arashiyama's Togetsukyo Bridge―Kyoto is a place of many attractions. With new charms to experience throughout the seasons, travelers can't stop themselves from returning again and again.
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Nara Prefecture's important history reaches back to 710, a time now called the Nara era, when it was once capital of Japan. Called "Heijo-kyo" during its time as a capital, it's said that nara was once the end of the silk road, leading it to flourish as a uniquely international region and produce important cultural properties of all kinds. To make the most of each season, travelers head to Nara Park, where the Nara deer who wander freely, or climb Mount Yoshino, a famous cherry blossom spot.
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OSAKA
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Osaka is known for friendly (and funny) people, but its history is nothing to laugh at, playing a major part in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's 16th century unification of Japan. Thanks to long years of economic activity, it's one of Japan's biggest cities, and Osaka's popular food culture earned it the nickname "The Kitchen of the Nation." To this day Osaka is the model of western Japan, and alongside historic structures like Osaka Castle, it also has major shopping malls like Umeda's Grand Front Osaka and Tennoji's Abeno Harukas. Osaka is a place to eat, eat, eat, with local specialties like takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and kushi-katsu, and for extra fun, it's home to Universal Studios Japan.
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The Chugoku Region (中国地方) consists of five prefectures: Hiroshima, Okayama, Shimane, Tottori, and Yamaguchi. In Chugoku you’ll find the sand dunes of Tottori, and Hiroshima’s atomic bomb site, plus centers of ancient history like Grand Shrine of Izumo.
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HIROSHIMA
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Hiroshima Prefecture has everything, from world heritage sites to beautiful nature and delicious local cuisine, and it's either an hour and a half from Tokyo by plane, or four hours by train. Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island and the Atomic Bomb Dome, two Hiroshima UNESCO sites, are famous around the world, but in Japan it's also famous for food. Seafood from the Seto Inland Sea, especially oysters, Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, and Setouchi lemons are all popular, and the natural scenery alone is worth seeing.
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SHIKOKU
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On the other side of the Seto Inland Sea opposite Japan’s main island, Shikoku (四国) is a region made up of four prefectures: Ehime, Kagawa, Kochi, and Tokushima. The area is famous for its udon (in Kagawa), and the beautiful Dogo Onsen hot springs (in Ehime).
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KAGAWA
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Kagawa Prefecture is on the northern part of the island of Shikoku, facing Japan's main island and the Seto Inland Sea. It's known for being the smallest prefecture in Japan, by area, but at the same time Kagawa is called the "Udon Prefecture" thanks to its famous sanuki udon. Aside from Kotohiragu Shrine and Ritsurin Garden, the prefecture's small islands are popular, and Kagawa is full of unique destinations, like Angel Road. They say that if you lay eyes on Zenigata Sunae, a huge Kagawa sand painting, you'll never have money troubles ever again.
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KYUSHU
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Located in the most southwestern part of Japan, Kyushu (九州) is an island of 7 prefectures: Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki, and Kagoshima. The island's unique culture has been influenced by Chinese and Dutch trade, along with missionaries coming in through Nagasaki's port. Modern-day travelers love the lush natural scenery and fresh food, plus the natural hot springs found all throughout the area (thanks to volcanic activity)!
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FUKUOKA
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Fukuoka Prefecture has the highest population on the southern island of Kyushu, with two major cities: Fukuoka and Kitakyushu. Thanks to growing transportation networks, Fukuoka is more accessible than ever, and so are the many local attractions. On top of historical spots like Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, travelers shouldn't miss Fukuoka's food scene, with motsu nabe (offal hotpot), mentaiko (spicy cod roe), and famous Hakata ramen―best eaten from a food stall in the Nakasu area of Hakata. Plus, it's full of all sorts of destinations for travelers, like trendy shopping centers, and the beautiful nature of Itoshima and Yanagawa.
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KAGOSHIMA
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Kagoshima Prefecture played a major role in Japan's modernization as a backdrop for famous historical figures like samurais Saigo Takamori and Okubo Toshimichi, who pushed Japan out of the Edo era and into the Meiji. Because of that, Sengan-en Garden is just one of many historical destinations, and when it comes to attractions Kagoshima has plenty: the active volcano of Sakurajima, popular hot springs Ibusuki Onsen and Kirishima Onsen, World Heritage Site Yakushima Island, even what Japan calls the "island closest to heaven," Amami Oshima. Kagoshima might be found on the very southernmost tip of the southern island of Kyushu, but there's plenty to see.
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OKINAWA
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The island chain of Okinawa (沖縄) makes up the southernmost tip of Japan, which is why it's also the most tropical area in the country. Thanks to a history of independence and totally distinct political and cultural events, Okinawa has a unique culture, and remnants of the Ryukyu Kingdom are still visible all over the islands. Food, language, traditional dress, it's all a little different! It's also said to be the birthplace of karate.
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