02 August 2014: Yukata De Guide Tour in Tokyo’s Sumida ward

Invited by ISHIKAWA Keiko from the tourism office of Tokyo’s Sumida ward, I spent a great afternoon/evening with wonderful weather visiting Sumida ward as part of the Yukata De Guide Tour 2014 gathering many Japanese people and foreign tourists/residents. To experience the Japanese culture and instil a great ambiance, the organizers provided us with traditional shoes and “yukata” summer kimonos.
Yukata De Guide Tour: Lian in 墨田区 (Sumida ward, Tokyo, Japan) on 02 August 2014.
Yukata De Guide Tour: Girls preparing their hair in 墨田区 (Sumida ward, Tokyo, Japan) on 02 August 2014.
Yukata De Guide Tour: Edwin and Sébastien Duval in 墨田区 (Sumida ward, Tokyo, Japan) on 02 August 2014.

Accompanied by a tour guide, we visited Ryogoku-kokugikan sumo arena, a building unique in the world where sumo wrestling tournaments happen 3 times every year.
Yukata De Guide Tour: At Ryogoku-kokugikan in 墨田区 (Sumida ward, Tokyo, Japan) on 02 August 2014.
Yukata De Guide Tour: Inside Ryogoku-kokugikan in 墨田区 (Sumida ward, Tokyo, Japan) on 02 August 2014.

In the Former Yasuda Garden, we watched a tea ceremony, ate sweets and drank matcha green tea distributed by cute Japanese children in yukata!
Yukata De Guide Tour: Tea ceremony at Former Yasuda Garden in 墨田区 (Sumida ward, Tokyo, Japan) on 02 August 2014.
Yukata De Guide Tour: Sweets at Former Yasuda Garden in 墨田区 (Sumida ward, Tokyo, Japan) on 02 August 2014.

During a night cruise on the Sumida river, we ate Japanese food in a bento box, discussed a lot, admired bridges and buildings including the Tokyo Skytree tower…
Yukata De Guide Tour: Buildings during the river cruise in 墨田区 (Sumida ward, Tokyo, Japan) on 02 August 2014.
Yukata De Guide Tour: Bridge during the river cruise in 墨田区 (Sumida ward, Tokyo, Japan) on 02 August 2014.
Yukata De Guide Tour: Skytree during the river cruise in 墨田区 (Sumida ward, Tokyo, Japan) on 02 August 2014.

Finally, we danced a Bon-odori and watched fireworks during the local Obon festival. Skilled teachers kindly showed us how to dance&nbs;p:)
Yukata De Guide Tour: Children in 墨田区 (Sumida ward, Tokyo, Japan) on 02 August 2014.
Yukata De Guide Tour: Elders watching a Bon-odori dance in 墨田区 (Sumida ward, Tokyo, Japan) on 02 August 2014.
Yukata De Guide Tour: Japanese ladies dancing a Bon-odori in 墨田区 (Sumida ward, Tokyo, Japan) on 02 August 2014.
Yukata De Guide Tour: Japanese girl dancing a Bon-odori in 墨田区 (Sumida ward, Tokyo, Japan) on 02 August 2014.

I met many nice people and discussed in Japanese, English, French, and Spanish with students, reporters, embassy staff… and even shortly with the joyful mayor and beautiful goodwill ambassador of Sumida ward!
Yukata De Guide Tour: Hiroe in 墨田区 (Sumida ward, Tokyo, Japan) on 02 August 2014.
Yukata De Guide Tour: Hiroe and Tomoe in 墨田区 (Sumida ward, Tokyo, Japan) on 02 August 2014.
Yukata De Guide Tour: Hiroe, Tomoe and Sébastien Duval in 墨田区 (Sumida ward, Tokyo, Japan) on 02 August 2014.
Yukata De Guide Tour: Sébastien Duval with the mayor of Tokyo Sumida ward at Former Yasuda Garden in 墨田区 (Sumida ward, Tokyo, Japan) on 02 August 2014.
Yukata De Guide Tour: Sébastien Duval with the goodwill ambassador of Sumida ward at Former Yasuda Garden in 墨田区 (Sumida ward, Tokyo, Japan) on 02 August 2014.

This fun event organized by Sumida ward, its tourism office, and Sumidagawa Edo Cultural Sightseeing Promotion Association should happen again in July/August 2015. Check the dedicated Yukata De Guide Tour page on Inner Japan or ask your travel agency for information if you travel in Asia during your Summer holidays :)

USEFUL LINKS

 

USEFUL JAPANESE
  • ISHIKAWA Keiko = 石川・恵子.
  • Goodwill ambassador of Sumida ward = すみだ親善大使 (Sumida-shinzen-taishi).
  • Yukata = 浴衣, Bon-odori = 盆踊り, Obon = お盆.
  • Former Yasuda Garden = 旧安田庭園 (Kyu-yasuda-teien), Ryogoku-kokugikan = 両国国技館, Tokyo Skytree = 東京スカイツリー (Tokyo-sukai-tsuri).
  • Sumida river = 隅田川 (Sumida-gawa), Sumida ward = 墨田区 (Sumida-ku), Tokyo = 東京.
  • Yukata De Guide Tour = ゆかたでガイドツアー (yukata-de-gaido-tsua).
  • “Visit Sumida” tourism office = 墨田区観光協会 (Sumida-ku-kanko-kyokai).
  • Sumidagawa Edo Cultural Sightseeing Promotion Association = 隅田川・江戸文化観光振興会 (Sumida-gawa-edo-bunka-kanko-shinko-kai).

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