Through April 7, 2013. Enku (1632-95), a Buddhist monk and sculptor, is said to have carved 120,000 Buddhist statues in his lifetime while making pilgrimages to sacred mountains all over Japan. The exhibition introduces 100 Enku’s statues from Takayama City in Gifu prefecture, with a focus on 61 Enku's statues from Senkouji temple.
April 28, 2013, dance party, Shangri-La’s hottest and sexiest go-go dancers. Upcoming dates: July 13th, Muscle Beach; September 14th, Tribal Journey; December 21st, White Ball.
April 28, 2013, colorful and lively parade with floats begins in Yoyogi Park and continues through the neighborhoods of Shibuya and Harajuku. See the website for route map, more information, and 2012 photos.
May 24 - June 2, 2013 at Cinemart Roppongi (Roppongi 3-8-15, Minato-ku, Tokyo) glbtq flms, features and shorts from around the world. See film schedule online, in English.
Thanks to the plethora of skyscrapers, there are plenty of options for breathtaking aerial views of the Tokyo skyline. A good option is the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku, whose free viewing platform is the highest in the city. A more attractive option is the World Trade Center Building, whose views over the waterfront are better, especially after dusk, when the city lights come up.
Mejii Shinto Shrine (1-1 Yoyogi-Kamizono-cho, Shibuya)One of the most recognized symbols of Tokyo is the shrine to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife. The Meiji Shrine is located deep within a 175-acre forest that’s home to more than 365 different tree species collected from all over Japan. The innermost section of the Shrine (the Naien) includes the main shrine buildings and a museum displaying the imperial treasures. In the outer section (the Gaien), you’ll find the Meiji Memorial Picture Gallery, the National Stadium, and the Meiji Memorial Hall, where discussions for the drafting of the 19th century Meiji Constitution were held.
Sensō-ji | Asakusa Buddhist Temple (Asakusa Taito-ku, 2-3-1)Sensōji is Tokyo’s largest Buddhist temple and a marvel of Japanese architecture and sculpture. Legend has it that the temple was originally built to house a stature of the goddess of Mercy, Kannon, which had been fished out of the Sumida River by two brothers in 628. An Oracle may be consulted here, and there are traditional temple shops in the grounds. The nearby Shinto shrines - Asakusa Jinja, Chingodo, and Denpoin - are also worth visiting to understand more of Japanese religious culture.
Tokyo’s “second center” Shinjuku is a wonderland of neon signs and revelers. Essentially Tokyo’s Times Square, only more so. Hundreds of thousands of people cross through Shinjuku every day. It’s a huge business, commercial, and entertainment centre, with small restaurants and bars, and one of Tokyo’s last remaining geisha districts. Visit Tokyo’s red-light district in Kabukichō.
Don’t miss Shinjuku Ni-chōme, Tokyo’s biggest gay district. Ni-chōme is home to the world’s highest concentration of gay bars – estimated at between 200-300 bars and nightclubs in a five-block stretch. In addition, the neighborhood is home to gay cafes, saunas, love hotels, gay pride boutiques, cruising boxes (hattenba), host clubs, and massage parlors.
Tokyo Imperial Palace (Tokyo Chiyoda 1-1)The Imperial Palace is the name given to a huge parkland that contains the main residence of the Emperor of Japan. The whole area once housed an old Edo castle, but now welcomes thousands of visitors to its lovely manicured gardens, palace, archive, museum, and administrative offices, as well as the private residences of the imperial family.
