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Autumn 2024 Event: Experience Edo Culture in Tokyo's Nihonbashi and Ginza at the OH! Edo Tokyo Festival

Autumn 2024 Event: Experience Edo Culture in Tokyo's Nihonbashi and Ginza at the OH! Edo Tokyo Festival

Date published: 1 October 2024

Experience authentic traditional culture that has been passed down since the Edo period (1603–1868) in the Nihonbashi area, the starting point of Edo.

This autumn, a special event supervised by world-renowned director Amon Miyamoto will be held, capturing the essence of Tokyo in a bygone era, when it was known as Edo. Enjoy live demonstrations of yabusame (horseback archery), Edo firefighting (including kiyari chants, matoi banner waving, and ladder-top acrobatics), as well as hands-on experiences of etiquette from the Ogasawara-ryu school, tea ceremonies, Noh theater, kabuki, judo, karate, traditional Japanese music, and ukiyo-e woodblock printing.

Take part in a one-of-a-kind experience where you can immerse yourself in authentic Japanese culture in unique locations around Nihonbashi.

(*This article includes advertising content.)

Edo Culture Experience Guided Tour

・Special guided tour to experience the charm of Edo on foot
This 90-minute walking tour, led by a guide who also serves as an interpreter, allows participants to explore and immerse in the Edo culture still present in Tokyo's Chuo City.

There are three tour options available:
  • 1. Nihonbashi Course (Nihonbashi to the former Nikko Kaido Route)
    During the Edo period, Nihonbashi was the starting point of the five major routes leading to Edo, known as the Go-Kaido Routes. This made Nihonbashi a major hub where culture and technology from all over Japan converged.
    This course takes participants through Nihonbashi, which has remained the city's commercial hub for hundreds of years, introducing long-established shops along the former Nikko Kaido Route.

    2. Ginza Course (Kabukiza Theater to the Ginza Area)
    Ginza encapsulates the vibrant performing arts culture of Edo. This course focuses on spots related to Kabuki and Noh theater, showcasing the charm of Ginza, where traditional culture and modernity coexist.

    3. Tsukiji Market Course
    Tsukiji Market has been Tokyo's kitchen since the Edo period. Now, the bustling Tsukiji Outer Market attracts throngs of tourists. This course will guide you through its rich history and nearby tourist spots.
Details
Dates
October 4–November 3, 2024
Start times
1. From 10 AM; 2. From 1 PM; 3. From 3 PM
Fee
2,000 yen/person

Edo Culture Demonstration and Experience Events

Experience authentic Edo culture at its birthplace through hands-on experience events.

・Yabusame Demonstration
Discover yabusame, traditional Japanese horseback archery performed as a sacred ritual. This practice has been passed down for over 850 years, from the time of Minamoto Yoritomo to Tokugawa Yoshinobu. In this demonstration, successors of the Ogasawara-ryu school, which once instructed shoguns, bring this ancient practice to life with passion and intensity.

Event Date and Location
Date
・October 19, 2024
- 1st Session: Gather from 12:30 PM / Starts at 12:40 PM
- 2nd Session: Gather from 2:20 PM / Starts at 2:30 PM

・October 20, 2024
- 1st Session: Gather from 12:30 PM / Starts at 12:40 PM
- 2nd Session: Gather from 2:20 PM / Starts at 2:30 PM
Locations
Horidome Park (Nihonbashi Horidome-cho, Chuo City)

・Edo Firefighting Performance
Witness the courageous and spirited Edo Firefighters, beloved by the people of Edo.
Performers from the EDO Firemanship Preservation Association showcase traditional firefighting techniques, including the Kiyari Work song, banner waving, and acrobatic performances by Edo firefighters on a ladder, which have been passed down over generations.

Event Date and Location
October 19, 2024
1st Session: Gather from 11:30 AM / Starts at 12 PM
Takarada Ebisu Shrine (Nihonbashi-shinmachi, Bettara-ichi Kaijo, Chuo City)

2nd Session: Gather from 3:30 PM / Starts at 4 PM
In front of the main building of Mitsukoshi Nihombashi Main Store
October 27, 2024
Gather from 3:30 PM / Starts at 4 PM
In front of the main building of Mitsukoshi Nihombashi Main Store

・Ogasawara-ryu Etiquette Experience
Learn ancient rules of Japanese etiquette taught by successors of the Ogasawara-ryu school, which educated the shogunate in manners for 850 years. Subjects include proper standing, sitting, walking, kneeling, and more.

Event Date and Location
Date
・October 23, 2024
- 1st Session: Gather from 10 AM / Starts at 10:30 AM
- 2nd Session: Gather from 3 PM / Starts at 3:30 PM
Locations
Kobikicho Hall (Kabukiza Tower 5F)

・Tea Ceremony Experience
On the rooftop garden of GINZA SIX, outdoor umbrellas and tatami mats are set up for a traditional tea ceremony. Experienced tea ceremony experts, well-versed in hosting international guests, guide you through the essentials of tea etiquette and provide a complete, authentic tea-serving experience.

Event Date and Location
Date
・October 12, 2024
- 1st Session: Gather from 1:30 PM / Starts at 2 PM
- 2nd Session: Gather from 3:30 PM / Starts at 4 PM
Locations
GINZA SIX Rooftop Garden

・Ukiyo-e Woodblock Printing Experience
Through digital enlargements and detailed explanations, learn how ukiyo-e woodblock prints captured the details of popular culture, daily life, customs, and landscapes of the time in which this art was made.
Experience the creation of ukiyo-e woodblock prints using a postcard-sized woodblock. This in-depth process involves carving different woodblocks for each color and layering them to achieve rich hues, depth, and subtle variations in line and color.

Event Date and Location
Date
・October 25, 2024
- 1st Session: Gather from 10 AM / Starts at 10:30 AM
- 2nd Session: Gather from 3 PM / Starts at 3:30 PM
Locations
Kobikicho Hall (Kabukiza Tower 5F)

・Noh Theatre Experience
A master Noh performer from a well-renowned family performs along with explanations about Noh theater and workshops on movements and chanting.
Additional special features of this experience include backstage tours of the Kanze Noh Theatre, spectacular Noh performances, and exhibitions of Noh masks and costumes. For those interested, the option to take a commemorative photo with your choice of Noh mask is also available.

Event Date and Location
Date
・October 21, 2024
- 1st Session: Gather from 2:30 PM / Starts at 3 PM
- 2nd Session: Gather from 5:30 PM / Starts at 6 PM
Locations
Kanze Noh Theater (GINZA SIX B3F)

・Kabuki Experience
Professional Kabuki actors perform excerpts from plays along with detailed explanations of Kabuki's history, cultural background, performances, costumes, and actors. Following the demonstration, participants will have the opportunity to try some of the choreography with the actors' guidance.

Event Date and Location
Date
・October 26, 2024
- 1st Session: Gather from 2 PM / Starts at 2:30 PM
- 2nd Session: Gather from 5 PM / Starts at 5:30 PM
Locations
Kobikicho Hall (Kabukiza Tower 5F)

・Traditional Japanese Music Experience
A showcase of traditional Japanese music put on by professional performers, including insights into the instruments used and background of Japanese music. Musical performances include various types of songs, like nagauta, kouta, hauta, and more.
Try your hand at playing instruments such as the shamisen, small drum, flute, and more, culminating in a group performance put on by guests.

Event Date and Location
Date
・October 24, 2024
- 1st Session: Gather from 1:30 PM / Starts at 2 PM
- 2nd Session: Gather from 4:30 PM / Starts at 5 PM
Locations
Kobikicho Hall (Kabukiza Tower 5F)

・Karate Experience
Instructors from Japanese dojos teach the basics of karate, including strikes, kicks, and kata (stances).
Participants can watch sparring between advanced practitioners, who demonstrate the importance of beginning and ending with rei (bowing to show respect). Connect with the spirit of karate embodied in "osu," a short phrase expressing the importance of respect, gratitude, and perseverance.

Event Date and Location
Date
・October 22, 2024
- 1st Session: Gather from 1:30 PM / Starts at 2 PM
- 2nd Session: Gather from 5 PM / Starts at 5:30 PM
Locations
Kobikicho Hall (Kabukiza Tower 5F)

・Judo Experience
Learn about judo down to the smallest details, including the history, how to wear a gi (judo uniform), how to tie the belt, and even the proper etiquette for entering the dojo.
Participants will then practice techniques such as backward and sideways breakfalls, as well as mat holds, throws, and more, all while wearing a gi.

*Some content requires an additional fee.

Event Date and Location
Date
・October 25, 2024
- 1st Session: Gather from 12 PM / Starts at 12:30 PM
- 2nd Session: Gather from 3:15 PM / Starts at 3:45 PM
Locations
Mitsukoshi Nihombashi Main Store (Main Building 1F, Central Hall)

Exhibition of Traditional Edo Crafts

A special exhibition featuring traditional Edo crafts, showcasing techniques from the Edo period. Visitors can revel in the artistry and craftsmanship of Edo by taking an up-close look at items like Edo kiriko (cut glass) and Edo uchihamono (forged knives).

Event Date and Location
Date
October 4–14, 2024
10:00 AM–6:00 PM
Locations
Fukushima Building 1F (Nihonbashi Muromachi, Chuo-ku)
■ Organizer and Supporters
Organizer
Project of Edo kaido Executive Committee
Supporters
Chuo City, Chuo City Tourism Association
*This information is from the time of this article's publication.
*Prices and options mentioned are subject to change.
*Unless stated otherwise, all prices include tax.

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