Sanja Festival is one of the widest and largest festivals in Tokyo, which takes place every May at Asakusa Shrine and attracts 1.5 to 2 million locals and tourists every year.

The festival is celebrated over the course of three days and features notable parades which revolve around three mikoshi (three portable shrines referenced in the festival’s name), as well as traditional music and dancing.

In the same line of many Japanese festivals, Sanja Matsuri is a religious celebration. This weekend-long Shinto festival is dedicated to the spirits of Hinokuma Hamanari, Hinokuma Takenari and Hajino Nakatomo, the three men who established and founded Senso-ji. Legend tells that two fishermen - brothers named Hinokuma Hamanari and Hinokuma Takenari - found a statuette of the Bodhisattva Kannon caught in a fishing net in the Sumida River on May 17, 628. The third man, a wealthy landlord named Hajino Nakatomo, came to know about the discovery, spoke to the brothers and converted them to Buddhism.

The three men dedicated their lives to the Buddhist faith and sanctified the statue in a small temple. Today, this temple still stands and is known as the Senso-ji, the oldest temple in Tokyo, which is home to the Kannon statue.

The atmosphere around Asakusa during the festival is very lively. People crowd the streets surrounding the Senso-ji while the sound of flutes, whistles, chanting and traditional Japanese drums bring the district to life.

The festival’s main attractions are three Asakusa Shrine-owned mikoshi that make their appearance on the third and final day of the festival. These three intricate black lacquered-wood shrines are conceived to act as miniature versions of Asakusa Shrine. Each mikoshi is decorated with gold sculptures and painted with gold leaf.

Even though the three main mikoshi are the most important objects roaming the streets during the Sanja Matsuri, about 100 other smaller mikoshi are paraded through the neighbourhood on Saturday.

Who can ever have a enough of the rocker cowboy that lives on a prayer? With their ecstatic tunes, the 80s band from New Jersey Bon Jovi is going to rock Japan this December.

Music lovers, rejoice! Bon Jovi will perform in two cities of the country: Osaka and Japan. The concerts will take place in December 3rd in Osaka - Osaka Dome venue - and December 4th in Tokyo - Tokyo Dome venue.

Both gigs are part of the band's tour titled "Because We Can". Fans will be able to enjoy classic tunes such as "Runaway", "Livin' on a Prayer", "You Give Love a Bad Name", "I'll Be There For You", "Bed of Roses", "This ain't a Love Song", "It's My Life", "Born to be My Baby", "Bad Medicine", plus new songs such as "Have a Nice Day", "That's What the Water Made Me", "Lost Highway", "What About Now" and "You want to Make a Memory".

"Because We Can: The Tour" is a concert tour in support of Bon Jovi's twelfth studio album "What About Now". The tour is named after the lead single from "What About Now". The tour has has embarked the band on a journey through all five major continents, including places never visited before such as Bulgaria and Poland, where the tour ranked 1st on Pollstar's annual "Top 100 Mid Year Worldwide Tours".

The concerts in Japan are very promising as the tour has received amazing reviews so far. The legendary singer Jon Bon Jovi usually opens the shows with "What's What the Water Made Me" with a unbelievable energy that resembles the Boss.The song "You Give Love a Bad Name" sends the audience out of this world in an ecstasy. And the rest of the show proves Bon Jovi to be the mythical band they are with 30 years of trajectory.

Yoga Retreats

Japan is well known for its numerous high quality yoga centres, teachers and retreats and many of the most popular and prestigious ones are located in Tokyo. It all depends what the individual wants, because nearly everything imaginable to do with yoga is accessible in Tokyo. Whether you are a complete novice or an experienced teacher there will be something new to try and a new challenge to take on in Tokyo.

Yoga is the union of body and mind and it is beneficial for stress relief, weight loss, flexibility and strength and numerous other aspects that affect us in our day to day lives. Whether the individual is interested in it on a spiritual level or simply to provide a thorough workout, there is something available to suit everyone. For those looking for a hard workout that will make them sweat and reap the benefits later on, there are many centres that practice Bikram yoga. This is a style that is conducted in hot rooms and involves the repetition of 26 postures. It is an intense workout and the heat allows deep stretching. Many people have found that they can lose weight a lot easier with Bikram yoga, but you will need to prepare for it in advance, ensuring that you are completely hydrated and have eaten a high energy meal 1 ½ hours before the session.

Alternatively if you are more interested in a yoga retreat, where you stay in one location and submerge yourself in the life of the yogi then Tokyo is certainly the place to go. There are various options, both in the city and on the outskirts, as well as throughout the rest of Japan. For the more orthodox experience a retreat based in a rural area might be preferable, but make no mistake, just because a yoga retreat is based in the city does not mean that it will be busy and have a toxic environment. The creators of these retreats know exactly what they are doing and create a perfect environment to let everyone become immersed in their yoga. Have a look at reviews and try to get recommendations from other people to ensure that you have the best yoga experience that Tokyo has to offer.

When to Travel

Travelling to a different country or a different continent can be a stressful experience when all aspects are considered. One of the problems that people encounter is the change in temperature from their home country. If it is a drastic dip or increase the body can react quite badly, so it is important to know what to expect when visiting and to know when is the best time to travel. Tokyo's temperatures and climates change throughout the year, with all four season's seeing changes.

Winter in Tokyo is not as cold as is often imagined, with temperatures during the day averaging 9°C, but evening temperatures can drop down to freezing. At times there will be snowfall and the wind is often bitter so it is advisable to take a warm coat and protective clothing. However, as is often the case in cold weather, the temperature inside restaurants, the underground and other locations is often very warm, so wear something that can easily be removed. Don't be surprised if you see anyone wearing surgical masks, as the cold often brings on illness and people wish to protect themselves against it.

Spring is a popular time to visit Tokyo due to the temperate weather and beautiful cherry blossoms. In early spring it can be quite cold, but it soon warms up and on average it is about 10°C. Summer in Tokyo varies and while in June it tends to rain quite a lot, in August it is often very humid and uncomfortable. Understandably this is not a favoured time for sightseeing and the temperatures can reach between 30°C and 40°C.

Autumn, like spring, is a preferred time to visit Japan as the temperatures drop and it is much more comfortable to walk around and see the sights. The autumn colours are popular to see and provide a beautiful backdrop for the holiday. Japan is popular because of its varied seasons, offering a different vision of its cities during different times of the year. Knowing what to expect in terms of temperature and winds will allow travellers to pack accordingly and relax once they arrive.