“My partner and I just love going to Disneyland, so when we saw a pamphlet advertising wedding receptions by the Cinderella Castle in Tokyo Disneyland we called and asked if we could hold our wedding there,” Higashi told Reuters in a telephone interview.

But Higashi is openly lesbian and her upcoming commitment ceremony is being characterised in the media as the first “gay wedding” to be held at Japan’s Magic Kingdom.

When Higashi gave them details of her plans, the hotel initially had one request.

“When I explained it would be with my female partner they hesitated and asked that one of us wear a tuxedo as the sight of two people with the same wedding dress would make other visitors to the park uncomfortable,” Higashi said.

After she questioned this, the resort promised to check things out and get back to her. A week later, Higashi was told she and her partner would be allowed to both wear wedding dresses, or both tuxedos, if so inclined.

Read more

On the 19th at noon around 100 mikoshi or Japanese style floats will be paraded around Asakusa.

The festival is lively and a great way to experience Japanese culture first hand.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/giantginkgo/162974479/lightbox/

Lada Gaga appeared in sell out concerts on May 10, 12 and 13 at the Saitama Super Arena. You can see more pictures and information on the event’s website: http://www.ladygagajapan2012.com/

Donald “Duck” Dunn, the bassist who helped create the gritty Memphis soul sound at Stax Records in the 1960s as part of the legendary group Booker T. and the MGs and contributed to such classics as “In the Midnight Hour,” ”Hold On, I’m Coming” and “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay,” died Sunday at 70.

Dunn, whose legacy as one of the most respected session musicians in the business also included work with John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd’s Blues Brothers as well as with Levon Helm, Eric Clapton, Neil Young and Bob Dylan, died while on tour in Tokyo.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gs1F-uqNTwk2BZXNcCUxcEr7fxDA?docId=cb120626e8864b8ab3b4af029e4c336a

Depp was mobbed by fans at Narita International airport. The premiere was screened the same night at Roppongi Hills Arena.

You can see the Dark Shadows trailer here:

The Magic of Bentendo Hall Temple

Bentendo Hall Temple, a Benzaiten temple was built in the early part of the 17th century. The builder of this intriguing temple was a feudal lord known as Mizunoya Katsutaka. The original structure was destroyed during WWII by extensive bombing. A replacement structure was completed in 1958 and is what is now regarded as of Bentendo Hall Temple. The temple is actually located on an island in Shinobazu Pond, which is part of Ueno Park Tokyo.

Breathtaking Denzuin Temple

Denzuin Temple is a Buddhist temple that was built by Tokugawa Leyasu in dedication to his mother. The temple was originally known as Muryozan Denzuin Jikuji. The temple is situated in the Bunkyo region. The Denzuin Temple was the inspiration and story setting for the Japanese novelist Kafu Nagai.

The Wonder of Gokuku-ji Temple

Gokuku-ji is a located in Tokyo’s Bunkyo-ku. This is a Buddhist temple, first established by the mother of the Shogun Tokugawa Tsunayoshi. The temple is well known for being the central temple that presides over the practice of the Japanese tea ceremony throughout the country’s temples. Emperor Mejii, in 1873 declared the temple the imperial mausoleum. In fact several of his children and the emperor himself are buried within the temple. To this day it is still regarded as the Imperial mausoleum.

Intriguing Dempoin Temple

Another Buddhist temple, Dempoin is situated near to Sensoji Temple, within the Asakusa district of the Taito Ward of the city. There is a wonderful Japanese garden and pond that is free for the public to tour, but the temple itself is usually not open for public touring. The garden and pond site is similar in design to Katsura Imperial Villa located in Kyoto.

The Splendor of Higashi-Hongan-ji Temple

Centrally located in the Asakusa District, Taito Ward of the city is Higashi-Hongan-ji Temple. This Buddhist temple is of the Jodo Shinshu sect, and is defined as Jodoshin sect Higashi-honganji-ha Higashi-Honganji Temple. The Higashi-Hongan-ji Temple was first constructed by Kyonyo, the 12th Priest of Higashi-Honganji. During the period of around 1651it and was known as the Edo Gobo Kozuiji Temple. A fire destroyed the temple in 1657, forcing the temple to be relocated to the current location in Asakua, being then named Asakua Honganji Temple. In 1965 the name was again changed, now to Tokyo Higashi-Honganji Temple. In 1981 following a conflict known as ‘Ohigashi Sodo’, it became independent of the Otani sect.

When in Japan, a visit to ancient shrines and temples is a must. It will keep you spellbound and in a state of wonder long after returning to your home country. The country is rich in culture and history, but the biggest pleasure comes from the warm, friendly and welcoming people you will meet during your tour.

If you’re interested in visiting some of these amazing temples and shrines, Singapore Airlines offers flights from Los Angeles to Tokyo. For more information visit:

http://www.singaporeair.com/jsp/cms/en_UK/promotions/los-angeles-flights.jsp

The topic also has some controversy as the definition as to what is exactly the tallest structure is not always clear. Some buildings just add a bigger antennae to the top of their structure to claim the title.

Wikipedia even has an entry on the world’s tallest buildings.

Tokyo is now trying to enter the competition with the construction of the Tokyo Sky Tree.

When completed, the tower will boast a height of 610 meters, or 2,001 feet. It would rank along with the Guangzhou TV & Sightseeing Tower as the third highest man made structure in the world. The Burj Dubai in the United Arab Emirates is currently the highest man made structure and beats all other buildings and towers in all categories.

The Tokyo Sky Tree will be used to broadcast digital television over Tokyo and is located 1km east of Asakusa.

FIFA requires the host city to have a stadium that seats at least 80,000 people for the opening and final games. The stadium that was used in the 2002 World Cup final in Yokohama only holds 70,000, making it necessary for Tokyo to build another stadium.

The 2010 World Cup will be held in South Africa while Brazil will host the 2014 World Cup.

“Tokyo’s bid lacked passion, it didn’t capture the voters’ hearts,” said Munehiko Harada, sports sciences professor at Waseda University.

Not even Barack Obama could save Chicago’s bid when they were eliminated in the first round of voting.

I think the Japanese government are kind of fed up with wasteful government spending. Most of the stadiums that were built when Japan held the World Cup go unused and were a huge expenditure for tax payers. Since China held the 2008 Olympics, I also think it will be some time before the games are held again in Asia.

The public transport system is excellent, hundreds of Tokyo hostels have opened up in recent years to cater to the increased number of visitors, food can be very affordable and most of the main sites are free to visit.

Public Transport

As Tokyo has the most extensive network of surface lines, the train is the best way to get around. The Yamnote line links all the major districts together, of which there are many including must-visits Akihabara (electronic city) and Shibuya (youth city).

Despite being established in the 15th century, Tokyo is a 24-hour modern city with fascinating technology part of everyday life. If, however you want to soak up some more historic culture, you can also take the train out of the city and visit places like Kamakura, where you will find the 2nd largest bronze Buddha in the country.

Accommodation

The cheapest option is a hostel; Tokyo hostels are located in every district of the city and usually comprise of dorm-style mixed rooms. It is very uncommon to find single sex dorms in Tokyo, so if you would feel unsafe in a mixed dorm, the best choice is to go for a private room. Only slightly dearer at a hostel, they usually have the added extras of an attached bathroom and free breakfast.

One of the important things to remember when booking a Tokyo hostel, though, is that many of them have lockout rules so if you’re planning a night out make sure you check their policy before you book.

A hostel that definitely deserves a mention is the Ace Inn in Shinjuku; its capsule wooden beds in a grid-like formation will add an interesting tale to your trip, even if you stay for just one night.

Food

Although the city recently received 191 Michelin Stars (double that of its nearest competitor Paris) for its internationally acclaimed cuisine, there are still plenty of opportunities to taste the local specialties without having to fork out a lot of money.

If you can stomach it, a visit to the Tsukiji fish market early morning is an interesting way to see the local traders in action, just get on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line to Tsukiji station. Outside, the wholesale market is a mixture of wholesale and retail shops that sell groceries, seafood, and the freshest sushi you can buy.

As a huge part of Japanese cuisine, sushi is readily accessible on almost every street in the city. To try it on a budget, visit one of the many izakayas – popular informal bar/pub eateries. They are cheap and friendly to newcomers and travelers, with the staff often advising and informing your choices.