Sakura, Chiba is home to important cultural heritage and even what is also known as the “Samurai Town”. Now you can stroll around the beautiful old streets of Sakura dressed as a Samurai, attend a relaxing zen session and even take part in a tea ceremony as part of a limited period tourist plan. The Samurai tour is mainly aimed at foreigners, however Japanese people who are curious about samurai culture are also more than welcome to join.
Sakura Castle Samurai Stroll
In 2016, Sakura became one of the four cities of the Hokuso region to be designated as a Heritage site under the title “An Edo Travelogue through Four Hokuso Cities” for its preservation of the old Edo culture. Old buildings full of secrets can be spotted all over the town, creating the old atmosphere of the Edo period. Embrace the elegant remnants of the Edo period with a relaxing stroll in Samurai clothing. Who knows what you might discover.
Your relaxing stroll will be led by a tour guide who knows a lot about the history of Sakura. This is a wonderful opportunity to take beautiful pictures of the historical Samurai house (Bukeyashiki). Your tour guide will also show you Hiyodorizaka, which is a natural path lined with a dense forest of tall bamboo trees where Samurai are said to have often pass by. Every year, the bamboo and wooden sword martial arts sessions in the program are also very popular.
◇ Running:
October 26
November 9, 23
December 14, 21
January 11, 25
February 8, 22
March 12, 28
April 9, 25
May 9, 16
◇ Times: 9:30 ー 12:30
*The program will still run in bad weather excluding stormy or severe weather.
◇ Prices:
¥6,500 per person (Includes lunch voucher and entry to the samurai house)
* ¥6,000 per person when you purchase tickets as a group of 3 or more.
◇ Tickets
Reservation Website: https://www.govoyagin.com/ja
Apply Directly to Sakura City Tourism Association
TEL: 043-486-6000
Email: sakurashi-kankou@catv296.ne.jp
* Phone calls will be answered in Japanese only.
Zen Meditation and Tea Ceremony in the House of a Feudal Lord
There are also guided zen meditation and tea ceremony sessions which are available for a limited period only. These guided zen meditation and tea ceremonies will take place in the Kyuhottatei ー one of Japan’s most preserved traditional-style feudal lord residences. This luxurious Edo-style mansion was built 130 years ago and is classified as an Important Cultural Property.
◇ Running:
October 16,
November 7, 19
December 6, 18
◇ Times: 9:00 ー 12:30
*The program will still run in bad weather excluding stormy or severe weather.
◇ Prices:
¥10,000 per person (Includes lunch voucher, entry to the Kyuhottatei and tea ceremony participation fee.)
◇ Tickets
Please enquire directly to the Sakura City Tourism Association
TEL: 043-486-6000
Email Address: sakurashi-kankou@catv296.ne.jp
* Phone calls will be answered in Japanese only.
If you are curious about Edo Samurai culture, you won’t be disappointed by this program.
Information
Sakura City Tourism Association
TEL：043-484-6000
URL：https://www.sakurashi-kankou.or.jp/
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The popular female rock band BAND-MAID will perform for the first time at KNOTFEST JAPAN 2023, scheduled for April 1 and April 2 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba.
KNOTFEST was begun by the American heavy metal band Slipknot, and the festival has been held yearly since 2012. BAND-MAID will perform on Day 1 along with headliners Slipknot, Trivium, and MAN WITH A MISSION.
Tickets for the May shows to be held in the United States as part of the BAND-MAID 10TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR are none on sale. The group managed to bring in over 20,000 fans during their solo U.S. tour in 2022. In addition to performing at Pointfest 2023, Welcome to Rockville 2023, and the Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival, BAND-MAID will also perform six solo shows. With some venues selling out instantly last year, you’ll want to snag tickets while you can!
Information
KNOTFEST JAPAN 2023
*BAND-MAID to perform on Day 1, April 1
DAY 1 – ROADSHOWApril 1, 2023
DAY 2 – FESTIVALApril 2, 2023
Venue: Makuhari Messe International Exhibition Halls 9-11
https://knotfestjapan.com
Official Site: https://bandmaid.tokyo -
On May 18, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu traveled to Chiba to take a ride on the Kyary Train, a collaborative train currently in operation on the Choushi Electric Railway! The collaboration is part of the LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project, launched to energize Japan by marketing the appeal of regional towns and cities. The singer also attended a special event celebrating the redesigned Kannon Station with Choshi mayor Shinichi Koshikawa and Choshi Electric Railway president Katsunori Takemoto in attendance.
In January, Kyary began the largest tour of her career, ‘Kyary Pamyu Pamyu 10th ANNIVERSARY JAPAN TOUR 2022 CANDY WAVE,’ with the artist performing 30 shows across Japan. In conjunction with the nationwide tour, the LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project was launched, which aims to bring attention and support to local industries and to inspire more tourism to rural areas impacted negatively by the pandemic. In April, Kyary announced a collaboration with Chiba’s Choushi Electric Railway. The railway President is known for his self-deprecating jokes, noting that the railway has seen a serious lack of ridership over the last decade. Fittingly, the collaboration is based on Kyary’s hit song Mondai Girl (Problem Girl). The Kyary Train began operations on the first day of Golden Week, attracting a huge crowd. Surprisingly, the singer herself took time out of her tour to ride the train herself! Upon arrival at the Choshi Dentetsu platform, the Kyary Train appeared, decorated with the collaboration design on the first car. Kyary, seeing the train in person for the first time, greeted it with a happy wave. Upon boarding, the interior was decorated with pink, yellow, and blue balloons inspired by the music video for Mondai Girl. “It’s so cute,” Kyary exclaimed. Other decorations placed in the train also pull from the video, including triangular accents based on Kyary’s outfit and spikes inspired by the male dancer’s hairstyles. The in-train ads feature “problematic” confessions from riders, citizens of Choushi, and Kyary herself. After a while, the departure sound plays, incorporating the phrase Mondai Girl, and the train departs. During the 21-minute ride, Kyary guided riders through the many stations, with announcements playing as the train passed by notable locales. After the trip, the ‘Mondai ga Aru’ (There are Problems) event took place to show off the new interior of Kannon Station. Broken glass has been replaced and the interior features a light pink paint job, complete with an image of Kyary. Choshi mayor Shinichi Koshikawa and Choshi Electric Railway president Katsunori Takemoto expressed their gratitude. “Choshi Electric Railway is often the butt of jokes, but I think it takes courage to make those jokes. It’s because the railway is so honest that people are willing to come out and help,” Kyary said. “I’ll do my best so that my music and this railway will both be loved for 100 years.” A photo booth pulling inspiration from the press conference scene in the Mondai Girl music video has been also been added. Kyary took a seat to share details of a certain moment during Coachella that made a huge impact on her. During the second weekend performance, Kyary performed alone for the first time in her decade-long career after her dancers suffered from a sudden illness. President Takemoto also spoke about a “problem”--too many people showed up to ride the Kyary Train during Golden Week, and the company ran out of its popular products halfway through the week! He also announced a new song, Choushi Mondai Girl, which he performed on guitar. “If there’s a problem, this is a good opportunity to solve it. If we can overcome our problems, we can move on to the next stage. I hope that Choushi Electric Railway will continue to do its best,” Kyary said at the end of the event, inspiring warm applause from the crowd. Be sure to check out the collaboration this spring and summer! Mondai Girl Music Video Information
LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project x Choushi Electric Railway
Choushi Electric Railway ‘Problem’ Pass (1-day Ticket including Special Sticker)
Where to Buy:
Choushi Electric Railway Online Shop
Tickets are available through August 31, 2022.
http://chodenshop.com/Choushi Electric Railway Nakanocho Station, Inubo Station
Available through August 31, 2022
*Each pass is sold separately. Sales will end once passes sell out.Choushi Electric Railway Official Site: https://www.choshi-dentetsu.jp/
Kyary Pamyu Pamyu
Tour Details: https://kpp10.jp/japantour2022/
10th Anniversary Website: http://kpp10.jp
Official Site: http://kyary.asobisystem.comLOCAL POWER JAPAN Project: https://localpowerjapan.com
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Kyary Pamyu Pamyu is staying active in 2022. Celebrating the 10th anniversary of her major label debut, the artist recently performed at Coachella, one of the largest music festivals in the United States. On October 21, 2021, she released her first full-length album in three years, ‘Candy Raver.’ In January, Kyary embarked on the largest tour of her career, ‘Kyary Pamyu Pamyu 10th ANNIVERSARY JAPAN TOUR 2022 CANDY WAVE,’ which will see the singer performing 30 shows across Japan. In conjunction with the nationwide tour, the “LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project” was launched to energize Japan through the appeal of regional towns and cities, and has been attracting major attention. Announced earlier this month at the singer’s performance in Chiba, the Kyary Train finally set out on the Choushi Electric Railway starting April 29.
On April 1, Choushi Electric Railway president Katsunori Takemoto tweeted out something strange and hilarious: “Choushi Electric Railway has tons of problems, so we’ll change our name to Choushi Warui (‘In Bad Shape’) Railway starting today.” The self-deprecating post is on brand for the railway which is known for struggling with a lack of riders over the past decade. Social media blew up following the tweet, with many wondering if it was simply a poor April Fool’s Joke. Shortly after, a collaboration image between the railway and Kyary Pamyu Pamyu’s popular track Mondai Girl appeared. Commemorative versions of a one-day ticket for the train line are on sale now. It was also announced that a fully-decorated collaborative train would begin running in late April, though the president remarked that the number of interior decorations would depend entirely on how much the company could fit into the budget. Of course, following this plea, support began pouring in from all over Japan. Now, the entire staff, including one new employee, is ready to welcome guests. Each ticket will come with a sticker, on which is written the president’s heartfelt plea: “I want the Kyary Train to run without any issues!” So far, so good. The collaborative train is called the ‘Kyary Train with Plenty of Problems,’ and takes place inside a flashy pink train perfectly encapsulating the singer’s image. Inside the train car, guests are transported into the world of the Mondai Girl music video. Pink, yellow, and blue balloons fill the space, with plenty of other homages present. The ads on display on the train are also full of confessions by Choushi Electric Railway staff, Choushi City residents, and Kyary, regarding their individual problems. While the collab train is running, riders are encouraged to write a message of support on the right half of the sticker and post it on a special board to be erected at Kannon Station on April 18. “I would like to renovate the old and problem-filled Kannon Station into Kyary Station,” president Takemoto said recently. He is also looking into erecting a photo booth pulling inspiration from the press conference scene in the Mondai Girl music video while cleaning up the area to draw in new customers. Be sure to check out the collaboration this spring and summer! Information
LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project x Choushi Electric Railway
Choushi Electric Railway ‘Problem’ Pass (1-day Ticket including Special Sticker)Price: ¥1,100 (Tax Included)
Where to Buy:
Choushi Electric Railway Online ShopTickets are available through August 31, 2022.
http://chodenshop.com/
※Only available in a set of 2: ¥2,000 (Tax Included). Comes with 2 stickers.Choushi Electric Railway Nakanocho Station, Inubo Station
Available through August 31, 2022
*Each pass is sold separately. Sales will end once passes sell out.
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Celebrating the 10th anniversary of her major label debut, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu is staying active in 2022. The artist will perform at this year’s Coachella, one of the largest music festivals in the United States, and released her first full-length album in three years ‘Candy Racer’ in October 2021. On January 16, Kyary embarked on the largest tour of her career, ‘Kyary Pamyu Pamyu 10th ANNIVERSARY JAPAN TOUR 2022 CANDY WAVE,’ which will see the singer performing 30 shows across Japan. In conjunction with the nationwide tour, the “LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project” was launched to energize Japan through the appeal of regional towns and cities, and has been attracting major attention. The details of Kyary’s next collaboration project in Chiba Prefecture have been announced!
To commemorate Kyary’s performance in Chiba on April 3, the singer will be teaming up with Choushi Electric Railway, a rail line that suffered a serious lack of ridership during the pandemic but continues to power through its hardships. The line is headquartered in the city of Choushi and operates a 6.4km, 10-station line between Choushi and Tokawa. To subsidize its operations, the company began selling nure-senbei (moist senbei rice crackers), mazui-bou (‘shoddy snacks’), and more. These treats now account for about 80% of total sales, double those from its railway operations. The company is working hard to attract tourism, with the goal to become ‘Japan’s #1 Entertainment Train,’ but paying for train repairs has been difficult. The LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project is working to revitalize the Choushi Electric Railway and the town of Choushi using Kyary’s inspiring song Mondai Girl as a motif. Mondai means ‘problem’ in Japanese, and Choushi likes to joke about being riddled with problems! Mondai Girl was released in 2015 and attracted attention across the world for its message–everyone’s ‘normal’ looks different, and that’s okay. The song was chosen as a perfect fit for the Choushi Electric Railway, which aims to go its own way without being bound by ‘normal’ practices. The collaboration logo was created as a tribute to the Mondai Girl music video and shows Kyary wearing Choushi Railway goggles. Special railway passes featuring this new imagery will be available for a limited time as part of the collaboration project, and a Choushi Electric Railway x LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project collaboration train is planned to go into operation at the end of April. The interior of the train will depend on how many special passes are sold. The president of the train line, Katsunori Takemoto, is a bit fearful of the project, stating “we can’t make the train too shabby inside, but we don’t really have much of a budget for it.” The collaboration passes come with a special sticker. While the collab train is running, riders are encouraged to write a message of support on the right half of the sticker and post it on a special board to be erected at Kannon Station on April 18. The president wants everyone to pray for the safe travels of the Kyary train, so be sure to take part! A collaborative T-shirt is also on sale featuring the new logo and the singer’s 10th-anniversary logo. It will be available on the LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project online store starting April 1 for two weeks only! Information
LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project × Choushi Electric Railway
Choushi Electric Railway ‘Problem’ Pass (1-day Ticket including Special Sticker)
Where to Buy:
- Choushi Electric Railway Online Shop
Available: April 1 – August 31, 2022 http://chodenshop.com/
*Set of 2: ¥2,000 (Tax Included). Comes with 2 stickers.
- Choushi Electric Railway Nakanocho Station, Inubo Station
Available: April 4 – August 31, 2022
*Each pass is sold separately. Sales will end once passes sell out.
Choushi Electric Railway (Chiba) x LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project Collab T-Shirt
Where to Buy:
LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project Online Shop
Available: April 1 – April 14, 2022 at 23:59
https://store-localpowerjapan.com/*A portion of the proceeds from each T-shirt sale will be donated to local causes.
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Ready to put your thinking caps on? Gather your best friends and head to Matsudo City in Chiba (about 40 minutes from Tokyo Station) for the real puzzle-solving game ‘The Little Wizard and Monsters ~Enter the Costume Contest, ya hear?~, taking place from December 4, 2021, until March 27, 2022. During the event, guests will have to search for clues in the area around Yabashira Station on the Shin Keisei Line, as well as the 21st Century Forest and Square Park. The 21st Century Forest and Square Park and Yabashira Station are both very familiar to those in their 20s and 30s who love pop culture, and this event was planned in the hopes that people would learn more about the area. While attempting to solve the puzzle, guests will find plenty of very Instagrammable spots and locations perfect for cherry blossom viewing as well!
Information
Live Puzzle Game ‘Little Wizard and Monsters’ ~Enter the Costume Contest, ya hear?~
Running: December 4, 2021 – March 27, 2022
*Closed Mondays and During New Years Holiday (December 29 – January 3)
Hours: 10:00-16:30
Free to Enter
Official Site: https://nazotoki-plus.com/
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For two days only, HAKU, a creative brand known for its underground art experience, will feature some of its unique works at Starts Otakanomori Hall in Nagareyama City, Chiba prefecture. The inside of the Philharmonic Hall will be transformed with lights and sound to mirror the natural environment surrounding the city. Within this immersive space, images will be projected on the ceiling, walls, and floor, and visitors will be surrounded by the sounds of the river, insects, wind through the trees, and more. Visitors will be given sensors to track them in real-time, allowing more interactivity with the digital environment. The water flowing through the venue changes its flow based on guest movement. What do you think of this bizarre experience?
Information
Stone -HAKU Exhibition-
November 23, 2021 / 10:00-21:00
November 24, 2021 / 10:00-18:00
Address: Starts Otakanomori Hall
Tickets: https://teket.jp/172/6811
Official Site: https://haku.symunity.co.jp/stone2021-nov/