Uploaded June 2020 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Welcome to Planet Tokyo! I'm Koji. I was born and raised in a city located on the edge of central Tokyo. It's still exciting to hang out and discover something new in the megalopolis although I've been living here for decades. I share my experiences with you guys as pedaling around the massive, magical and mysterious city. Subscribe now so you can join our next ride. Let's hop on a bike!
Instagram: instagram.com/koji_planet_tokyo
Twitter: twitter.com/kj_planet_tokyo
Music:
Spinnin' by Alex (c) copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. dig.ccmixter.org/files/AlexBeroza/32423 Ft: spinningmerkaba (OP)
Welcome to Planet Tokyo! I'm Koji. I was born and raised in a city located on the edge of central Tokyo. It's still exciting to hang out and discover something new in the megalopolis although I've been living here for decades. I share my experiences with you guys as pedaling around the massive, magical and mysterious city. Subscribe now so you can join our next ride. Let's hop on a bike!
Instagram: instagram.com/koji_planet_tokyo
Twitter: twitter.com/kj_planet_tokyo
Music:
Spinnin' by Alex (c) copyright 2011 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. dig.ccmixter.org/files/AlexBeroza/32423 Ft: spinningmerkaba (OP)
![A Cat Wiggling His Tail [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/OaAVxWqeAyk/mqdefault.jpg "A Cat Wiggling His Tail [iPhone 4S/HD]
What do you wanna say with your tail, Leo?
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S")
![Goldfish Scooping ~Japanese Festival Stall~ [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oev2orzmmkg/mqdefault.jpg "Goldfish Scooping ~Japanese Festival Stall~ [iPhone 4S/HD]
Stalls are an essential ingredient for Japanese festivals. Various kinds of stalls catch your heart as you wander into the stall street of a festival. The goldfish scooping stall is one of them. You scoop goldfish with a scooper and take the fish home as a prize. The young and old savor the traditional game at a festival.
I am taking care of the fish my five-year-old nephew got at a summer festival while traveling in Osaka with his family. Fish from these stalls usually dont last long after you take them home. As a kid, however, I remember this one fish I got at a stall survived 3 years. I hope my nephews ones lead long lives.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S")
![People Playing Pokemon GO in Ueno Park, Tokyo [iPhone 6 Plus]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PInnYOs5iyo/mqdefault.jpg "People Playing Pokemon GO in Ueno Park, Tokyo [iPhone 6 Plus]
Pokemon GO, which is dominating the smartphone app market all over the world, has been available for a couple of weeks here in Japan. Although the fever right after its release is gone, millions of people are still getting carried away with the world-changing game. Ueno Park, located in the middle of Tokyo and famous for its beautiful cherry blossoms and lotuses, is now being taken over by Pokemon trainers. You would see tons of people looking into their smartphones there. It doesn’t even seem like they are bothered by the loud cicada-symphony which usually annoys people living in Japan the whole summer. Hopefully they don’t forget it’s the lotus season. Me? I got enough Magikarps to make a Gyarados and some Dratinies while enjoying the stunning views. Still a long way to Dragonite though.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 6 Plus on Aug. 3rd and 4th, 2016")
![Local Bon Odori Festival at Kawaguchi, Japan [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PU1sqqwnFMI/mqdefault.jpg "Local Bon Odori Festival at Kawaguchi, Japan [iPhone 4S/HD]
Bon, one of the Japanese Buddhist customs, is to honor the spirits of ones ancestors. Various festivities and observances take place in Japan during the Bon season, around July 15th.
Bon Odori is one of them, which literally means Bon Dance. It is said that its origin was a folk dance to welcome the spirits of the dead. Nowadays thousands of Bon Odori Festivals, from small to large ones, are held in summer evenings all over Japan and people simply enjoy the dancing rather for the original meaning of the custom.
You will come across some Bon Odori Festival taking place at a small childrens park or anywhere else for the matter. That is, if you live in a populated residential area in Japan.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Jul. 19th, 2012")
![Sensoji Temple, Asakusa, Tokyo ~Bladder Cherry Market Day~ [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Pc792vXAwrY/mqdefault.jpg "Sensoji Temple, Asakusa, Tokyo ~Bladder Cherry Market Day~ [iPhone 4S/HD]
Sensoji Temple, located in Asakusa, is Tokyos oldest Buddhist temple and one of the most popular tourist attractions in Tokyo. It is always crowded with numerous people, and the number of the people rise further when some festivity takes place.
Hozuki-ich, or Bladder Cherry Market, is one of the festivities. It is held on July 9th and 10th every year, related to Day of 46,000 Blessings. It was said that worshiping on July 10th was equivalent to worshiping for 46,000 days and called Day of 46,000 Blessings, but people wanted to become the first worshiper on that day and got to visit there the day ahead. In time, also July 9th came to be called Day of 46,000 Blessings.
On those days, the temple bustles more than usual with the people who visit there to worship and get bladder cherries, summer fruits which were once used for medical herbs but are now mainly planted for decoration.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Jul. 9th, 2012")
![Handheld Fireworks ~Japanese Kids Summer Activity~ [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PcSTmkdBUZ8/mqdefault.jpg "Handheld Fireworks ~Japanese Kids Summer Activity~ [iPhone 4S/HD]
Handheld fireworks are one of the traditional toys in Japan which are usually enjoyed in summer. Japanese kids look forward to playing with them during their summer vacation. But of course small kids are not allowed to play with them without an adult around.
My five-year-old nephew begs me to play with the fireworks with him every time he comes to visit me during his vacation. This is a kind of video compilation of clips of when he came to visit me the other day.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Jul. 19th, 2012")
![Sugamo, Tokyo ~Grandmas Harajuku~ [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PeIyRYMcN-g/mqdefault.jpg "Sugamo, Tokyo ~Grandmas Harajuku~ [iPhone 4S/HD]
Sugamo, located in North Tokyo, is well-known as an area where the old gather. It is also called Grandmas Harajuku after Harajuku, a hot spot among the young. At Sugamo, You can see what is hot among seniors. It looks like the most trendy thing now is Lucky Charm Red Underpants.
The main attraction of the area is Koganji Temple, also called Togenuki Jizo Temple, where a Jizo, or a Ksitigarbha statue, reputedly cures people by washing and scrubbing the part of the statue that corresponds your area that ails you.
On every 4th, 14th and 24th, there are more than the usual number of markets on the Jizo Shopping Street, the bustling street in front of Koganji Temple. On those days, you may find something that you cannot find elsewhere.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Jun. 4th, 2012")
![Tanabata, the Day of the Star Festival ~Zojoji Temple, Tokyo~ [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QDzpNXClChA/mqdefault.jpg "Tanabata, the Day of the Star Festival ~Zojoji Temple, Tokyo~ [iPhone 4S/HD]
Once upon a time, in the sky, there was a princess and a prince. The princess was the star Vega, a daughter of the Sky Emperor, the prince was the star Altair. They fell in love with each other and were blissfully married. However, they got carried away by their happy marriage too much and became to neglect their jobs. This made the Sky Emperor angry and he separated the lovers across the Milky Way. But he felt sorry for his daughter and allowed them to meet on the seventh day of the seventh month every year.
This Chinese myth has many variations and the above is the most well-known version in Japan. In some Asian countries, people hold festivals and events based on the myth. Also here in Japan, a lot of festivals and events are held around on July 7th (based on the Gregorian calendar) or August 7th (based on the lunar calendar). The day is called Tanabata. It is said that your wish will come true when you wish upon stars on Tanabata day. During this season, in towns, you can see colorful paper strips on which people wrote their wishes.
Also at Zojoji Temple, located at the foot of the Tokyo Tower, you can see the wish strips flowing in the breeze in Tanabata season. Unfortunately July 7th is in the rainy season and the weather is not often clear in Tokyo area, but people enjoy Tanabata and wish upon stars over clouds.
Click below to see what Tanabata Festival is like!
http://youtu.be/qs-Kk_G2N_o
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Jul. 5th, 2012")
![Sunny Day after Snowy Day, Shinjuku, Tokyo [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QRbjMwjXzz4/mqdefault.jpg "Sunny Day after Snowy Day, Shinjuku, Tokyo [iPhone 4S/HD]
After a snow storm had passed over, Tokyo was warmed by the sunshine. People returned to their usual life although public transportation was still being disrupted a bit. Every time a heavy snowfall hits the massive capital, transportation descends into chaos. People know the city is pretty vulnerable to snow and recognize the need for countermeasures. It is, however, also true that it is difficult to take measures with a large budget, against the visitant that comes only once in a few year.
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Jan. 15th, 2013")
![Shibuya Hachiko Crossing, Tokyo [iPhone 4S/HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QkjwnUVUm4I/mqdefault.jpg "Shibuya Hachiko Crossing, Tokyo [iPhone 4S/HD]
This busy crossing is located in Shibuya area, a fashion center of Japan, also famous as a nightlife area. You may pass the crossing and see the huge crowd to go shopping or drinking when you visit Tokyo.
This video was taken in a weekday afternoon. Visit there in a weekend afternoon if you would like to see more people. The statue of Hachiko you can see in the video was built to tribute a dog named Hachiko. If you are interested in his sad but beautiful story, see below.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hachiko
- Shot in 1080p full HD with an iPhone 4S on Apr. 4th, 2012")
