Hatsumode(初詣) -?The most important Shinto event takes place in the New Year when millions of people visit shrines to pray for happiness and a healthy year.
Nishiarai Taishi (西新井大師) -??is a Buddhist temple of the?Shingon?Sect,?Buzan?Group. The temple's formal name is?Gochisan Henjoin Soji-Ji, and the headquarters of the sect is located at?Hasedera?in?Nara, famed as the temple of flowers.
During the first half of the 9th century (826 CE),?Kobodaishi?(Kukai) spread his teachings to various places around the?Kanto?Region. To save the villagers from an epidemic in this region,?Kobodaishi?carved an image of the Eleven-Faced?Kannon?and one of himself, placed them in a dried-up well, and conducted a fire-offering prayer ritual for 21 days. Legend has it that pure water flowed up out of the dry well and healed the villagers' malodies. The resurgence of the water in the well located on the west side of the Main Hall led to a new name for the area,?Nishiarai, meaning "new well of the west," and also led to the enshrine,templement of?Kobodaishi?and the Eleven-Faced?Kannon?in the Main Hall.
Hello! We will start to introduce cool spots/fun facts about Ikebukuro and many tips for traveling in Japan, to help you travel like a real local!
Today, we will present you the Jiyu Gakuen, Jiyu means freedom and Gakuen means School. It was established in 1921 with Christian-oriented educational philosophy and now is a Japan national important cultural asset. The school was designed by American architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
It's located near Ikebukuro station and takes 12 minutes on foot from Sakura hotel Ikebukuro.
If you like to take photos of architectures, or explore historical spots, this one is for you!
Feel free to ask the front desk staff about how to get there!
The Fukuro Festival began in 1968 as a promotional event for four local shopping districts on the west side of Ikebukuro Station.
Since then, it has grown to be one of the largest events in the area, with the two-part festival taking in the entire neighborhood of Ikebukuro in a festive atmosphere.
Hello! This is Yuka from Sakura Hotel Ikebukuro. I just started training here this week. I have studied Mandarin Chinese for four years in my college days, and entered Sakura Hotel this Spring! I have been to Singapore and Philippines for studying English, and hope that I can travel all over the world again! Please say hi if you visit our hotel!!
Traditional Japanese sweets are typically enjoyed in combination with a cup of green tea. They are made in a wide variety of shapes and consistencies and with diverse ingredients and preparation methods. Some are popular across the country and around the year while others are only available regionally or seasonally.
