Christmas is approaching, and in Japan that means one thing: lots of pretty twinkling lights. Throughout the country there are hundreds of romantic light displays that offer beautiful illumination and imagery for the Christmas season. In Tokyo, you can visit places like Roppongi Hills, Tokyo Tower or Shinjuku's Terrace City to take in these beautiful light displays, which are especially popular with couples, who plan a special evening at one of these "date spots" on Christmas Eve, considered the most romantic night of the year. In Yokohama's famous Yamashita Park you can visit Perry Joriku Hikari no Michi, translatable as the Shining Street of Admiral Perry's Landing, which commemorates the coming of Admiral Perry and his Black Ships with beautiful Christmas lights. This seems like an odd thing to celebrate, but I guss it's no stranger than the robot sister of Tetsuwan Atom (Astro Boy) being named Uran, meaning "uranium," an unexpected move for the only people who have experienced an atomic bombing first-hand. Just one of the many ways Japan confuses us foreigners.
6 comments:
Of course there is a "fakeness" of Japanese Christmas that's on part with buying a really nice Nativity Set for your front lawn only to see that it was made in China. I've had some of most depressed Christmases in Japan, although I'm much more mellow now.
Have you ever spent Christmas abroad?
I have never been abroad at all, but I'd want to see Japan first.
I spent one Christmas in Okinawa - it was not memorable.
I also spent one Christmas (in South Carolina) buying & wearing exclusively brand new clothes because my luggage had never made it to Sao Paulo the week before. That one was pretty nice - they do Christmas lights well in Charleston.
We did Christmas in Guam 2 years ago, it was fun from the "OMG we're in a place that has never seen snow" standpoint, with the locals making reindeer out of palm tree fronds and what not. Did you ever make it over there, Adrian?
No, I never got to Guam. Our oldest brother was stationed there - he seemed to think it was better than being shot at in Vietnam, but just barely. He might find it more pleasant now . . .
I've never been to Japan, but it sounds pretty.
Post a Comment