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Bunraku is a traditional form of puppetry that is unique to Japan and has a history that dates back to the fifteen century and you can see one of these impressive performances in Tokyo this September.   The art form originated in the 15th century when performers would chant myths, legends and popular stories with musical accompaniment.  In the 16th century puppets were added to further enhance the stories and Bunraku as we now know it was born.

The puppets of Bunraku are large, almost five feet tall, and require three puppeteers to manipulate each doll realistically.  One puppeteer is responsible for the movements of the head, face and the right hand while another puppeteer controls the right hand and a third controls the legs and feet of the puppet.  In order that these large puppets appear life like and stand tall the head puppeteer wears "stage clogs" that elevate him by up to a foot and a half.  There is no attempt to hide the puppeteers in a Bunraku performance, they are in full view of the audience and are dressed in black robes adorned with their family crest.

"The most fascinating thing about Bunraku is that beautiful puppets seem to move about freely like humans and look like they are alive. The three puppeteers all become one with the doll in order to manipulate it, and they must also become completely of one heart with, and work together with, the chanter and the shamisen player-it is this great ensemble work that evokes such emotion through its beauty."

To learn more about the amazing history of Bunraku visit An Introduction to Bunraku presented by the National Theatre of Japan. Tickets for September performances in Tokyo can be purchased on line or at the box office.

Among the many video arcades and amusement parks located throughout Tokyo you will find that the rides and attractions featured at Tokyo Dome City and Asakusa Hanayashiki, billed as the oldest amusement park in Japan, cater to the traditionalist while Sega Joypolis, located in ultra-modern Odaiba, is an indoor facility combining futuristic rides with a large video arcade that gamers will not want to leave.

Tokyo Dome City features the world's first hanging-type linear roller-coaster and a spinning roller coaster while nearby LaQua boasts the world's first center-less Ferris wheel and the Thunder Dolphin which offers impressive views of the city and whose track will take riders through the center of the Ferris wheel.  Other attractions include the brightly lit Venus Lagoon merry-go-round and the Wonder Drop that takes riders over a harrowing 13 meter waterfall.

Located within walking distance of the historic Senso-ji Temple, Asakusa Hanayashiki has an array of kids rides that include the Sky Boat or a pedal powered Helicopter which both offer views of the park from above.  Thrill seekers will enjoy the Space Shot, the Spinning House and a roller coaster while visitors who like haunted houses have a choice from three different attractions.

Gamers will not want to miss out on a visit to Sega Joypolis which offers a more modern take on the amusement park and is home to a number of rides that you may not have seen before.  Halfpipe Canyon is a two person skateboarding ride where teams compete to make the most 360 degree turns at each end of a curved track that brings the riders parallel to the ground at it's highest point.  Race fans will enjoy sitting behind the wheel of a real Japanese sports car and racing around a choice of virtual courses where the car responds realistically to each move the driver makes.  Other virtual reality rides include hang-gliding, river rafting and a jungle shooting attraction.

If you don't have time to spend a day at one of these amusement parks, be sure to stop into one of the many arcades that are scattered throughout Tokyo.  Try to keep the beat on the Taiko drumming arcade game or try your hand at virtual horse racing or any of the other games that catch your eye.  Most of the games are pretty easy to use and offer visitors a chance to play cutting edge video games that may not yet be available in their home countries.

Likened to sleeping in a space pod or even a coffin, a night in a capsule hotel is definitely something that you should try at least once.  Capsule hotels offer micro accommodation that put a similarly small dint in your travel budget as well.

Most capsule hotels have a lounge area, communal baths and restrooms, separate floors for women, and a sleeping area where the pods sit side by side stacked like bunk beds.  The capsule offers a combinations of functionality and efficient use of space.  Within each you will find a television, alarm clock and lighting that can all be adjusted from the sleeping position.  Many capsule hotels offer free wireless Internet in their lounge areas and provide guests with towels and a yukata-like robe to use in the premises. Lockers are provided for valuables and larger items can be stored by the hotel until check out.

Many capsule hotels only offer late check-in (after 5PM) and require you to leave the premises during the day, but they will store your luggage and personal effects should you choose to stay more than one night.

Staying in a capsule hotel is an interesting option for travelers who don't plan on spending much time in their room and are on a limited budget.  Check out this video by Geobeats to learn more about the capsule hotel experience and to see a typical capsule.

The Capsule Inn Akihabara offers a one night stay for Y4,000 (around US $40) and is located in the heart on Tokyo's electronics distrist and the neighborhood where fans of anime, manga, cosplay and maid cafes tend to congregate.  For capsule hotels in other ares of the city be sure to browse through the SunnyPages listing of capsule hotels in Tokyo.

The Nihonbashi area is named after the bridge that was once the point of departure for those heading out of the city during the Edo Period (1603-1868).   Literally translated the bridges name is "Japan Bridge" and it is still base point for all the major highways out of the city.

The area was once the central commercial hub of the city and its namesake bridge, originally built in 1603 of wood but rebuilt of stone in 1911, can still be visited today although it is now covered by an overhead expressway which obscures the view of Mount Fuji that the bridge once provided.

Today there is a lot to do and see in Nihonbashi, the Bank of Japan has its head office here and also operates a Museum of Coinage and Currency.  Kids of all ages will enjoy a visit to the Kite Museum, and the Bridgestone Museum of Art and the National Film Center, part the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, are also located in the area.

Historical sights include a monument for lost children, the Kokucho time bell and the original foundation of the of Tokiwabashi Gate that was once an entrance to the Edo palace.

The Chuo City Tourism Association offers a great map of the area that inludes all of these sights and more.

The Interactive Design of tha/Yugo Nakamura runs from Tuesday, August 5th through Thursday August 28th at the Ginza Graphic Gallery, better know as GGG, a unique venue specializing in graphic design that opened in 1986 and is supported by Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.

Yugo Nakamura is one of Japan's foremost web designers and has received worldwide recognition for his simple yet sophisticated graphics and animation work.  This exhibition will feature work done by Nakamura and the seven other designers that are part of "tha", a design studio that he started in 2004.  On display are original works and prototypes of future projects from their body of work that including designs for NEC, UNIQLO USA, SoftBank and MoMA.

Nakamura has won numerous awards and his works have been shown at the Pompidou Center in Paris, the Design Museum in London, and numerous other venues. He is a visiting professor at Tama Art University.  He is excited about his first exhibition and says "We've lined up a whole range of programs and will have them all running at once. Please come and take a look!"

Why don't you?  In the meantime why not check out one of his interactive designs at yugop.

The Ginza Graphic Gallery (GGG) is located in the heart of the upscale Ginza area in Tokyo and is open 11AM to 7PM (6PM on Saturdays, closed on Sundays and national holidays).  Admission is free. (Access map)

Matsuri is the Japanese word for festival and there are number of them taking palce in Tokyo this month.

The Fukagawa Hachimangu Matsuri (Annual Festival) is one of the Three Great Edo Festivals and will run from August 13th to the 17th this year. Fifty-four mikoshi (portable shrines) will depart from the Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine at around 7:30 am, passing Eitai Bridge around 12 noon and will return to the Shrine at around 4 pm on the 17th where you can take in a performance of Taiko drumming.   Take the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line to Monzen-Nakacho Station to attend this festival.

The Tokyo Koenji Awaodori Dance will be held on August 23rd and 24th near the Koenji Station.  It is the second largest of all the Awaodori festivals held throughout Japan and is a very popular event that is marking its 52nd anniversary this year with 188 groups (ren) and 12,000 dancers performing along nine routes set up around the station.

The awaodori has a history dating back more than 400 years and one popular theory suggests that the dance was first performed as a way to pay homage to the spirits of departed ancestors as part of the annual o-bon festival.

Lastly, On August 30th, mark your calendars for the Asakusa Samba Carnival which will parade through the Asakusa area at 1:30 and features 5000 participants inclding a samba troupe from Brazil. (map)

For more Tokyo events, be sure to check out the Japan Event Calendar presented by the Japan National Tourist Organization.

Mount Takao, located within the municipality of Hachioji City, about 50 km from the center of Tokyo, is a nice day trip offering a break from the hustle and bustle of the city.  In recognition of its magnificent beauty, the 2007 edition of Michelin's Voyager Pratique Japon, the famous French travel guidebook, awarded Mt. Takao the maximum of three stars.

Mount Takao is part of the Forest Takao Quasi-National Park and is designated as one of the "100 Fuji Viewing Spots in Kanto".  Whether you love nature, culture or both, you will enjoy a visit to Mount Takao.  It is home to a number of scenic hiking trails and Takaosan Yakuoin Temple which was originally built in 744 and the repository for a number of important historical documents.  Mount Takao can be reached via one of the hiking trails or via a cable car that started operations in 1929 and that boasts the steepest incline of any cable car system in Japan.

Either way you ascend Mount Takao, be sure to take a break and quench your thirst at Takao Beer Mount which offers an all you can eat and drink buffet to its visitors and at 500 meters is the highest beer garden in Tokyo.

Forest Takao Quasi-National Park & Mount Takao is located approximately forty-five minutes by train from Shinjuku Station via the Chuo or Keio Lines. (access information)