Small Hotel Guests

I've always wanted to take some pictures of the birds coming around our Hotel entrance and the courtyard pretty often.

Finally, the opprotunity came to me the other day!  

I'm not familiar with species of birds, but according to the information that I collected, it must be Hiyodori, the Brown-eared Bulbul.

Hiyodori is very common bird in Japan, even in the central part of Tokyo. 

Not only one but two comes together.
They must be a couple! (I really hope so...)

They always stands together like this.

Maybe they're coming from the Imperial Palace or Koishikawa-Korakuen Garden, both places are very close from our Hotel. 

We've been seeing the bird couple since the opening of the Hotel.
Now I'm wondering "Are they always the same two?"
Any way, it's very happy to have them in our courtyard.

This is a view of the courtyard from Japanese Cuisine YUKURI.
You might have a chance to see Hiyodori couple from this window at lunch time!

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YUKURI's Teatime -2-

The hot summer days are continuing in Tokyo!
This is the August's dessert for YUKURI's teatime.
"Plum flavored Winter Melon and Yuzu flavored Tokoroten topped with Shiso Ice Cream" 

Many Japanese ingredients are used in this cool dessert and it will surly refreshes you in this hot weather!
Not only at teatime but you can also enjoy it after Kaisei cuisine for dessert.

YUKURI's Teatime14:00-16:30 (Last order) *Open year-round
-Japanese Tea  700JPY~ 900JPY
-Japanese Tea and Original Japanese Sweets 1,200JPY~1,800JPY

Summer Scene at Hotel Niwa Tokyo

There are many typical summer scene in Japan and I'd like to introduce this summer's feature at Hotel Niwa Tokyo.

We sprinkle water around the  hotel entrance so that the guests could feel more cool and comfortable during hot season.
Sprinkling water is called "Uchimizu" in Japan, it serves to cool the area and keep down dusts.
If you see the Kimono staff sprinkling water, please feel free to ask them to try it!

The mosquito coil in a piggy shaped pottery is very familiar in Japan's summer. You can see it at the entrance of Japanese Cuisine "YUKURI".

A wind chime hanging out side "YUKURI" rings when it catches the summer breeze.

Japanese lanterns and Morning glories has been set up at hotel entrance and YUKURI, also at smoking deck and refresh lounge. (The picture is Japanese lantern.)

                    

This summer again, front desk staff will welcome you in Yukata with fresh smile!

Feature of Summer Around the Hotel 2 - Mitama Matsuri -

The Mitama Matsuri (Soul Festival) is being held from July 13th to 16th at Yasukuni Shrine.
The Festival is held annualy since 1945 to honor spirits of the family due to the custom of "Bon".

Hundreds of stalls are standing on the approach, not only foods and drinks but there were also goldfish scooping and many games.

The Tanabata decorations are put up around the gate.

Approx. 30,000 lanterns glow after the sunset.
A very big festival, it attracts many people every year.

Yasukuni Shrine

20 min. on foot from Hotel Niwa Tokyo

1 min. on foot from Kudanshita Sta. by Toei Shinjuku Line from Jimbocho Sta.

Feature of Summer Around the Hotel 1 - Toro-nagashi -

Chiyoda Ward's annual event "The Cool of a Summer Evening" was held at Chidorigafuchi-moat last night.
"Toro- nagashi", about 700 floating lanterns create a fantastic scenery every year.
It is said that these lanterns guide back the spirits of the ancestors to the other world which were revisiting their house during "Bon".
"Bon" is a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the family's deceased spirits.

An announcement said that they made their firewoods by wood scraps from earthquake and tsunami affected area.

And now people riding on the boats are going to light lanterns and float them on the water.

The glowing lanterns are making fantastic atmosphere around the moat.

It was a beautiful summer night in central Tokyo...

Chidorigafuchi-moat Boat Deck
Around 20min. on foot from the Hotel or
5min. on foot from Kudanshita Sta. by Toei Shinjuku-Line from Jimbocho Sta.