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 It is my great pleasure to introduce myself. My name is Junko and I started working at Sunrise Tours Center last April. My current duties include taking tour reservations and answering inquiries over the phone or Internet.
I was born in Tokyo, and have lived my entire life here. My neighborhood is very old, and the people who live there are very compassionate and friendly.
There is a great sense of community among my neighbors.
I was very lucky during school to have the chance to study abroad. My experiences oversees helped me appreciate what was good about my own culture as well. It also inspired me to a career in the tourism industry so I could help visitors from all over the world experience Japanese hospitality for themselves.
Winter is almost here, and it is getting colder every day. The colorful autumn leaves have all fallen, and it is easy for young women like myself to fall into a mood that is as gloomy as the skies. Fortunately, Christmas decorations are beginning to light up Tokyo, driving away such desolate feelings.
In your country, it may be tradition to spend your Christmas holidays with family at home, but in Japan, we are more likely to enjoy Christmas Eve with boyfriends or girlfriends out on the town. It has become a very important time of year for romantics. Young couples have already booked hotels or restaurants and are busy planning this special evening. Those not currently in a relationship may even feel pressure to find someone before that night.
Many young people rush to Tiffanys or Lois Vuitton to buy Christmas gifts. Women expect their boyfriends to give them gifts that are two times as expensive as the gifts they themselves are given. Surely it must be the same in your country?!
Once Christmas is over, New Years, the biggest day of the year in Japan, is just a week away.
The mood on New Years Eve can be very different in Japan compared to other places since temple bells are struck during the countdown to midnight instead of spectacular fireworks displays. I just recently learned the meaning behind the bells. They are struck 108 times, the final one coming precisely at midnight, to expel evil thoughts gathered during the old year.
During the first three days of the new year, Japanese people visit shrines to pray for a safe and prosperous year. In Tokyo, many people visit Meiji Shrine and enjoy piping hot amazake, a sweet drink made from fermented rice, or Oshiruko, sweet azuki-bean soup with rice cakes.
Spending New Years in Japan is certain different than any you've experienced before. Why not add it to your calendar?
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| About Sunrise Tours |
  Sunrise Toursis now accepting reservations for its 2007 tours.
New tours include the Nikko & Ninja Tour (Toshogu Shrine + Edo Village), Matsuri festival tours and Free Plan Hokkaido. Please visit our website for more details. |
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