What we’re about
Join us for some easy hiking and fun days out, and make new friends.
MEETUPプロフィール名は、「下の名前＋姓」または「下の名前＋姓のイニシャル」いずれかでなければなりません。下の名前と姓のどちらかだけではグループに入ることが許可されません。ローマ字で書いてください。
MEETUPメッセージをご確認ください。すぐにお申し込みを確認させていただくか、入会の許可を取得するために必要なことをお知らせいたします。
Anyone can join. Just be friendly, with the aim of making new friends.
One thing we do require is that you have a proper Meetup profile name. Please use your GIVEN NAME + your FAMILY NAME, or your GIVEN NAME + your FAMILY NAME INITIAL. We will allow you at least 30 minutes after joining to update it.
Why is it necessary? This helps event organisers identify you a little more easily. Thank you for understanding.
By joining the group, it will be assumed you have read, understood, and accepted these conditions.
Please join us!
Mark
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- 小田原北條五代祭り Odawara Castle and Hōjō Godai Festival小田原駅 Odawara Station, Odawara
To join this event please see below and send me a message on LINE. Without this, you will not find out our meeting point. EVERYONE needs to do this EVERY TIME, including those who have participated with me previously.
In addition to the festival, the event will include castle sightseeing.
◾️After you have applied to join this event, please contact Mark Sensei via the Line application quoting your FULL NAME and this message: [Odawara - 3rd May] Mark's LINE ACCOUNT
◾️参加されるイベントの名前(フルネーム)と日付を付けてマーク先生にLINEしてください!
例:[Odawara - 3rd May] Mark's LINE ACCOUNTWe'll leave Odawara station at 9.30am, so please ensure you arrive at least 10 minutes earlier.
You need to bring:
- Additional money for castle entrance fees.
- Lunch - we will be going directly to the castle.
The Odawara Hōjō Godai Festival is a significant event held in Odawara City. It has its roots in the history of the Hojo clan, who were powerful feudal lords in the Kanto region during the Kamakura period (1185-1333).
The festival commemorates the legacy of the Hojo clan and their adherence to the five Confucian virtues known as "Godai" in Japanese: benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and fidelity. These virtues were central to the philosophy and governance of the Hojo clan.
The festival honors the warlords of the powerful Hojo clan that ruled the region for five generations starting in the late 15th century.
The procession sets out from the grounds of the elegant Odawara Castle , slowly making its way through the city. Hundreds of samurai warriors in colorful costumes, including musket-toting foot soldiers and cavalry, march along with women in antique kimono, bands of ninja, and other performers looking like they stepped out of Japan's feudal past.
The exact origins of the Odawara Hōjō Godai Festival are not precisely documented, but it likely began as a local celebration within the Odawara community to honor the Hojo clan's contributions to the region. Over time, it evolved into a larger and more elaborate event, incorporating various cultural performances, rituals, and ceremonies.
Today, the festival typically features traditional processions, performances, martial arts demonstrations, and cultural exhibitions. It serves as a platform for locals to showcase their heritage and for visitors to experience the rich history and traditions of Odawara City and the surrounding area.
Additional fees:
Odawara Castle ¥510 (general admission). Additional fees here .Event fee:
¥800 - early discount if you pay by 23rd April (PayPay, or in cash at an earlier event).
¥1250 if you pay between 24th April - 2nd May early evening (PayPay, or in cash at an earlier event).
¥1500 in cash on the event day (3rd May) - please bring the correct money (see the NOTE below).NOTE: requesting to pay on the day of the event is upon the understanding that you will either attend the event OR arrange for the event fee to be paid via PayPay within 24 hours. Failure to do so may result in your removal from the group. See the cancellation policy below.
If you don't have PayPay, please ask a friend or coworker to do the transaction for you (give them cash!).
Cancellation policy:
- Full refund given if cancellation is notified BY LINE MESSAGE at least 24 hours before the event start time.
- Cancellation within 24 hours of the event start time or no-showing requires full payment of the event fee.
Tokyo Fun Events open chat group on LINE
Tokyo Fun Events on Instagram
Tokyo Fun Events on FacebookAfter the event, you may submit a review/evaluation. Please kindly rate appropriately as a low evaluation has an impact on the group. Things you should clearly understand in advance:
- I (Mark) am not a tour guide. For many events this will also be my first time, and events are mainly organised based on intensive internet research.
- Nature cannot be guaranteed, so flower festivals may be impacted by the recent climate.
- We aim to depart on time, however bus schedules might change. This is unavoidable.
- We request participants arrive EARLY. In rare cases we might wait a few minutes if we do not need to take a bus.
- The number of participants is not guaranteed. However we will not have large groups.
- The event finish time might be earlier or later than advertised. The hiking time might be longer/shorter than anticipated. Return bus times are not guaranteed.
How to calculate your review appropriately:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 stars) = Everything was as described.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars) = The event was generally ok, but there were a few things that you weren't happy with (please provide further details).
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 stars) = The event was disappointing (please provide further details).
⭐️⭐️ (2 stars) = The event was poor (please provide further details).
⭐️ (1 star) = The event was terrible (please provide further details). - Kurayami Matsuri (The Darkness Festival) 🏮🏮Japan's best kept secretFuchū Station 府中駅, 東京
To join this event please see below and send me a message on LINE. Without this, you will not find out our meeting point. EVERYONE needs to do this EVERY TIME, including those who have participated with me previously.
The Darkness Festival is Japan's best kept secret.
Claimed to be one of the oldest festivals in the Kanto region, there isn't anything like it in all of Japan. It happens every April 30th to May 6th at Okunitama Shrine and as the name implies, happens at night. The week's festivities include floats with men, women, and children performing in traditional costumes, dancing up and down the street.
Right outside of the station exit, the floats are lined up on the street facing the entrance to the Shrine. Each float has its own costume and color, and there are usually children performing alongside adults. The floats are lit up with lanterns and lights, and the city takes on a surreal atmosphere. The lanterns and floats make Fuchu look like the infamous hot spring town in the movie Spirited Away. The children perform for about an hour before they are pulled into a parade up and down the shrine. The floats sometimes end up side by side and an exuberant display of colours and dance ensues.
Various Shinto rituals are held during the seven days from April 30 to May 6 every year, but the most exciting event is the "Mikoshi togyo (portable shrine procession)" on May 5, when six large drums are sounded to signal the start of fireworks, and eight portable shrines move to Otabisho (the intersection of the old Koshu-kaido and Fuchu-kaido roads).
The mikoshi procession departs the shrine at 18:00 on May 5 and continues until around 21:00
The name "Kurayami Matsuri" comes from the fact that this "Mikoshi togyo" used to be held in the dark, with all the lights in the city turned off.◾️After you have applied to join this event, please contact Mark Sensei via the Line application quoting your FULL NAME and this message: [Kurayami Matsuri - 5th May] MARK's LINE ACCOUNT
If you would like to bring a guest, please ask me via Line.◾️参加されるイベントの名前(フルネーム)と日付を付けてマーク先生にLINEしてください。
例:[Kurayami Matsuri - 5th May] MARK's LINE ACCOUNT
定員の都合上、お連れ様がいる時は事前にLINEでご相談ください。We will meet at Fucchu station at 5pm. Please kindly ensure you arrive punctually.
Fuuchu is a small city 20 minutes outside of the heart of Tokyo. Normally a quiet town, it's home to Okunitama Shrine, one of the largest shrines in the Kanto area.
The Shrine was founded during the 2nd century AD, and was renamed Okunitama during the Meiji period. The Kurayami festival which is centered around Okunitama Shrine, is also associated with Utagaki which is an ancient ritual gathering of peasants and farmers.
This cultural significance has continued into modern times as teenage boys and girls usually go to the festival together on dates, so the festival has a very strong youth turnout.
During all this the shrine is incredibly busy, with food stalls and games at every corner. There is even a haunted house. The three major events are the horse ride which takes place on the first night, the giant taiko drum floats which happen on the second night, and then the all night shrine event happens on the third to the fourth. The shrine carrying is very rowdy and goes on till the morning.
Words cannot describe just how beautiful this festival really is. If you're in Japan during this time, it is a must-see.
Event fee:
¥800 - early discount if you pay by 26th April (PayPay, or in cash at an earlier event).
¥1250 if you pay between 27th April- 4th May early evening (PayPay, or in cash at an earlier event).
¥1500 in cash on the event day (5th May) - please bring the correct money (see the NOTE below).NOTE: requesting to pay on the day of the event is upon the understanding that you will either attend the event OR arrange for the event fee to be paid via PayPay within 24 hours. Failure to do so may result in your removal from the group. See the cancellation policy below.
If you don't have PayPay, please ask a friend or coworker to do the transaction for you (give them cash!).
Cancellation policy:
- Full refund given if cancellation is notified BY LINE MESSAGE at least 24 hours before the event start time.
- Cancellation within 24 hours of the event start time or no-showing requires full payment of the event fee.
Tokyo Fun Events open chat group on LINE
Tokyo Fun Events on Instagram
Tokyo Fun Events on FacebookAfter the event, you may submit a review/evaluation. Please kindly rate appropriately as a low evaluation has an impact on the group. Things you should clearly understand in advance:
- I (Mark) am not a tour guide. For many events this will also be my first time, and events are mainly organised based on intensive internet research.
- Nature cannot be guaranteed, so flower festivals may be impacted by the recent climate.
- We aim to depart on time, however bus schedules might change. This is unavoidable.
- We request participants arrive EARLY. In rare cases we might wait a few minutes if we do not need to take a bus.
- The number of participants is not guaranteed. However we will not have large groups.
- The event finish time might be earlier or later than advertised. The hiking time might be longer/shorter than anticipated. Return bus times are not guaranteed.
How to calculate your review appropriately:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 stars) = Everything was as described.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars) = The event was generally ok, but there were a few things that you weren't happy with (please provide further details).
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 stars) = The event was disappointing (please provide further details).
⭐️⭐️ (2 stars) = The event was poor (please provide further details).
⭐️ (1 star) = The event was terrible (please provide further details). - Great Wisteria Festival and illuminations at Ashikaga Flower ParkAshikaga Flower Park Station あしかがフラワーパーク駅, Ashikaga
To join this event please see below and send me a message on LINE. Without this, you will not find out our meeting point. EVERYONE needs to do this EVERY TIME, including those who have participated with me previously.
Selected as one of the top 10 dream destinations by CNN in 2014, Ashikaga Flower Park amazes every year with its beautiful display of wisteria. From pale cherry pink wisteria, white wisteria, the great wisteria, the golden chain tree and various types of azalea, Ashikaga Flower Park is a sight to behold from mid-April to mid-May. There is also a nighttime light-up of the wisteria and roses until late May, making for an otherworldly sight. The illuminations commence between 4.30~5pm.
The biggest attraction is a 160-year-old plant whose canopy covers an astonishing 1000 sq. meters. Elsewhere, trellises create spectacular blossom tunnels — including one that is 80m-long and another that goes over a bridge. In the evenings, some of the wisteria are illuminated. It’s all very photogenic, as you can see.
◾️After you have applied to join this event, please contact Mark Sensei via the Line application quoting your FULL NAME and this message: [Ashikaga Flower Park - 6th May] MARK's LINE ACCOUNT
If you would like to bring a guest, please ask me via Line.◾️参加されるイベントの名前(フルネーム)と日付を付けてマーク先生にLINEしてください。
例:[Ashikaga Flower Park - 6th May] MARK's LINE ACCOUNT
定員の都合上、お連れ様がいる時は事前にLINEでご相談ください。We will meet at Ashikaga Flower Park station at 2.45pm. Please kindly ensure you arrive punctually.
Note: it seems there is ONE train per hour. The 2.02pm Ryoma Line train from Oyama arrives at 2.36pm.Additional fees (subject to change):
See here about the variable admission fee
It seems it will range from ¥900 to ¥2300, depending on the condition of the blooms.Event fee:
¥800 - early discount if you pay by 26th April (PayPay, or in cash at an earlier event).
¥1250 if you pay between 27th April - 5th May early evening (PayPay, or in cash at an earlier event).
¥1500 in cash on the event day (6th May) - please bring the correct money (see the NOTE below).NOTE: requesting to pay on the day of the event is upon the understanding that you will either attend the event OR arrange for the event fee to be paid via PayPay within 24 hours. Failure to do so may result in your removal from the group. See the cancellation policy below.
If you don't have PayPay, please ask a friend or coworker to do the transaction for you (give them cash!).
Cancellation policy:
- Full refund given if cancellation is notified BY LINE MESSAGE at least 24 hours before the event start time.
- Cancellation within 24 hours of the event start time or no-showing requires full payment of the event fee.
Tokyo Fun Events open chat group on LINE
Tokyo Fun Events on Instagram
Tokyo Fun Events on FacebookAfter the event, you may submit a review/evaluation. Please kindly rate appropriately as a low evaluation has an impact on the group. Things you should clearly understand in advance:
- I (Mark) am not a tour guide. For many events this will also be my first time, and events are mainly organised based on intensive internet research.
- Nature cannot be guaranteed, so flower festivals may be impacted by the recent climate.
- We aim to depart on time, however bus schedules might change. This is unavoidable.
- We request participants arrive EARLY. In rare cases we might wait a few minutes if we do not need to take a bus.
- The number of participants is not guaranteed. However we will not have large groups.
- The event finish time might be earlier or later than advertised. The hiking time might be longer/shorter than anticipated. Return bus times are not guaranteed.
How to calculate your review appropriately:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 stars) = Everything was as described.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars) = The event was generally ok, but there were a few things that you weren't happy with (please provide further details).
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 stars) = The event was disappointing (please provide further details).
⭐️⭐️ (2 stars) = The event was poor (please provide further details).
⭐️ (1 star) = The event was terrible (please provide further details). - See 30 million poppies at Kōnosu Poppy Festival 2025 at Poppy Happy Square🌹💐鴻巣駅 Kōnosu station, Konosu
To join this event please see below and send me a message on LINE. Without this, you will not find out our meeting point. EVERYONE needs to do this EVERY TIME, including those who have participated with me previously.
Each year in May you can see 30 million poppies, give or take, at Japan’s largest poppy field: Poppy Happy Square. Moreover, there is a lively festival at the poppy fields during the period of bloom, which is usually mid May. The poppy festival is actually just one part of a larger Kōnosu Flower Festival. In 2024, the Kōnosu flower festival was on from May 11th to the 19th.
*Therefore we might change the event date to May 18th. We will surely know about 3 weeks in advance.Poppy Happy Square (also known as the Mamuro Poppy Field) is acclaimed because it is the largest poppy field in the whole of Japan. It is also thanks to this that the Konosu Poppy Festival is famous throughout the Kanto plain. The Mamuro poppy field is most commonly referred to as Poppy Happy Square. It is approximately 12.5 hectares or 125,000 square meters and has over 30,000,000 poppies. Moreover, the field is located at Japan’s longest riverbed width embankment with Japan’s longest embankment bridge in view.
◾️After you have applied to join this event, please contact Mark Sensei via the Line application quoting your FULL NAME and this message: [Konosu Poppy Festival - 11th May] MARK's LINE ACCOUNT
If you would like to bring a guest, please ask me via Line.◾️参加されるイベントの名前(フルネーム)と日付を付けてマーク先生にLINEしてください。
例:[Konosu Poppy Festival - 11th May] MARK's LINE ACCOUNT
定員の都合上、お連れ様がいる時は事前にLINEでご相談ください。We will meet at Kōnosu station at 11.15am. Please kindly ensure you arrive punctually. It seems there is a Shonan-Shinjuku line train arriving at 11.04am
We might take the “Flower Go” 「フラワー号」Mamuro course 「馬室コース」bus from JR Konosu Station’s west exit to the kyuushoku sentaa 「給食センター」. The poppy fields are about a 5 minute walk from this bus stop. There might also be a free shuttle bus.
The thirty million poppies include the common variety, Icelandic and California poppies. They typically start blooming late in April. However, in 2024 they are actually late and as of April 25th they weren’t really blooming. The common variety are the red poppies also referred to frequently as the remembrance poppy in English.
Furthermore, other blooms grow in the fields. They have purple mustard fields most years. Moreover, in 2021, they added three Baby Blue Eye fields for the first time. Two of them are quite small, but one is a decent size and it is beside a field of Orange California Poppies.
There are food vans at the fields during the period of the festival, weather permitting. There is also a flower picking event in one of the fields. It costs 100 yen to pick five flowers.
Please bring your lunch. We will find an appropriate area to eat.
Additional fees (subject to change):
According to this blog post, there was no admission fee in 2024
There might be a bus transport charge to/from Kōnosu station ⚠️Event fee:
¥800 - early discount if you pay by 30th April (PayPay, or in cash at an earlier event).
¥1250 if you pay between 1st-10th May early evening (PayPay, or in cash at an earlier event).
¥1500 in cash on the event day (11th May) - please bring the correct money (see the NOTE below).NOTE: requesting to pay on the day of the event is upon the understanding that you will either attend the event OR arrange for the event fee to be paid via PayPay within 24 hours. Failure to do so may result in your removal from the group. See the cancellation policy below.
If you don't have PayPay, please ask a friend or coworker to do the transaction for you (give them cash!).
Cancellation policy:
- Full refund given if cancellation is notified BY LINE MESSAGE at least 24 hours before the event start time.
- Cancellation within 24 hours of the event start time or no-showing requires full payment of the event fee.
Tokyo Fun Events open chat group on LINE
Tokyo Fun Events on Instagram
Tokyo Fun Events on FacebookAfter the event, you may submit a review/evaluation. Please kindly rate appropriately as a low evaluation has an impact on the group. Things you should clearly understand in advance:
- I (Mark) am not a tour guide. For many events this will also be my first time, and events are mainly organised based on intensive internet research.
- Nature cannot be guaranteed, so flower festivals may be impacted by the recent climate.
- We aim to depart on time, however bus schedules might change. This is unavoidable.
- We request participants arrive EARLY. In rare cases we might wait a few minutes if we do not need to take a bus.
- The number of participants is not guaranteed. However we will not have large groups.
- The event finish time might be earlier or later than advertised. The hiking time might be longer/shorter than anticipated. Return bus times are not guaranteed.
How to calculate your review appropriately:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 stars) = Everything was as described.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars) = The event was generally ok, but there were a few things that you weren't happy with (please provide further details).
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 stars) = The event was disappointing (please provide further details).
⭐️⭐️ (2 stars) = The event was poor (please provide further details).
⭐️ (1 star) = The event was terrible (please provide further details).
