Ota Magazine

Discover the latest stories from Tokyo's Ota City, located in the vicinity of Haneda Airport with a wealth of things to see and do.

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HANEDA INNOVATION CITY: Opening Event

Did you know that the newly opened facility “HANEDA INNOVATION CITY” is directly connected to Tenkubashi Station? A large-scale complex facility with the concept of integrating cutting-edge industry and cultural industry. In addition to enjoying shopping and gourmet food, it is ...

HANEDA INNOVATION CITY: Opening Event
Ota City Takeout & Delivery: Restaurant Directory

In recent times due to coronavirus, restaurants are going through a tough period given both the reduced number of customers but also pressure to close their doors following new government measures, like the State of Emergency announcement. The Ota-ku Shoren website provides a di...

Ota City Takeout & Delivery: Restaurant Directory
Ota City Tourist Information Center: Kimono Try-on and More!

Enticed by the chance to take part in a few traditional activities I popped into Ota City’s Tourist Information Center. The TIC was easy to find; as soon as you walk through the ticket barriers at Keikyu Kamata Station you will see the familiar red ‘i’ indicating the center...

Ota City Tourist Information Center: Kimono Try-on and More!
Cafe & Go Hidamari – Learn Go and make friends

Here’s what I knew about Go before I went to Cafe Hidamari: I read the Yasunari Kawabata novel The Master of Go (Meijin in Japanese) in college more than a decade ago. It’s about Go; I can’t remember the plot. My grandfather used to watch it on TV and I didn’t pay mu...

Cafe & Go Hidamari – Learn Go and make friends
Ota Spring’s Plum Trees and Cherry Blossoms

While the ephemeral beauty of Japan’s springtime cherry blossoms (known as sakura) is talked about the world over, the equally stunning plum blossoms (ume in Japanese) often slip under the radar. Typically plum blossoms come into bloom from late February, while sakura season is closer to th...

Ota Spring’s Plum Trees and Cherry Blossoms
Celebrate Spring in Classic Style: Setsubun

As I walk up the hill towards Ikegami Honmonji Temple, I pull my hat down a little further against the February wind. Located deep in the heart of Ota – one of Tokyo’s 23 wards – the temple is the largest and most famous in this area. It was established near the end of the thirt...

Celebrate Spring in Classic Style: Setsubun
How to Enjoy New Year’s in Ota City

In the calm, early morning darkness, many Japanese wait to see the sunrise. It is January 1st, and it is the first sunrise of the year. Praying to the first sunrise of the year for health and happiness is just one of the interesting traditions of the Japanese New Year, the Shōgatsu. This imp...

How to Enjoy New Year’s in Ota City
Recommended Spots in Ota City for Autumn

One of Japan’s most striking seasons is autumn, where the maple leaves turn deep red and the ginko leaves shine bright gold. Throughout Tokyo there are many places to view autumn leaves, and one of those places is right in Ota City. Here is a list of a few spots for some of the best Ota Cit...

Recommended Spots in Ota City for Autumn
Things to do this Summer in Ota City

Don’t let the summer heat and humidity stand in your way of all the fun and excitement there is in and around Tokyo. There are quite a few recommended events happening around Ota City that you should add to your list. Mizudome no Mai (水止舞) One of Ota City’s long-runn...

Things to do this Summer in Ota City
Top 3 Festivals in Ota City Not to Miss

Haneda Shrine Festival The Haneda Shrine dates back more than 800 years to the Kamakura Period and these days with its proximity to Haneda International Airport, many visitors to the shrine go to pray for air travel safety. Every year, on the last weekend in July, the shrine holds a lively ...

Top 3 Festivals in Ota City Not to Miss
Ota City Summer Festivals in August

Summer in Japan is festival (matsuri) season, which means fireworks, dancing, street food, and plenty of colorful yukatas! While it all kicks off as early as July, festival fever does reach its peak until August, when there is undoubtedly a matsuri happening somewhere throughout Japan on any give...

Ota City Summer Festivals in August
5 Reasons to Stay at Kamata, Tokyo

Kamata is a district within Ota City in Tokyo’s southeastern side, once a trendy and fashionable area famous for housing the Shochiku film studio (where Yasujiro Ozu got his start as a film director); Kamata was the place to be before the war. Post-war Kamata however, never reclaimed its fa...

5 Reasons to Stay at Kamata, Tokyo