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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Ota City CIR Bethany Cummings Introduces the charms of the hydrangea at Tamagawadai Park

Introducing the charm of the city felt by International Exchange member Bethany Cummings at Tamagawadai Park, a place famous for its hydrangeas, which are in full bloom during the rainy season. Hydrangea: The Flower of Rainy Season Every year during the rainy season from around June to July...

Ota City CIR Bethany Cummings Introduces the charms of the hydrangea at Tamagawadai Park
Exploring Ota: Hanepyon Walk Vol.2 (Gyoza Edition)

Ota City's official PR character, Hanepyon, has released a new video introducing the charm of the city. Walk with Hanepyon while visiting tourist spots and shopping streets in the city to deepen understanding with the local people. In this second installment, Hanepyon teaches us about the ...

Exploring Ota: Hanepyon Walk Vol.2 (Gyoza Edition)
Hanepyon Manhole Covers Launch in Ota City

In collaboration with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Ota City has installed manhole covers in three locations: Rokugo, Kamata, and Omori. These have been designed with the official Ota City PR character, Hanepyon, which was created to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Ota City administr...

Hanepyon Manhole Covers Launch in Ota City
Hanepyon Walk: First Episode Released

Ota City's official PR character, Hanepyon, released a video series that introduces the charms of Ota City. Enjoy watching as Hanepyon visits Ota's tourist spots and shopping streets while deepening understanding with the local people. With Japan's latest State of Emergen...

Hanepyon Walk: First Episode Released
The Best Tonkatsu in Ota

Tonkatsu is a meal enjoyed and loved by many. The breaded-and-fried juicy pork cutlet can be eaten in a variety of ways with an assortment of condiments. We have selected three tonkatsu restaurants in Ota City to introduce: Tonkatsu Arashige in Otorii, Tonkatsu Nabe Tatsumi in Kamata, and Shizenb...

The Best Tonkatsu in Ota
The First Sunrise of the Year in Ota City

During the Japanese New Year period (usually from Jan 1 to 7), many Japanese enjoy traditional New Year customs, such as eating New Year dishes with family and relatives and paying their first visit of the year to temples or shrines to pray for happiness and health. On the morning of New Year&rsq...

The First Sunrise of the Year in Ota City
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
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 ...

Cafe & Go Hidamari – Learn Go and make friends
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!
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) often slip under the radar. Typically plum blossoms come into bloom from late February, while sakura season is closer to the end of Mar...

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