It’s been a busy June on Maction Planet, but that is par for the course as Japan’s post-pandemic tourism boom continues. Featured image – Neil Patrick Harris on the tape: There I was, guiding at TeamLab Planets on 24 June, when who should I spot but Neil Patrick Harris. I’m looking forward to his upcoming appearances in Doctor Who. We had a brief chat about his whisky tour last summer, snapped a quick photo together and both went on our way. We continue… Hokutofuji at Sensoji: The month got off to a cracking start as, while guiding in Asakusa, I spotted Hokutofuji Daiki – a professional sumo ..read more

Welcome to the first edition of ‘This Month on Maction Planet’! After five years of ‘This Week in Tokyo‘, I’ve shaken up the format of our round-up of what’s happening in the Maction Planet (and Kanpai Planet) universe. Expect it to hit this blog on the last day of each month. On with the May Day(s)… Featured image – Hello Kitty takes Vegas: I recently spent four days in Las Vegas visiting former and future Maction Planet tour guests. Here are some Japan-related highlights of my time in the bright light city where, yes, my soul was set on fire! Sin City wouldn’t be complete without this twin k ..read more

Welcome to the first edition of ‘This Month on Maction Planet’! After five years of ‘This Week in Tokyo‘, I’ve shaken up the format of our round-up of what’s happening in the Maction Planet (and Kanpai Planet) universe. Expect it to hit this blog on the last day of each month. On with the May Day(s)… Featured image – Hello Kitty takes Vegas: I recently spent four days in Las Vegas visiting former and future Maction Planet tour guests. Here are some Japan-related highlights of my time in the bright light city where, yes, my soul was set on fire! Sin City wouldn’t be complete without this twin k ..read more

Welcome to the another multi-venue ‘This Week in Tokyo’! ‘This Week in Tokyo’ is a review of the Maction Planet week that was and a look ahead to what’s coming up in the city. Check out photos from our adventures and read insights into our explorations as we get under the skin of the World’s Greatest Metropolis, and beyond. This week’s edition is hosted by Mac, our Founder and Lead Guide. This week: Sumo handwashing; Terunofuji triumphs; Hachiko and Aogeru – Together again for the final time; Pepsi Salt and Litchi and Hiroshima in my heart.  It’s my 14 year anniversary of living ..read more

Welcome to ‘This Week in Tokyo’, a review of the Maction Planet week that was and a look ahead to what’s coming up in the city. Hosted by Mac, our Founder and Lead Guide, you can check out photos from our tours and read insights into our explorations as we get under the skin of the World’s Greatest Metropolis, and beyond! This week: Kanpai with Vel and Mariana; Rocking with Hachiko; Down in Asakusatown; “A Splash of Colour in Ueno Park” and Together with The Tokyo Life.   Featured image – Kanpai with Vel and Mariana: This week I was honoured to guide Vel and ..read more

What a week! The latest edition of This Week in Tokyo (and Yokohama) is dominated by the incredible start to the Rugby World Cup 2019. Mac, our Founder and Lead Guide, attended three matches on the opening three days. Somehow he still managed to fit in some of our world famous guided tours and an art exhibition opening. This week: Japan vs Russia; New Zealand vs South Africa; Ireland vs Scotland; Hiyonoyama and Makkumaru – Friends Forever and Jean-Michel Basquiat: Made in Japan. Featured image – Japan vs Russia:  Rugby World Cup 2019 got off to a fantastic start on Friday with the tournam ..read more

The latest edition of This Week in Tokyo – a review of the Maction Planet week that was and a look ahead to what’s coming up in and beyond the city. Check out photos from our tours and read insights into our explorations as we get under the skin of the World’s Greatest Metropolis, and beyond. This week’s edition is hosted by Mac, our Founder and Lead Guide and he promises a (fairly) Rugby-free edition before things go insane in Japan for the Rugby World Cup 2019! This week: Two Rabbits and Maction; Aminishiki and Makkumaru; Fighters vs Eagles; Tsukemen for three and The Not-S0-F ..read more

Mac here. What a week! I’ve been guiding on average for 14 hours per day all across Japan. It has been so jam-packed that the five photos which we usually feature in each installment of ‘This Week in Tokyo’ will not cut it. This edition expands to include images from our expolartions in Kyoto, Osaka and Nagoya. This week: Lunch at Tiffany’s; It’s all gone Pete Tong; Rikuro’s; Sumo on parade; Mario Party; Mimata Matsuri and Time to Say Goodbye.  Thank you to our amazing guests for choosing Maction Planet. We continue…  Featured image – Lunch at Tiffany’s: I sp ..read more

The latest edition of This Week in Tokyo – a review of the Maction Planet week that was and a look ahead to what’s coming up in and beyond the city. Check out photos from our tours and read insights into our explorations as we get under the skin of the World’s Greatest Metropolis, and beyond. This week’s edition is hosted by Mac, our Founder and Lead Guide. This week: Hiyonoyama and Makkumaru; 2019 Daikoku Matsuri; The Four Seasons of Edo; Miyagikyo 15 and Earthquake Training for guests! Featured image – Hiyonoyama and Makkumaru: It has been an absolute joy sharing my love of Su ..read more

Zabuton cushions abound as Hakuho loses: the Yokozuna falls, literally, in a sold-out Ryogoku Kokugikan… and we have the video to prove it! At the start of yesterday we had some spare tickets to Sumo on 24 and 25 January. A few tweets later and they were in the hands of some amazing Maction Planet guests, who joined our resident Sumo expert and superfan Mac, Founder and Lead Guide of Maction Planet, today in witnessing one of the upsets of the tournament so far. Hakuko is the greatest Sumo wrestler of all time. On 21 July 2017 he beat Takayasu in Nagoya and crossed 1047 career wins, makin ..read more