JAPANKURU: # Travel ♪ Hinomaru Limousine takes you back in time!! Travel back to Edo period of Japan by getting in the "TimeSlip Taxi"!

A Trip Back To Edo Period

Get in the TimeSlip Taxi now!!

Do you still remember the famous Hollywood movie "Back to the Future"? Were you fascinated by the time machine in the movie? Actually now you can really travel back in time to Edo period of Japan!!

TimeSlip Taxi

This travel back in time trip is offered to you by one of the largest taxi company in Japan, Hinomaru Limousine. Just get in the TimeSlip Taxi and you are ready to go back to Edo period!

Travel back in time with the latest AR technology!

By using the AR (Augmented Reality) technology, you can see what happened in Edo period at the very same spot you are in!

Tesla Motors TimeSlip Taxi

Hinomaru Limousine offers you a comfortable TimeSlip ride with Tesla Motors vehicles. They can also offer other types of vehicles according to the number of passengers.

- Hinomaru Limousine taxi service details -

http://www.tokyo-taxi.jp/english/index.html

Our TimeSlip Taxi is waiting for us!!

Today, our TimeSlip Taxi will take us back to the Tokyo 400 years ago! In the past, as a shogunate, Edo (Tokyo today) was also the capital of Japan.

We will go around Tokyo and visit some of the historical spots and sites today!

Course 1 - Edo Castle Course

(Travel around the Emperor's Castle!)

➔ Marunouchi Mitsubishi Building (丸の内・三菱ビル)

➔ Imperial Palace (皇居)

➔ Ginza (銀座)

➔ Tsukiji Fish Market (築地市場）

➔ Tokyo Station Yaesu Exit (東京駅八重洲口）

➔ Nihonbashi (日本橋)

Course 2 - Chushingura Course

(A course to follow the story of the old samurai drama）

➔ Marunouchi Mitsubishi Building (丸の内・三菱ビル)

➔ Home of Kira Yoshinaka (吉良上野介屋敷跡)

➔ Shinshodo (新正堂)

➔ Sengakuji Temple (泉岳寺)

➔ Tokyo Tower (東京タワー) / Kasumigaseki government offices (霞が関官庁街) / Imperial Palace (皇居)
➔ Back to the Marunouchi Mitsubishi Building (丸の内・三菱ビル)

Features of TimeSlip Taxi

Each TimeSlip taxi is equipped with a GPS equipped tablet!

1. Same spot, different views!

Once you arrive at the designated spots, just hold your tablet to the spots and you can see the views as 400 years ago!

2. Learn more about Edo period!

From the tablet, you can learn more information about Edo period. For example, from the photographs and traditional Japanese paintings "Ukiyo-e".

3. Multilingual language support!
The app supports English, Japanese, Chinese and Korean. So you don't have to worry that you do not understand Japanese!

Information and Charges

Course 1 - Edo Castle Course
Duration: 1 hour
Departs: 09:00 / 10:30 / 12:00 / 13:30 / 15:00 / 16:30
Special Price: (Tesla Motors) 5,000 yen for 2 persons (until 31 Dec 2016)
(Original price is 9,000 yen)
(Tax included)
(Other types of vehicles can be arranged according to the no. of passengers)

Course 2 - Chushingura Course
Duration: 3.5 hours
Departs: 09:00 / 13:30
Special Price: (Tesla Motors) 16,000 yen for 2 persons (until 31 Dec 2016)
(Original price is 20,000 yen)
(Tax included)
(Other types of vehicles can be arranged according to the no. of passengers)

TimeSlip Taxi official homepage (open soon): http://timesliptaxi.jp/lp/

Course 2 - Chushingura Course

Chūshingura (忠臣蔵) is the title given to fictionalized accounts in Japanese literature, theater, and film that relate the historical incident involving the Forty-seven Ronin and their mission to avenge the death of their master, Asano Naganori (淺野長矩). (From wikipedia)

Asano Naganori (淺野長矩)

The historical basis for the narrative begins in 1701. The ruling shogun Tokugawa Tsunayoshi (徳川綱吉) placed Asano Naganori, the daimyo (大名) of Akō, in charge of a reception of envoys from the Imperial Court in Kyoto. He also appointed the protocol official Kira Yoshinaka (吉良義央) to instruct Asano in the ceremonies. On the day of the reception, at Edo Castle, Asano drew his short sword and attempted to kill Kira. His reasons are not known, but many purport that insult was involved. For this, he was sentenced to commit seppuku (切腹, cutting belly), but Kira went without punishment. The shogunate confiscated Asano's lands and dismissed the samurai who had served him, making them rōnin (浪人). (From wikipedia)

47 Samurai Monument

Nearly two years later, Ōishi Kuranosuke Yoshio(大石良雄), who had been a high-ranking samurai in the service of Asano, led a group of 47 of the ronin and broke into Kira's mansion in Edo, captured and executed Kira, and laid his head at the grave of Asano at Sengaku-ji (泉岳寺). Then they turned themselves in to the authorities, and were sentenced to commit seppuku (切腹, cutting belly), which they all did on the same day that year. (From wikipedia)

First Destination - Home of Kira Yoshinaka (吉良上野介屋敷跡)

It is now called "Honjo Matsuzakacho Park (本所松坂町公園）". This is where the old home of the Kira Yoshinaka was!

This place is where the 47 ronin captured and executed Kira Yoshinaka.

Honjo Matsuzakacho Park (本所松坂町公園）

Address: 3-13-9 Ryogoku, Sumida-Ku, Tokyo

Google Map

Second Destination - Kabukiza (歌舞伎座)

Just near the central street of Ginza, you can find this specially designed building where traditional Japanese Kabuki is played.

Kabukiza (歌舞伎座)

Address: 4-12-15 Ginza, Chuo-Ku, Tokyo

Google Map

Third Destination - Shinshodo (新正堂)

A famous shop for the traditional Japanese snacks "Seppuku Manaka" （切腹最中） which is inspired from the story of the 47 ronin.

It is said that the location of this store was where Asano cut his belly!! Such a historical site it is!

Moreover, it is said that if you have made any mistakes and needed to apologize to your business partners, by giving them these "Seppuku Manaka", it shows them that you are sorry.

Shinshodo (新正堂)
Address: 4-27-2 Shimbashi, Minato-Ku, Tokyo
Tel.: 03-3431-2515
Opening hours: 09:00-19:30 (Mon - Fri), 09:00 - 17:00 (Sat)
(Closed on Sunday and Saturday, Sunday and National Holidays in August)
Homepage (Japanese): http://www.shinshodoh.co.jp/index.htm
Google Map

"Seppuku Manaka" （切腹最中）

1 piece: 200 yen

Set of 2 pieces: 400 yen

5 pieces with gift box: 1,180 yen

10 pieces with gift box: 2,280 yen

15 pieces with gift box: 3,320 yen

20 pieces with gift box: 4,500 yen

(Tax included)

Fourth Destination - Sengakuji Temple (泉岳寺)

It is where Asano Naganori was buried and where the 47 ronin cut their bellies at the end.

This is the last scene of the historical story where the 47 ronin brought the head of Kira and put on Asano's grave before they committed suicide. Beside the grave of Asano, the graves of the 47 ronin are also set here

Sengakuji Temple (泉岳寺)
Address: 2-11-1 Takanawa, Minato-Ku, Tokyo
Tel.: 03-3441-5560
Opening hours: 07:00-18:00 (Apr to Sep), 07:00-17:00 (Oct to Mar)
Homepage: http://www.sengakuji.or.jp/about_sengakuji_en/
Google Map

After visiting the historical temple Sengakuji, TimeSlip Taxi will take you to other famous sightseeing spots like Tokyo Tower (東京タワー), Kasumigaseki government offices (霞が関官庁街), and Imperial Palace (皇居). During this 3.5 hours long "travel back in time" trip, you must be able to learn a lot about the Edo period of Japanese history!!