Christmas – Susan Spann, Adventure, Mystery, and Mountains

Merry Christmas Tree

Susan Spann Blog, Holidays & Observances November 29, 2023November 25, 2023Christmas, Christmas tree

Christmas is a popular holiday in Japan, even though less than 1% of the population identifies as Christian. People here love holidays, lights, giving (and receiving) gifts, and special food, so Christmas is pretty much a lock on every level. Lots of the major buildings have Christmas trees (many of which are enormous, natural trees rather than artificial ones), but “at-home” trees–to the extent they exist–are usually very small (think table-top size) and artificial. While down in Meguro having my hair cut and having lunch with my friend Kaitlyn last month, I saw some living Christmas trees for sale at

A Holiday Tea With Snow White at the Hotel Intercontinental Tokyo Bay

Susan Spann Blog December 8, 2021December 8, 2021Christmas, Christmas 2021, Christmas Tea, holidays, Hotel Intercontinental Tokyo Bay, Japan, Snow White, themed tea

n late November, when I learned the theme of the 2021 Christmas Tea at the Hotel Intercontinental Tokyo Bay was “Snow White, Awakening With Strawberries” (which is doubly clever, since strawberries are just coming into season–i.e., “awakening”–in Japan), I immediately bought tickets for the very first sitting on the very first day.

A Visit to Solamachi Skytree Christmas Market

Susan Spann 1000 Summits, Blog December 11, 2018December 11, 2018Christmas, holiday, Japan, lights, skytree

Tokyo has a variety of holiday-themed options, from spectacular illuminations to Bavarian Christmas markets. One of my favorites takes place throughout the month of December in the fourth floor courtyard at Solamachi Skytree Center (Access: Hanzomon or Asakusa line to Oshiage Station, and exit to Skytree Center). I’m spending the next few weeks in Tokyo, hoping my ankle heals from the recent sprain-or-tendonitis that struck shortly before my 100-km trek along the Kumano Kodo (more on that in the weeks to come) – but it’s a good time to heal. You see, although most Japanese people practice Shintō, Buddhism, or both, Japan loves

O Tokyo Tree . . .

Susan Spann Blog December 22, 2017December 21, 2017Christmas, Christmas trees, holidays, Japan, lights, Tokyo

Christmas decorations abound in Tokyo at this time of year, and Christmas trees are no exception. It seems every business and professional building, shopping center, and hotel puts up a massive tree display – some real: and some “creative interpretations.”

Christmastime in Tokyo

Susan Spann Blog December 11, 2017December 11, 2017Christmas, Japan, light displays, Tokyo

Last Friday, my son and I arrived in Tokyo for business trips. He has a job interview for a permanent position here in Tokyo, and I needed to meet with my immigration representative about my visa application for the 100 SUMMITS project, which I’m hoping to start in early May of 2018. (I originally planned to start even earlier, but now I’ll need to finish my cancer treatment before I move.)

O Christmas Tree….

Admin Uncategorized December 15, 2014Christmas, decorations, Oobie, tree

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, my cat would like to eat thee…. She likes your piney leaves so well, They give her puke a Christmas smell …

A Merry Christmas … On the Reef

Admin Uncategorized December 24, 2013Christmas, Maximus Angryfish I, Night before Christmas, reef, seahorses

Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the reef Every creature was swimming, with fervent belief That an afternoon feeding would surely appear, Every seahorse was on Santa’s “good list” this year. Emo the clown nestled snug in his host, An Anthelia coral grown larger than most. The fish on the reef called a Christmas-Eve truce, and made Wilson the urchin the “Christmas-tree” spruce. From the back of the tank there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the desk to see what was the matter. I flew to the tank, started looking around, To determine what made such