Vienna: history and society: August 17-23, 2026

 

 

I visited Vienna, Austria. The city once flourished as a capital of the Habsburg Empire. Now, it prospers as a global cultural city which attracts many tourists and as a city which plays a vital role in international politics and economics.

Within the city, there are many attractions, including the Hofburg Palace and Schönbrunn Palace (both former Habsburg royal residences), and St. Stephen's Church. Horse-drawn carriages were carrying tourists in the old towns, which hold the atmosphere of the Habsburg era.

 

The Danube River flows about 2 kilometers from the city center. The IAEA and other UN institutes have their headquarters in that area. During my stay, I had many thrilling and interesting experiences.

 

◆The Origins of Vienna

Vienna's origins date back approximately 2000 years to a Roman encampment. Emperor Marcus Aurelius, famous as one of the Five Good Emperors, died in what is now Vienna.

Several Roman-era ruins exist within Vienna. In Michaelerplatz, in front of the Hofburg Palace, remans of the Roman era and later are displayed.

◆The Habsburg Dynasty

The Habsburg family ruled this region for 600 years, from the 13th to the 20th centuries. During this time, they produced Holy Roman Emperors and built a vast, multi-ethnic empire in Central Europe. Among the Habsburg emperors and empresses, Maria Theresa (1717-1780) and Franz Joseph (1830-1916) are particularly famous.

The Hofburg Palace, located in the center of Vienna, was the residence of the Habsburg family for over 600 years. It underwent repeated renovations and expansions, resulting in a complex network of 18 buildings. The top photograph in this post shows the palace viewed from Kohlmarkt street across Michaelplatz.

Some rooms are open to the public as a museum. They include where Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth lived and conducted state affairs.

 A statue of Maria Theresa stands in the square adjacent to the palace.

 

Schönbrunn Palace is large building with 1441 rooms. The construction was fully undertaken by Maria Theresa in the 18th century. It was used as the summer palace of the Habsburg family. It is also famous as the venue for the Congress of Vienna in 1815, after the Napoleonic Wars. (See also the 2nd photo)

 

In 1961, a summit meeting between US President Kennedy and Soviet Communist Party First Secretary Khrushchev took place in the Grand Gallery.

 

◆St. Stephen's Church, The Ringstrasse 

St. Stephen's Church was originally built as a Romanesque church in the 12th century and later remodeled in the Gothic style. The south tower was completed in 1359 and stands 137 meters tall. (See the 4th photo)

 

Vienna was originally surrounded by city walls, but these were removed by the order of Emperor Franz Joseph by 1860. The sites of former walls have converted into a “Ring” roads. It is now used by trams and cars. In recent years, bicycle paths have also been developed, and many cyclists use them.

 

◆History

One of the notable events in Vienna's history is the siege by the Ottoman Empire. Vienna endured two sieges, in 1529 and 1683. A cannonball fired during the 1683 siege, painted gold, hangs from a building in Am Hofplatz.

 

The plague epidemic is also a significant event in Vienna's history. Vienna experienced several plague outbreaks after 1348, including one in 1679. A monument commemorating the end of the 1679 epidemic stands on Grabenstrasse in the city center. (See also the 3rd photo)

 

Vienna is also the birthplace of Zionism. Zionism was a movement to establish a Jewish state in Palestine, and it developed in the end of the 19th century when anti-Semitism rose in Europe and Russia. The movement was popularized by Theodor Herzl, a Hungarian journalist who was active in Vienna. A small place called Theodor Herzl-Platz exists in the district east of the Ringstrasse.

 

The Habsburg Empire collapsed in World War I, and the country was fragmented into many nations. Amidst this turmoil, Richard Coudenhove-Kalergi launched the Pan-European Movement from the 1920s onward. A plaque commemorating him is displayed in the Heiligenkreuzerhof in the city.

 

◆UN Agencies and Business Activities

The Danube River flows northeast of central Vienna, and UN agencies such as the IAEA and UNIDO are concentrated on the opposite bank. 

The surrounding area has become a new business district, with numerous skyscrapers.

In a corner near the western side of the Ringstrasse in the old town, OPEC has its headquarters. Currently, many important OPEC meetings are held here.

 

◆The Danube River

I traveled the Danube River round trip from Vienna to Bratislava in Slovakia. The river flowed majestically, but the water level had dropped due to the heatwave that hit Europe. The riverbanks, normally submerged, were exposed. According to the research institutions, water levels near Vienna are several tens of centimeters to one meter lower than normal.

The Danube Canal flows through Vienna's old town. At night, the surrounding scenery is reflected in the canal.

Extremely hot days: July 10-25, 2026

  

Heatwaves and wildfires in Europe are making headlines of international news these days. Japan also has been experiencing an extraordinary hot weather since the beginning of July.

In Tokyo, temperatures have exceeded 30°C almost every day since July 8. From July 20 to 25, the temperature went up over 35°C for six consecutive days.

 

On many days in July, the sky over Tokyo was clear, and strong sunlight streamed down.

Japan recorded temperatures of 40°C or higher for five straight days between July 21 and 25.

 

To avoid heatstroke, I limit my daytime walks to very short periods.

The photos in this post were taken during walks between July 10 and 26. 

At Hanegi Park, the leaves of trees such as ginkgo is lush and green, creating a midsummer landscape.

 

The leaves of the tulip trees along the greenway are also deep green.

There were fewer people in the daytime than usual in the park, along the promenade, and near the station. (See also the top photo)

There are fewer cicadas chirping this year compared to usual.

Lake Gando and Shibutami in Iwate: June 27-28, 2026

 

I make regular visits to Iwate Prefecture every year. I visited the area around Lake Gando and Shibutami district, both are located around the outskirts of Morioka City.

Lake Gando is a man-made lake situated about 30 kilometers northeast of central Morioka. The place is Known as the coldest place on Honshu, the main island of Japan. It once recorded a temperature of minus 35 degrees Celsius before World War II.

Surrounded by Japanese red pine and white birch trees, Lake Gando offered a beautiful landscape. In the morning, the air was filled with the singing of wild birds.

I joined an activity to collect wild grape bark in the mountains near the lake. The material is used to make craft items such as bags. This activity is one of projects run by "Save Iwate," an NGO that has been engaged in local recovery efforts since the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011.

 

In recent years, encounters with bears have been increasing in Japan's mountainous regions (bears have even appeared in urban areas, making headlines). The risk of encountering a bear during this particular activity was not high, as a large group of people was working together and making plenty of noise. Even so, we remained cautious while we worked.

 

I also visited the Shibutami district, located about 20 kilometers north of central Morioka. A roadside station (michi-no-eki) named "Tamitto" opened along National Route 4 in 2025, offering local agricultural produce and handicrafts for sale. The views of Mont Iwate (west from Tamitt, see the 2nd photo in this post) and Mount Himekami (East) were so beautiful.

 

Shibutami is the place where the Meiji-era poet Takuboku Ishikawa grew up, and a memorial museum dedicated to him stands there. 

His natal house and the elementary school where he once taught are preserved there.

 

Nikko Kaido Walk (3)Soka-Koshigaya: May 5, 2026

 

I resumed my walk along the Nikko Kaido. Today's walk covered about 8 kilometers, from Soka (the second shukuba station from Nihonbashi) to Koshigaya (the third atation).

Soka City has a population of 250,000. It locates north of Adachi Ward in Tokyo and developed as a commuter town for Tokyo after World War 2.

The Nikko Kaido runs parallel to the Tobu Railway (Skytree Line). The buildings of the Edo-period were lost in this area by fire in the Meiji era. Nevertheless, many buildings with a traditional atmosphere remain along the Nikko Kaido. Some parts of the Nikko Kaido have wide bicycle lanes.

Soka is famous for “Soka senbei,” a brand of rice crackers baked with soy sauce. The senbei originated in the Edo period and became nationally known after the Meiji era. Many senbei shops stands along the Nikko Kaido.

I found a stone monument marking the birthplace of Soka senbei at the northern part of Soka shukuba station. (See the 2nd photo)

Passing through the shukuba station, I came across a row of pine trees. It is about 1.5 kilometer long and 643 Japanese black pine trees are planted along the Nikko Kaido. The place is known as Soka Matsubara. (See the top and 2nd photos)

The Ayase River flows along the pine row.

The pine tree-row was originally developed in the Edo period. However, many trees withered due to the effects of automobile exhaust after World War 2. People began to make efforts I the 1970s to replant trees and convert the area into a walking path. It has now become a place of relaxation for people.

Soka Matsubara is also known as a place associated with Matsuo Basho, a famous haiki poet in the Edo era, and with his work "Oku no Hosomichi." Basho’s statue stands here.

At Soka, the city’s administration and citizens are working together to preserve its history and promote tourism. I saw informational facilities and signs throughout the city.

Near Soka Matsubara, a large-scale housing complex, considered one of the largest in Asia at the time, was built in the 1960s. Currently, redevelopment has transformed it into a residential area with commercial facilities. The station name changed from the former Matsubara Danchi to Dokkyo University-mae.

I continued walking north and entered Koshigaya City. This area is low-laying, and there were signs warning of the risk of flooding.

Koshigaya is known for its doll-making industry. I found some doll shops along the Nikko Kaido.

 

Horse Show @ Baji Park: May 3, 2026

Japan is celebrating the “Golden Week” holidays from the end of April to the beginning of May.

A horse show was held at the Baji Park (Equestrian Park) in Setagaya City, Tokyo. Various events were planned.

Many families gathered at the venue, enjoying a relaxed time.

Various competitions, including show jumping and dressage, were held.

Numerous visitors watched the competitions.

I enjoyed the show jumping competition. The performance of horse and rider working together was magnificent.

The Japanese eventing team won a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, which has made the sport more popular than before.

The Baji Koen hosted the equestrian competitions for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. In September 2026, the equestrian events for the Asian Games will be held here.