Akihabara: April 26, 2010

More than 30 years has passed since Akihabara became one of Tokyo’s must-see places for foreign tourists.

It has not changed that the town is Tokyo’s electronic mecca. However, many things – stores, streets, visitors, and the town’s atmosphere – have been changing.

The electronic shop streets are in the west of Akihabara station. There are various shops. Some shops sell consumer electronic goods and some shops sell electronic parts. Some shops are large and others are small. New shops stand next to old shops.

There are also stores of computer games and Manga. I saw cosplay (costume play) girls (in comic style) in the streets. A also found Sumo wrestlers walking in the street.

The town must be more messy and interesting if I come here in the weekend (today is Monday).

A large Yodobashi Akiba building stands in the east area of the station. Electronic stores as well as restaurants and other shops are in it. It was open in 2005.

Nezu Shrine: April 25, 2010

Cherry blossom season has just finished.

Now, it is time for azalea.

I visited Nezu Shrine in Bunkyo ward, about 5 km north from the Imperial Palace.

The Shrine is famous for its azalea garden. They held “Azalea Festival” when I visited there.

There are about 3000 azalea trees in the shrine. They have flowers of various colors – white, pink, red, purple, white/pink blend, etc. It was so beautiful.

There were open-air stalls of foods, sweets and daily commodities. I also found a goldfish scooping stall.

People were enjoying the festival.

The shrine was built by the Shogun family in the Edo era.

Hashigonori@Kyodo: April 25, 2010

I unexpectedly found Hashigonori performance (acrobatic performance on a ladder) at Kyodo Station of Odakyu Line (west Tokyo).

The performance was developed by scaffolding construction workers in the Edo era. They worked as fire fighters when necessary.

Today, the local governments have their fire stations and public fire fighters. But private groups, especially scaffolding construction workers, sometimes help the stations (fire prevention, fire practice, etc.)

Members held the ladder stand with hook-like instruments. Performers went up the ladder and showed us acrobatic actions.

They also sang special songs called “Kiyari”. at of culture in the Edo period.

Kinuta Park: April 11. 2010

I visited Kinuta Park in western Tokyo.

The park is large. It has picnic fields, sports fields, cycling roads, forests and a bird sanctuary. I saw many families there.

There are many places to enjoy cherry blossoms in Tokyo. In most places, the branches of the trees are trimmed. In Kinuta Park, they are not trimmed and are kept natural.

I saw rows of tall natural cherry trees.

About 80 kinds of birds have been reported in the park. People were watching birds through windows in the bird sanctuary.

Hanami＠Chidorigafuchi: April 11, 2010

I again enjoyed Hanami at Chidorigafuchi this weekend.

The cherry blossom has just finished its peak here. Pink petals were falling slowly in the spring wind.

The scene reminded me of one of the most famous Japanese Waka (short poem).

Hisakata no
Hikari nodokeki
Haru no hi ni
Shizu kokoro naku
Hana no chiruran.

Which means:

In a spring day
The sunlight is mild
Time flies and the cherry flowers cannot stay long

They fall one by one.

(Sorry for my poor English expression)

There are many cherry trees in the banks of the Imperial Palace.

The moats of the Palace were covered with pink cherry petals. They looked like carpets on the water. It is called Hana-ikada, or flower raft, in Japanese. People enjoyed rowing boats into the Hana-ikadas.

The ground was also covered with pink flowers.

It was warm and beautiful spring day. I became a bit happier.

Akasaka： April 10, 2010

Akasaka is one of major commercial areas in Tokyo. It is also a pop-culture center in the city.

A leading TV station TBS, or Tokyo Broadcasting System, has its headquarters here. There are amusement facilities and open-air stalls outside the HQ buildings. Many young people gather in the weekends.

There are many Korean BBQ restaurants, Sushi bars, drinking bars and other restaurants in the area. At night, many Black sedans park in the street to pick up business executives from their dinner meetings.

Hie Shrine stands in a small hill in the area. It was built before the 15th century. It enshrines Ohyamakuinokami, one of Japane’s traditional gods. Its Sanno Matsuri festival (usually held in June) is known as one of Edo (Tokyo)’s three major Shinto festivals.

The other two festivals are Sanja Matsuri of Asakusa Shrine and Kanda Matsuri of Kanda Shrine.

The approach was covered with many small Torii (gates). We receive special feeling when we walk through the Torii.

Hanami@peak in Setagaya: April 3, 2010

I am sure that millions of people in Tokyo are enjoying Hanami in this weekend (April 3-4).

I walked several places in Setagaya Ward, West Tokyo.

Kitazawagawa Ryokudo (walk way) has beautiful creek. The combination of pink cherry and green grass and blue water (of the creek) was so beautiful.

There were groups of local communities, companies and stuidents. Foreigners were also enjoying the "picnic".

The area is known as one of the high-grade residential places in Tokyo.

Ume blossom season has already finished at Hanegi Park in Umegaoka (See Umegaoka: Feb 21, 2010). However, they have another attractions. The cherry blossom at the park is also wonderful.

I saw tousands of people gathering. Some were playing the musical instruments.

Baji-Koen Park or the Equestrian Park has various cherry trees. Some are pink, others are white, and some trees have hangover branches.

I saw many families enjoy picnic.

News programs of TV stations reported Hanami in the top news today. It well reflects Japanese cluture.

Hanami@night@Yasukuni, Chidorigafuchi: April 2, 2010

Cherry blossoms are in full bloom now.
Many people went out for Hanami after their business hours today (April 2nd is Friday).

I visited Chidorigafuchi, a walk pass along the Imperial Palace. About 260 cherry trees were illuminated. It was so beautiful.

I also visited Yasukuni Shrine. Many Japanese people usually visit the shrine to console the spirit of the dead. However, they come here to enjoy cherry blossom at this season.

There were many temporary open-air stalls of foods and drinks in the front approach of the shrine. They also had open-air restaurants.

Hanami@Shinjuku Gyoen: March 28, 2010

Hanami@Shinjuku Gyoen:March 28, 2010

One week has passed since the cherry blossom was officially announced in Tokyo (It was declared by Japan Meteorological Agency in March 22 although only few flowers were open. See “Yasukuni Shrine: March 22, 2010”)

I visited Shinjuku Gyoen for Hanami today. The garden is one of the most famous Hanami (cherry blossom picnic) spots in Tokyo. It has about 1300 cherry trees.

Only 20-30% of the flowers were open.

It was so cold today. But thousands of people were there.
They were sitting on the picnic sheets and taking wines and foods. They were in heavy overcoats.

The most common words among them should have been … “It’s so cold.”

Japanese people do Hanami even if it is too cold to enjoy it.

There were so many people and the policemen were busy in guiding the visiters outside the park.