Shinbashi, Shiodome: Jan. 30, 2011

We have very cold winter here in Tokyo this year. It is not comfortable (and probably not good for my health) to walk long in the strong north wind. So, I had a short walk today.
I visited Shinbashi – Shiodome area near Tokyo station.

Shinbashi is known as the birthplace of Japan’s railway. The country’s first railroad services started between Shinbashi and Yokohama in 1872, five years after the Meiji Revolution.
There is a locomotive in the open space in front of current Shinbashi station. There are many other railway-related monuments and facilities – including railway museum – in the area.

The east side of Shinbashi station is called Shiodome area. The district was used for cargo distribution and parking of the trains until the 1980s.

Business and commercial facilities were redeveloped in the early 2000s. There are more than ten skyscrapers and 60 thousands people work here. The complex is called “siosite”.

I visited Advertising Museum Tokyo (Museum of Advertising and Marketing) in the complex. They held an exhibition of “the best advertisings for consumers in 2010”. It was interesting.

Winter Scene and the 1st ume blossom @ Hanegi Park: Jan. 8th, 2011

We have had chilly days after the start of a new year. Tokyo’s temperature went down to sub-zero and we had ice in the pond and water pool here and there.

I walked to Hanegi Park in Setagaya ward. The park is famous for its ume (Japanese plum) blossoms.

The Ume trees as well as gingko and other trees had no leaves. Brown color dominated the scope and it was typical winter scene.

However, I found white ume flowers open in a few trees. I did not expect to find a flower in new-year season. We usually have the ume blossom in February and March.

The sunset scene over the ume trees was beautiful.

Hatsumode @ Yoyogi Hachiman, Meiji Shrine: Jan. 3, 2011

Many Japanese people visit shrines at the beginning of a year. It is called Hatsmode.

I visited two shrines today. They were Yoyogi Hachiman Shrine and Meiji Jingu Shrine.

Yoyogi Hachiman celebrate 800 anniversary this year. It is one of Tokyo’s oldest and well known shrines. Several hundreds people were making a line in front of the main building.

Meiji Jingu Shrine has only about 100-year history as it was built by the Meiji government. But it is huge and is one of the most famous shrines in Japan. The shrine is surrounded by deep woods.

Millions of people visit Meiji Shrine for Hatsumode every year.

The road to the main road was so crowded. Tens of thousands of people were making a line heading to the main building when I arrived there. Policemen called that it would take at least two hours to proceed to the main building and I gave up.

I passed Yoyogi Park on the way Yoyogi Hachiman to Meiji Jingu Shrine. People enjoyed kiteflying. Two men were making soap bubbles. Many children were enjoying it.