Shanghai (off off Tokyo): April 25-26, 2011

I had early morning walks during my business travel in Shanghai.

I walked nearly 10 km each day. I visited Hongqiao Central Park and Soong Ching-Ling’s Mausoleum in the first day and Shanghai Zoo in the second day during my walks. All three places are in Hongqiao area, western part of Shanghai. They are also surrounded by tall buildings.

I found many people were playing Tai Chi and/or other exercises in the parks.

Hongqiao Central Park was developed about 10 years ago. The park was green rich and clean. A press center was set here during the Shanghai Expo in 2010.

Many sculptures of historical figures are placed. They include Charlie Chaplin, Mahatma Gandhi, and Roger Federer.

Soong Ching-Ling was a wife of Sun Yat-sen, a figure regarded as a founding father of Republic China. She is also known as one of the famous three Soong sisters. She later became vice president of China.


She was buried in a cemetery, which is now turned into a public place. People were playing Tai Chi.

Shanghai zoo opens at 6:30 every morning. Many elder people come to the zoo as it is free for them.


Some of them were playing Tai Chi while others were playing badminton. I also saw people dancing (jazz dance) and walking along the walk path.

Animals and birds were awake.
There are popular animals such as giant pandas, tigers, monkeys.
Collection of goldfish was unique and impressive.

The streets were getting busier while I was walking. Business people hurried to their offices. The traffic jam was heavy.

Tokaido Walk (7): Chigasaki-Ninomiya (off Tokyo): April 16, 2011

More than one month has passed after the great earthquake and tsunami disaster. Series of nuclear accidents at Fukushima plants followed. I had not been so willing to go around outside in the first few weeks. But I restarted long-distance walk today.

I took part seven of my Tokaido walk. It was from Chigasaki to Ninomiya (about 15 km).

The weather was fine. The sunshine was bright and the temperature went up more than 20 degrees. We had unseasonable cold days in March (the temperature went down below zero). It seemed that the season changed from winter to summer in a week.

Chigasaki is about 10 km west of Fujisawa,the 6th station from Nihonbashi. I walked through residential areas and reached Sagami River. I found people enjoying sailing.

I entered into Hiratsuka, the 7th station (shukuba). Only the monuments (of old inns and gates) remain.

I walked westward and found a mountain in the right side. It is called Mt. Koma. The name originally meant a country (Koguryo) existed in Korean Peninsula more than 1000 years ago. Some people escaped from Korean Peninsula when their country was conquered and arrived here.

A shrine is built at the foot of the mountain. A festival was held when I visited.






I went into Oiso, the 8th station from Edo’s Nihonbashi.

Oiso is a small but famous town.

Japan’s first public beach was developed in the Meiji period here (Some other beaches insist the position). Many famous politicians, business tycoons and novelists built their summer houses in the town. They include Ito Hirofumi, Japan’s first PM in the Meiji period, and Yoshida Shigeru, PM and post-war leader.

Pine trees remain along Tokaido here.

I went down to the beach. Many surfers were waiting a big wave in the sea.

I moved westward and arrived at JR Ninomiya station. It is about 72 km from Nihonbashi.

Cherry & flowers @west Tokyo: April 3, 2011

I walked walking paths in Setagaya ward, west Tokyo, to see cherry blossom and other spring flowers.

It was far colder than yesterday. Only 30-40% of cherry flower was open.


Many people were walking along the path and enjoying cherry blossom. Some were walking with their dogs.

Others were enjoying hanami (flower watching) picnics under the cherry trees. There wewrte fewer people than usual because of earthquake and tsunami disaster in March. They were also quieter than usual.

Many cherry trees have fait pink flowers (the trees are called Somei-Yoshino) while others have strong pink flowers.



I also saw Thunberg's meadowsweet, peach flower, pansy violet and other flowers.

Animals, birds, and fish also became active. I found a rat, egrets, geese, turtle and other animals. I also saw carps in a pond in a temple along the path.

Cherry blossom: April 2, 2011

Three weeks have passed after the earthquake and tsunami disaster. The accident at Fukushima nuclear plant is still serious and quake-hit people are still spending hard time in Tohoku area.

Tokyo has been quieter. There have been fewer people in the streets, shops and restaurants (both in weekdays and weekend).

This is partly because of rolling blackouts and fewer-than-usual operation of trains. But there are other reasons, too.

People have had a fear that they might be exposed to radiations from Fukushima nuclear plant (about 200 km from Tokyo).

People have also shared a feeling that they should refrain from having fun ("it is not time to have fun").

I have refrained from having long-distance walks in last three weeks.

Season has changed in the meantime.


Cherry blossom started in Tokyo.

I visited Baji Park (Equestrian Park) and Kinuta Park, both are in Setagaya ward in west Tokyo) to see cherry blossom and other flowers. The blossom just started.

Swans were swimming in a pond, which was surrounded by cherry trees,  in Baji Park. I also dound a halcyon around a pond.

Number of people were enjoying picnic under the cherry trees. The number was fewer than usual and it seemed quieter than usual. People were talking about the quake and tsunami hire and there.






Map: Baji Park
Map: Kinuta Park

Tokyo scenes after earthquake: March-April, 2011

The earthquake and tsunami disaster hit Japan seriously. Nearly 30,000 people were washed out. Hundreds of thousand of people have lost their houses. More than 200,000 people are spending hard times in evacuation centers in Tohoku and north Kanto areas (Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima and Ibaraki prefectures).

The nuclear trouble at Fukushima Dai-ichi plant has been serious. Factories, roads and railways were seriously damaged. Business activities stopped in some fields.


Tokyo is also affected. Rolling blackouts of electricity started after the quake. The number of trains was reduced at most of the lines. Some goods were sold out at shops.

The operation of escalators in railway stations was suspended.

There were fewer people walking in Tokyo station's underground passage. The lighes in the showwindows were off.

The damagas of the quake are also found in many places in Tokyo(though they are not so serious).