Fresh green @ Gotokuji Temple: April 22, 2012

Following yesterday’s stroll, I had a walk to enjoy spring flowers and fresh green.
I walked along a walking path and visited Gotokuji Temple.

There are maple, pine and other trees in the garden. New leaves have just come out of the trees. These trees appealed fresh green and mountain cherries appealed pink. The plants, tower and graves harmonized well in the sceine.


The temple was calm. Bird songs were sometimes heard.

Spring flower and fresh green @ Baji Park: April 21, 2012

It is getting brighter and warmer. It’s time to enjoy spring.
I visited Baji Park (Equestrian Park) to see spring flowers and fresh green.

Japan’s most popular Someiyoshino cherry blossom has already finished in Tokyo. The blossom of mountain cherry is its peak now.


There are hundreds of mountain cherry trees in the park. The flowers open after new leaves grow. So, the contrast of pink (flower) and green (leaves) was impressive. (In the case of Someiyoshino, flowers open before the leaves grow.)

Tulip, violet and other spring flowers were full open in the flowerbeds.

New leaves have just grown in the tall trees in the woods. Families enjoyed the nature.

Peach Blossom@Yamanashi: April 15, 2012

Ask me three most popular spring flowers in Japan. They may be Ume (Japanese plum or apricot), Cherry and Peach.

I have already enjoyed Ume and Cherry this spring (as we can find many Ume and Cherry everywhere in Tokyo).

Peach is different. There are few gathering of peach trees in Tokyo. So, I had a short trip to Yamanashi Prefecture (about 100 km west from Shinjuku) today to enjoy peach blossom.


I visited Fuefuki City and Yamanashi City, both are in the central part of Kofu basin. They produce peach, grape, cherry and other fruits.

Tens of thousands of peach trees are planted in many places in and around the cities. The towns were colored pink when I saw them from the hill top.


Mountains lie behind the basin. Only the peak of Mt. Fuji was seen (as clouds covered the sky).

The peach flower’s pink was stronger cherry's.


A legend of the Peach Blossom Land has spread throughout East Asia (trigged by a work by Chinese poet Tao Yuanming in the early 5th century). It is a kind of Utopia. The scene reminded me of the legend.

Cherry, Cherry, Cherry: April 6-9, 2012

Tokyo had its peak of cherry blossom this weekend. I visited several cherry spots.

Chidorigafuchi, Imperial Palace:  One of most famous cherry spots in Tokyo. (Top)

Ueno Park: Tens of thousands of people gathered. It took ten minutes to move 50 meters in the “cherry street”.

Shinobazu Pond @ Ueno.

Sumida River Bank @ Asakusa:
Tens of thousands of people gathered. The cherries were planted by Shogun Tokugawa Yoshimune about 300 years ago.

Shinjuku: Cherries were planted along Koshu Kaido street

Shinjuku Central Park:
Tokyo Metropolitan Government buildings stand behind cherry trees.

Shiba Park:
Tokyo Tower stands behind the park.








Zojoji Temple @ Shiba
One of most famous temples in Tokyo.










Imperial Palace:
Overview

Imparial Palace moat

British Embassy@ Hanzmon

Kandagawa River:
Many other rivers (such as Meguro River, Nogewa River and Zenpukuji River) have cherry trees in their banks.

Tamgawa Josui Park:
Many othe parks and walking pathes have cherry trees.

Mono rail and canal @ Tamachi

Tamachi Station
Cherry trees are planted in many business streets. Business people enjoy the clossom on their ways to the offices.

A street in a residential area in Kawasaki city
Cherry tunnels are founs in many places in and around Tokyo

Hanami@ around Yasukuni Shrine: April 1, 2012

It is April. The air is still cold, but the sunshine is getting brighter.

Tokyo’s cherry (finally) began to blossom. I walked Yasukuni Shrine and surrounding areas.


Only a few trees opened flowers in the shrine. The trees were still brown (not pink). People, however, did not wait. Thousands of people were there.

There were hundreds of open-air stalls along the main approach to the shrine. Many people enjoyed drinks and food on the carpets laid on the ground.

The local community held cherry festival in the shrine and music and other performances were played.

Yasukuni is politically controversial because the shrine consoles not only the spirits of ordinary war victims but also the souls of class-A criminals (of World War 2). Most people seemed not caring such controversy. They purely enjoyed the arrival of spring.

I walked along Chidorigafuchi, one of the most famous inner moats of the Imperial Palace. Many people were on the boats.

I walked to Chidorigafuchi National Cemetery where the souls of 2.4 million people killed in the World War 2 are consoled. No political controversy is there (unlike Yasukuni Shrine). There were only a few visitors there.

I also walked along a bank of outer moats the Imperial Palace from Yotsuya to Ichigaya. Young people including foreigners were enjoying Hanami (flower watching) picnic under pre-open cherry trees.