Summer day’s walk in Tamagawa River area: July 27-28, 2013

Hot days continue. The temperature goes up more than 30 degrees almost every day in July.

I had walks around western part of Setagaya ward and Tamagawa river area （Tokyo-Kanagawa border） this weekend.

Sounds of cicadas buzz were heard in the walkways, parks, and many places in the area. Empty shells of cicadas were found in the grasses and trees.

Sunflower and many other summer flowers were open in Soshigaya Park at the side of Sengawa River.

Birds, butterflies and grasshoppers moved around in the river fields of Tamagawa River.

There were many birds, including little egret and gray heron in Nogawa River and Sengawa River.

Sweat flew out of my body.

Ocean’s Day @ Odaiba & Rainbow Bridge; July 15, 2013

Today is Ocean's Day (national Holiday). I visited Tokyo Bay Area to see the sea. Today’s activities included a walk across the Rainbow Bridge, which linked Odaiba and Shibaura over the Tokyo Bay.

Odaiba is an artificial island developed gradually after the Edo era. Cannons and other defense facilities were installed in the late Edo era. Artificial islands made by the Tokugawa government still remain.

Modern commercial, business and cultural facilities as well as residential apartments have been built after the 1990s. Today, it is one of most fashionable areas in Tokyo.







 It was extremely hot today. Thousands of people were in the artificial beach. Children enjoyed sea bathing and young people moved sailboats. I saw the Rainbow Bridge and central Tokyo’s skyscrapers were behind the beach.

I found many young people enjoying costume plays in the park in the area.

I crossed the Rainbow Bridge. The wind was strong. The Tokyo Bay was just under the bridge. Ships and boats were sailing. It took about 30 minutes.

Star Festival@ Hiratsuka: July 6, 2013

Rainy season is over (The Meteorological Bureau declared the end of rainy season today). It was about two week earlier than usual. It was hot and fine today.


I visited Star Festival held in Hiratsuka City in Kanagawa Prefecture. Hiratsuka’s Festival is one of three major festivals in Japan (other two are held in Sendai and Ichinomiya, Aichi Prefecture).

Hundreds of decorations were places in two major streets. Various hopes -- recovery from the Great East Japan earthquake disaster, victory in the football World Cup games, happiness of people, etc. -- were displayed in the decorations. Thousands of people were walking under the decorations.


Many people were in traditional yukata costume.

There were hundreds of open-air stalls in other street. Visitors enjoyed eating and drinking.


Hiratsuka’s festival started in 1950 as a symbol of reconstruction from World War 2. More than 3 million people visit the festival every year.