Hanami@ walking paths, parks: March 28, 2015

Cherry blossom started a few days ago in Tokyo. I visited walking paths and parks in Setagaya Ward, western Tokyo, to enjoy the flowers.

There are hundreds of cherry trees along Kitazawagawa walking path. Many families and groups were enjoying foods, drinks and talks under the trees.

The butterflies flied and the birds sang.

The Hanegi Park was also crowded with families and other people.

Spring ＠Roka Park: March 22, 2015

We had the Spring Equinox Day this weekend. I visited Roka Park in western Tokyo to find spring scenes.

Many flowers were open. They included (early blossom) cherry, field mustard (or rapeseed), saxifrage, magnolia, violet, pansy and dandelion.

The combination of white, yellow, pink and green (saxifrage, field mustard, cherry and leaves) was impressive. (The top photo)

Japanese nightingale　(warbler)　began to sing.

People enjoyed the spring day. Some were enjoying picnic while others were jogging.  The dog-run field were crowded with various dogs and their owners.

Miho @ Shimizu (Off Tokyo): March 7, 2015

Mt. Fuji has become a World Cultural Heritage site in 2013. Exactly speaking, the site’s name is “Fujisan, sacred place and source of artistic inspiration” (I did not know). I visited Miho no Matsubara, a part of the World Heritage site, in Shimizu district of Shizuoka City today.

Miho no Matsubara lies in a small peninsula (Miho Peninsula). There are thousands of pine trees in the sand beach. We can see a good panorama of Mr. Fuji when the weather is fine. It was unfortunately cloudy today.

Many pine trees do not stand perpendicularly, but incline to the north, the direction of the land. It is because the wind from the sea is strong.

There is a legend of an angel and her cloths in the region. A pine tree which related to the story is preserved.

There were many tourists from all over Japan.

The walk path which connect Miho no Matsubara and the Miho Shrine was also wonderful.

Shimizu is also famous for its football team “Shimizu Spuls” and a nationwide famous cartoon girl “Chibimaruko-chan”. Both were displayed in the wall of the JR railway Shimizu station.