Summer Festivals: July 23, 2023

Now, it is summer festival season.

I joined two festivals during my walk on July 23.

A local community festival was held at Rokusho Shurine in Setagaya City.

They played Kagura dances.

I saw a lion dance (top photo) and an old man’s dance.

There were many visitors, including kids, in the site.

Open-air stalls were arranged.

I also visited a samba festival at Kyodo railway station.

Many samba teams danced in a public square as well as on the roads.

 

Flowers and plants in hot summer: July 13-23, 2023

 

Japan has an extremely hot summer (again) this year.

The temperature in Tokyo went up over 35 degrees in many days in July.

 

Unusual weather caused territorial heavy rain and other natural disasters in some parts of Japan. The heavy rain disasters in Akita district (in Tohoku area) were especially serious.

I have my walks in the evening this month as it is too hot to walk in the daytime.

I found various summer flowers during my walks.

Sunflowers were open in many places.

Hundreds of sunflowers were open in Roka Park in Setagaya city. (See also top and 2nd photos)

 

This photo was taken in a walking path.

 

Aquatic grasses covered a pond in Hibiya Park, central Tokyo.

 

The leaves of the trees had turned to deep green when I visited Hanegi Park on July 23. Cicadas were singing loudly. (see also the 3rd photo)