Ebisu Garden Place: July 12, 2010

Ebisu Garden Place is a commercial and residential complex near JR Ebisu station. I visited there.


The complex was developed in a former beer factory (brewery) site owned by Sapporo Brewery about 15 years ago. The JR station and the Place is connected with Ebisu Sky Walk, a moving walkway.

There are office buildings, restaurants, stores, hotels, museums, cinemas and residential apartments in the complex. The central space was used for open-air markets today. Stalls sold vegetables and fruits as well as jam and drinks there.

Many foreign families were enjoying their holidays there.

I visited Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography. An exhibition of news photos was held and many pictures of conflicts, lives were displayed.

Map:  Ebisu Garden Place

Hozuki Market@ Asakusa: July 10, 2010

There are famous seasonal markets in Tokyo. One of them is Hozuki (Bladder Cherry of Japanese lantern) Market in the Asakusa Shrine (and Sensoji Temple in the same garden).

The bright orange fruit of hozuki is impressive. It is also culturally important as Japanese people see the fruits as lanterns to guide the sprits of their ancestors in the Bon festival season (the ancestor’s sprits return to our world in the Bon season).

Tens of hozuki stalls stood and each stall hung tens of hozuki pots. The wind bells rang. The green and orange colors of the plants were impressive.

The sellers wore traditional costumes. I also saw small brothers appealing their hozuki to the visitors. They were cute.

Map: Asakusa

Meiji Shrine, Omotesando@summer: July 3, 2010

Those who live in the western part of Tokyo often visit Meiji Shrine, Yoyogi Park and Omotesando area. I visited the area again to enjoy the shrine’s green and Omotesando’s busy shopping streets.

The shrine was crowded with foreign tourists. Many Chinese as well as westerners were there. It is summer holiday season.

The scene reminded me of the decision of the Japanese government to open its border for more Chinese tourists. The government on July 1st changed its border control rules, which enabled more Chinese tourists visit Japan without visa.

There was a wedding ceremony took place in the shrine. Many foreign tourists were taking pictures of a bride.

There were many votive tablets called “Ema” hung on several boards. Many wished were written in foreign languages.

A sports shop attracted more customers than usual at Omotesando Street. The Netherland beat Brazil last night in the FIFA World Cup in South Africa. They displayed the picture of Sneijder and other Dutch players in their large electronic panel. It was obvious that they quickly changed from (probably) Brazilian players.

I also visited Ukiyo-e Ota Memorial Museum of Art off Omotesando Street. They had a special exhibition of Hokusai’s famous “Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji”. “The Great Wave off Kanagawa” and other excellent pictures were displayed.

Small temples in Setagaya: June 27, 2010

When I am walking in Tokyo, I find many small temples and shrines.

Most of them are not famous, but they keep green nature. Some of them hold seasonal festivals and keep the function of “local community centers”.

I passed over several temples while walking in Setagaya ward. One of them was Saifgukuji Temple.

It is one of many temples which belong to Shingon sect of Buddhism. There stood sculptures of guardians in the gate. There were Buddha sculptures in the garden. They also have a cemetery.

Butterflies were floating and birds were dinging in the garden.

Cultural events like Rakugo performance are often held here.

Kanda River Walk (3): June 12, 2010

I took the third and the last part of Kanda River Walk. It was about 8 kilometers from Takadanobaba to Sumida River, to which Kanda River flows into.

It was urban and historical.

There are many schools around Takadanobana.　I found computer programming, design and other schools along the river. Waseda University and other famous schools have their campuses in the area.

Chinzanso (Four Seasons Hotel) stands along the river. The flow (of the river) becomes slower here. It looks like a moat rather than a river in the lower part of the river.

Highway Ikebukuro Line runs over the river from Edogawabashi to Suidobashi.

The river meets with the moat of the Imperial palace at Iidabashi. Roads run over the meting point. The traffic is heavy here.

JR Chuo Line runs along the river from Iidabashi to Ohanomizu.

The river flows down to Akihabara. Advertising boards of electronic shops are displayed along the river.

Fishing and sightseeing boats stayed in the lower river. Some boars have small restaurants in them and people enjoy parties inside. The boats are called “Yakata-bune”.

Kanda River was seen as a lifeline of Edo residents hundreds years ago. We feel the history while walking along the river.

Sengawa River Walk(1): June 6, 2010

Sengawa is a river which flows in the western part of Tokyo. It originates in Chofu City, runs through Setagaya ward, and flows into Nogawa. Nogawa flows into Tamagawa River.

I had a walk along the upper half of Sengewa. The river is protected with concrete walls. The walk ways are well arranged and nice houses are along the river.

Soshigaya Park is the biggest park around Sengawa. Nice residential area spreads around the park, but a terrible murder, which shook the nation, occurred in 2000. It is still unsolved.

Kanda River Walk(2): June 5, 2010

I took the 2nd part of Kanda River walk (following May 22nd walk). It was about 8 kilometers from Shimotakaido (Suginami ward) to Takadanobaba (Shinjuku ward).

The river (as well as I) went through residential areas in the first 2-3 kilometers. Construction works were under way in several places. The concrete banks have been renovated in some parts of the river, but they are still old and dirty in some parts. I also found water-control facilities along the river.

I proceeded to Nakano ward and found skyscrapers over the river. It was quite near to Shinjuku, one of Tokyo’s busiest business areas.

Tens of skyscrapers stand near Shinjuku Station. However, we also find old small houses a few blocs from skyscrapers. Kanda River flows through such areas.

The river goes into the Yamanote Line, which runs around central Tokyo, at a point near Takadanobaba Station.

Japanese Manga giant Osamu Tezuka had his office in the area. (One of managing companies of his works is still here)

One of his most popular works is Mighty Atom (Tetsuwan Atom, Astro Boy in English TV program). The Science and Technology Ministry in “Atom” is in Takadanobaba.

So, Takadanobaba has strong relations with Tezuka and Atom.

Atom and other important characters in Tezuka’s manga are drawn in a wall in front of the station. Artom’s song is used on the platform to inform passengers of the departure of the trains in Takadanobaba Station.

Nagoya, Nagakute, Seto (off Tokyo): May 28th, 2010

I visited Nagakute Town and Seto City near Nagoya City in Aichi Prefecture.

Nagakute is a town with a population of about 50 thousands. It locates in the eastern suburb of Nagoya.

A famous battle named "the battle of Komaki Nagakute"was held here in the late 16th century.

The town is also famous as it co-hosted “the 2005 World Exposition, Aichi, Japan” with Seto City and Toyota City.

I took “Linimo” or magnetic levitation train from Fujigaoka, Nagoya's eastern border to Expo Memorial park Station in Nagakute Town. Two nagnetic levitation train system are under commercial operation in the world and Linimo is one of them (the other one is in Shanghai). The line is 8.9 kilometers long.

The train is lifted by 8 millimeters by magnetic power and runs smoothly along the rail. It accelerates and slows down quicker than ordinary trains. It can turn small corners and makes less noises when it runs. It was so confortable.

The town has Toyota Automobile Museum. About 120 classic cars were displayed. They drove a 18th century-style automobile for us. It was a replica of one of the oldest engine cars. So exciting.

The 2005 Expo site was converted into a park and business and cultural facilities. One of them is a market named “Agurinmura”. They sell local vegetables and other agricultural products. I bought fresh bamboo and miso paste. They were cheap.

The western part of the town is residential area. People commute from the area to Nagoya to work and study. There remain fields and woods in the eastern part ot the town.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the ruler of Japan in the late 16th century, and Tokugawa Ieyasu, who became the ruler after Hideyoshi’s death and opened Edo Shogunate Government in the early 17th century, had a battle in Nagakute in 1584. The battle field has turned into a park. Local people showed us “Bonote” or symbolized marshal art performances, in the park.

Many cities and towns produce porcelains in Japan, but Seto is probably the most famous name among them. Seto-mono (the products of Seto) often means porcelain in Japan.

The history of the city's porcelain production is more than 1000 years.

They can find good clay in many places in the city, which is the reason behind the development of the industry.

I visited a craft center (factory). The master showed us how he made his products. He tactically touched the clay on a turning plate and produced cups, dishes and other porcelains. It was amazing. He said that he made nearly 500 products a day when necessary.

I bought some dishes at the shop of the center.

There are many porcelain shops in the city.

Before visiting Nagakute and Seto, I watched Nagoya Castle. It was originally built in the 17th century.

Kanda River Walk (1): May 22, 2010

Kanda River is not big, but it has been important culturally and historically for Tokyo people. The river runs through central Tokyo and it has been picked up in many novels, songs and movies.

The river is about 25 kilometers long. I took a walk along the river in the upper part (from Inokashira Park to Shimotakaido) today.

The river flows from a pond in Inokashira Park in Mitaka City, west Tokyo.

The park was crowded with people (the young and the old, parents and children, Japanese and non Japanese, men and women). The pond was full of duck boats. (The pond is especially popular among the couples).

The river flows throug a nemaless small park next to Inokashira Park. Some children were playing in the water while others were catching fish.

I walked down the river several hundreds meters from the pond and found that the banks were covered with concrete walls. Most parts of the river (except first several hundred meters) are protected by concrete banks. It is so artificial. The river flows three to five meters below the ground level.

There spread residential areas along the river. The areas are popular among salaried-employees and their families (sarari man kazoku) to live. The riverside walkways are well arranged. We also find sports grounds, schools and small parks along the river. The Inokashira Line runs along it.

Thousands of irises are planted in the river between Kugayama and Takaido. The yellow flowers are fully open in May. It was so beautiful.

Cherry trees and dogwood trees are planted in the banks.

We can find carp almost everyehrer in the river. Water birds are also found.

The river is artificial (again). The river itself is not beautiful. But nature stays in. Peple enjoy walking along the river.

Thai Festival @ Yoyogi Park: May 16, 2010

The politics in Thailand is in turmoil now. The government's security forces and the demonstrators face each other in Bangkok.

Here in Tokyo, the 11th Thai Festival was held on May 15 and 16 at Yoyogi Park.

The festival was originally planned to introduce the culture, the social life and the people of Thailand to Japanese. Later, the festival has become more and more popular among Tokyo people as an occasion to enjoy Thai food (Some people say it should be called "Thai Food Festival", not Thai Festival).

Thousands of people gathered in the festival site. There were many Asian people along with Japanese and Westerners. They were making long queues in front of many stalls.

Thai musics were played there. They were not only traditional musics but also T (Thai) Pops.

The rose flowers were full open in Yoyogi Park.

Families, couples and many other people were on the grass. They were enjoying their times in the early-summer afternoon. The sky was blue and the sunlight was bright.

I find something new every time I visit the park. Today, I met across an open-air rakugo (Japanese talk performance) play.