Ueno Zoo; July 18, 2010

I like visiting  zoos and aquariums. Today, I visited Ueno Zoo.

It is the nation’s oldest and most famous zoo. It has about 500 species and 3000 individual animals and birds, according to its pamphlet.

It was my first visit of the zoo in about four years. Many things have changed.

Good developments:


(1)The cages of sea lions, hippopotamuses, pigmy hipos have remarkably improved.

The front walls of the cages have been changed from concrete walls to transparent plastic boards. Visitors can dirctly watch how the animals swim in the water.

Many children as well as their parents were enjoying observing the motions of the animals.

(2) New exhibition facilities have been built.

They include a house for aye-eyes and small mammals (tarsier, mice etc.). A new house for crocodiles, turtles, frogs ana other animals in the water area has also been built.

Animals such as giraffe, rhino and monkeys were popular as usual. Meerkat also attracted many visitors.

There were many water birds in the Shinobazu Pond, which is also a part of the zoo. The pond was covered with large leaves of lotus. It was amazing.

Map: Ueno Zoo

Shimokitazawa; July 17, 2010

Shimokitazawa is known as one of the sub cultural centers in Tokyo.

It has several off-broadway theaters. There are many shops, drinking bars and restaurants for young people.

The town is a bit messy, but the atmosphere attracts many young people as well as foreigners.

Students, couples and many other young people were walking in the streets when I visited there.

 

I found a queue in front of a traditional eel (unagi) restaurant. It is JApan'S tradition to eat eel in the mid-summer. It is to survive the country’s hot summer with the fish's nourishment.

Shimokitazawa station (of Odakyu Line) is under renovation. The railway company plans to increase the number of the rails to ease the congestion.

The front area of the station is also planned to be redeveloped.

The town may be more convenient and cleaner when the renovation is over. But it may lose its unique (subcultural) mood.

Imaging that the town will be different, I took many pictures to record today's scenes. 

Map: Shimokitazawa

Imperial Palace’s moats in summer: July 15, 2010

The view of the Imperial Palace change from season to season. I walked along the Palace’s moats.


Some parts of the moat were covered with water grasses. They included lotus.
The moats were covered with pink cherry flowers in spring. The impression today was different.

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.