Hiking @ Canadian Rockies (off off Tokyo): August 18-23, 2013

It was fantastic to hike in the Canadian Rockies.

I had few walks during my stay in here. The hikings include: 

** A hiking from Lake Louise to Lake Agnes

I left Lake Louise, which is 1536 meter high, and walked into a trail through the woods of needle-leaf trees (such as fir trees). I met many animals and birds including squirrels and wood peckers.

The trail became steeper as I moved up. The trees disappeared and rocky fields spread around me when I came to 2000 meter high from the sea level.

I arrived at a small lake called "Mirror Lake" after about two hours walk.

With another 30 minutes walk, I arrived at Lake Angus, which is 2135 meter high. The lake was surrounded by mountains. The water as well as the air was clean. 

There were many pika or whistling hares in the area. Their high-pitched voices were impressive. 




**A hiking from Lake Louise to Plain of Six Glaciers

The hiking started from Lake Louise. I walked about 20 minutes along a flat lakeside walkway. There were many tourists walking there. Some of them were with their dogs.

I moved into a mountain trail. The trail went through the woods, grass-covered plain, and rocky steep place. People went up the mountain not only by foot, but also on a horse. 

Walkers and riders often crossed each other in the pass. There were many sign boards which showed the ways for walkers and for riders. 


As I went up, Victoria Glaciers, Lefroy Glaciers and other glaciers came near. It was impressive.

There was a tea house at about 2000 meter-high place. Combination of white glaciers, gray rocks, and green fields
was impressive.







** A hiking along Bow River, Banff

I had a walk along Bow River in Banff. It was easy. The trail as well as the wood was well kept up.

Animals @ Canadian Rockies (off off Tokyo): August 18-23, 2013

I saw many animals during my stay in the Canadian Rockies.

I visited Mt. Whitehorn near Lake Louise. It is a famous sky resort in the winter and a nice sightseeing spot in the summer season. I moved up to the top area by a gondola.

Grizzlies frequent here. I unfortunately miss it (miss the opportunity to see it from mu gondola, not to meet in the trail while walking ^^;). Instead, I met other animals and birds.

A elk deer appeared from a wood and ate grasses in the field.

There were many alpine plants. Flowers were beautiful. 
.

There were stuffed animals and other exhibitions in the interpretation center there. They include coyote, grizzly, cougar, wolf, deer and many birds.

I met many pika or whistling hares in the mountains when I was walking there. Their high-pitched sounds were impressive.

Squirrels were everywhere. I saw in the mountains while hiking and in the towns.

People were with their animals in Banff. Small and big dogs were found everywhere. A family played a performance with their pig. 

People and life @ Canadian Rockies (off off Tokyo): August 18-23, 2013

There were many tourists from all over the world in the Canadian Rockies.

Lake Louise was always crowded with visitors. They enjoyed beautiful scenes of the mountains, glaciers and the lake. Some enjoyed walking along the lakeside pass (sometimes with their dogs). Others played canoe in the lake.

Good viewpoints were always crowded with tourist. At Lake Louise mountain resort area, tourists enjoyed the scenes of mountains and animals. (picture top).

Columbia Icefield is a one of famous tourist spots in the Canadian Rockies. Many visiters were on the glacier. It was cold. The glacier is about 300 meter deep (unbelievable!), but it is getting smaller because of global climate change.

People enjoyed outdoor activities. At the northern side of Lake Louise, young people played rock climbing. 

Riding was also popular. Many people climbed up the mountain on the horse.

Banff streets were crowed with tourist who enjoyed (real) shopping and window shopping.

Beautiful nature @ Canadian Rockies(off off Tokyo): August 18-23, 2013

I came to the Canadian Rockies. Walking in the great nature was a big fun. Beautiful scenes of mountains lakes are also fantastic.

I stayed in Lake Louise as well as Banff. 

Lake Louise was emerald green. The lake, mountains, glaciers and blue sky composed a beautiful picture (see top picture). 

There are hundreds of mountains in the area. Most of them are 2000-4000 meter high. Some mountains were covered with plant in the lower parts and showed bare rocks in the upper patrs . The forest limit is about 2200 meter here. 

Shapes were different by the mountain. It was interesting.

I had a bus tour between Banff and Columbia Icefield on "Icefields Parkways", which runs through the Rockies.

Payto Lake is also a famous glacier-fed lake. The water is emerald green. I saw the beautiful scene from Bow Summit.  

Bow Lake was also beautiful. It is the origin of Bow River

The river flows through Banff and down to the Atlantic Ocean. (see the picture 3rd from the top).

Tokyo's Hot summer: August 15, 2013

Tokyo had historically hot summer this year.

Temperature sometimes reached 37 degrees. Heavy rain with thunders suddenly started in some areas, which caused blackout and suspensions of train operations.

It was hard to walk long in daytime this month. I only had short walks in the weekends. Many women carry parasols. Business persons were sweat. Everyone looked being fed up with the heat.

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.

Iris @ Meiji Shrine: June 8, 2013

Here again came the season of Japanese iris. I visited Meiji iris field in Meiji Shrine.

The field is in the wood. Thousands of purple and white flowers were open. Butterflies were floating and birds were singing.



Many visitors were taking pictures.

Rainy season will start shortly.

Sanno Festival @ Hie Shrine: June 8, 2013

Edo’s three major festivals include Kanda Festival @ Kanda Shrine, Sanja Festival @ Askusa Shrine, and Sanno Festival @ Hie Shrine. I have already visited first two festivals. I visited the third one today.

Hie Shrine locates central Tokyo. It is only few hundred meters from Prime Minister’s house and Japanese Diet. The shrine is now surrounded by buildings.


The shrine has big festival and small festival every each year. This year’s festival is small one. There is no large-scale mikoshi (portal shrine) parade planned this year. Rather, a series of small events is scheduled.


A ceremony for small children was held when I visited there. Boys and girls were in traditional costumes. Parents and grandparents were taking pictures.


It was a hot summer day.