Kanda River Walk 2022 (1): April 30, 2022

Japan has an "Golden Week" holidays from late April to early May. 

I had a walk along Kanda River, which flows from Inokashira Park in Musashino Chiry, western Tokyo and flows into Sumida River in at the border of Chuo and Sumida Cities in eastern part of central Tokyo. It is about 24km long.

I walked the course in 2010 (see the post).

I wonder what have been changed and what have been unchanged.

Today’s walk was along the upper part of the river. It was about 7km from from Inokashira Park to Taka-id.

Inokashira Park was crowded with families, kids and many other people. Some enjoyed riding boats in the pond. Open-air stalls were open.

Kanda River starts as the water flows out of the park’s pond. The first part is just a small stream.

I found kids playing in the water. (See also the 2nd photo)

Walking down nearly 500 meters, I found the sides and bottom of the river were covered with cement.

The Inogashira Line runs along the river in the upper part.

Hundreds of mini carp streams were flying in the wind near Mitakadai Station of the Inogashira Line. (See also the top photo)

Each carp is about 30cm long. The scene was impressive.

Japan will have the boys’ day on May 5^th.

Passing Mitakadai station, I found the first real carp in the river.

I found carp and water birds in many places afterwards.

In some parts, I saw a bird and carp swam together. 

In other part, I found places for birds to make nests safe.

There are various trees, including cherry, planted in the sidewalks of the river.

There are many facilities along the river. They are parks, schools, sport centers and many other ones. There is a garbage disposal site of Suginami City near Takaid Station.

The Ozora Park in SHimotakaido opened in 2017. This is one of the changes since 2010.

Azalea: April 24-27, 2022

Finishing the Ume blossom season in February and cherry blossom from late March to early April, it is a season of azalea blossom.

We can enjoy the azalea flower of pink, white, red and other colors in many places in Tokyo.

I visited Hanegi Park and found the azalea bloom in its peak.

Butterflies flew over the flowers.

There are various azalea flowers along the walking paths in Setagaya City.

The opening of the azalea flowers looks earlier now than it was ten years ago. Probably, because of the global warming.

Fresh green and shrines: April 22, 2022

 

Days are getting brighter.

I had a walk around Eifukucho area in Suginami City, western Tokyo.

The leaves of the trees were fresh green. (See the top photo)

The rape seed flowers were fully open at the Zenpukuji River near Wadabori Park.

I visited Omiya Hachiman Shrine. It is one of popular shrines in Tokyo.

Several carp streamers (koinobori) were attached to the the shrine gate (torii) (See also the 2nd photo)

The shrine's trees grew new leaves.

Towns spread around the shrine. 

I also visited Eifuku Inari Shrine.

Fox sculptures are places there. (See also the 3rd photo)

 

Spring flowers: April 6-11, 2022

The spring flowers, such as tulip, rapeseed flower, dandelion and peach, began to fully open in Tokyo.

I visited several places to enjoy flowers.

The tulip flowers were so impressive in the Roka Park in Setagaya City, western Tokyo.

There rapeseed flowers were open next to tulip.

Cherry and other flowers were around the flowerbeds.

I found various flowers including peach,

Dandelion

Fresh green of the tulip tree is growing.

Tokyo recorded the first summer day (a day in which the highest temperature is more than 25 degree) on April 10.

 

 

Cherry blossom season ending: April 5-6, 2022

Days are getting longer and the light is getting brighter day by day.

Cherry blossom is now finishing.

Instead, fresh green are growing in the trees. 

I visited the Shoin Shrine of in Setagaya City, western Tokyo on April 5.

 

The cherry flowers still remained.

New leaves were growing in the same trees.

The combination of pink flowers and green leaves were beautiful.

 

The sky was blue.

 

I found many people having walks in the walk paths. The cherry flowers were falling on them.

 

The cherry petals make flower carpet in some places.

This is a scene in the Gotokuji Temple, Setagaya City.

 

 

Cherry Blossom; March 26-31, 2022

 

Tokyo had the cherry blossom season this week.

The flowers were open in the parks, along the streets, and in the temples and shrines.

The full bloom continued about a week and I enjoyed walking many times.

 

This is the third cherry blossom season under the COVID-19 pandemic.

The restrictions of behavior are weaker this year than ones in the previous two years. Still, people are asked to refrain from having fusses.

I did not find any drinking parties of big groups under the cherry trees.

Most people were walking along the cherry trees and taking photos. Some were with their dogs.

Some were with their baby carriages.

Kids were playing in the park.

This photo is taken at Gotokuji Temple in Setagaya City, western Tokyo.

I also found a beautiful cherry at Rokusho Shrine in Setagaya City.

 

 

Street scenes and skyscrapers in Shibuya and Roppongi: March 12, 2022

 

The season is turning to spring in Tokyo.

The days are getting warmer and brighter.

The ume (Japanese apricot) blossom is over and other spring flowers began to open.

 

I walked in Shibuya. 

There was an open-air market in front of the UN University in Shibuya area.

I moved to Roppongi area in downtown Tokyo.

People enjoyed walks in a sunny day.

I found new skyscrapers under construction in Roppongi area. The project is organized by Mori Building Co. and plans to build three skyscrapers, including a 330-meter-high building. It will be the highest building in Japan when it is open in 2023.

The construction site is not far from the Tokyo Tower. The tower is 333 meter high. (See also the 2nd photo)

 

The landscape of Tokyo is changing drastically even when the economy is gloomy in the COVID-19 pandemic.

I looked at Roppongi area from the Aoyama cemetery. The Roppongi Hills and other skyscrapers, as well as the Tokyo Tower, were in the sight. (See also the top photo)

People pray for peace at Ukraine Embassy in Tokyo: Marche 12, 2022

  

More than two weeks have passes since the first day of Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Cities have been destroyed in Ukraine; many people have been killed; and millions of people have fled from the country.

I visited the Ukraine embassy in central Tokyo. It is a small embassy in a residential area.

Photos of the war were displayed on the walls. Yellow and blow flowers were placed on the table at the entrance. (See the top photo)

Several people were there. They prayed for peace and left messages in the message cards. So did I. (See also the 2nd photo)

 

I also visited the Russian embassy. It is a big facility.

There were several small groups protesting against the Russian invasion.

 

There are many policemen and police cars around the embassy. It was probably to prevent violent actions by demonstrators or political groups.

Large-size demonstrations were held on several days, including Feb. 26 and 27, in several areas in Tokyo.

It looks that many Japanese people are still overwhelmed with the large-scale war.