Izu Peninsula : Sept 2-3, 2020 （Off Tokyo）

 

 

I visited Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka Prefecture to enjoy the sea and hot spring.

 

There are many fishing ports and sightseeing spots in the western coast of the peninsula.

Heta locates in the northern part of coast. I found some people fishing in the outer bay. I also enjoyed fishing in the inner bay.

The weather was not so good, but I could see a beautiful scene of Mt. Fuji in the morning.　(See also the top photo)

 

I moved southward and arrived in Dogashima in Nishiizu Town. It is famous for its beautiful seascape. There are several small islands covered with trees in the bay.　(See also the 3rd photo from the top)

Roads run along the seacoast in the area. This photo was taken in Matzuzaki Town, south of Nishiizu Town.

 

I stayed at a hot spring inn in the mountain in Matsuzaki Town. The trees were green. 

The sky was blue on Sept. 3.

 

Many roads have been constructed in the area. There are many tunnels.

 

I could see only the top part of Mr. Fuji on Sept.3.

This is a scene from the western coast. (See also the 2nd photo from the top)

In this photo, Mt. Fuji is behind Kanogawa-River. It was taken in the central part of the peninsula. 

 

Zushi (off Tokyo): Aug. 19-20, 2022

 

Many people in Tokyo visit Shonan –- the coastal area along the Sagami Bay in Kanagawa Prefecture – to enjoy sea bathing and the marine sports. Many beaches and resorts are there.

I visited Zushi Marina, one of such resorts. It is in Zushi City.

The sky and the sea were blue.

 

The palm trees are along the streets.

There is a harbor for yachts in the resort.　(See also the 2nd photo from the top)

 

There is an old fishing port in the area.

 

I saw Mt. Fuji over the Enoshima island in the sunset time. (See also the top and 2nd photos)

We can see such a beautiful scene only when the weather condition is good. I was lucky.

 

 

Tokyo Station @ Obon holidays: August 16, 2022

  

Japan has Obon holidays this week.

It is (was) believed that the sprits of ancestors come back from the heaven to our world in this season.

People traditionally go back to their home towns in the holidays.

 

The situation is different in the last three years.

Travelling was restricted by the government in the last two years to curve the Covid-19 infection.

The restriction was loosened this year. However, many people still refrain from having long-distance travels.

The new wave of infection began in late July and more than 200 thousand new cases are reported every day in the mid-August.

I visited Tokyo Station.

The passengers were not so many. (See also the top photo)

There were not so many people in the underground passages. (See the 2nd photo from the top)

 

There were some kids and families in the character streets in the station area.

I found everyone (almost 100%) wore masks. This is completely different from the scenes found in the U.S and European cities.

 

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s Covid-19 vaccination center is temporally open using the underground passage in the area. I saw some people going into the site.

 

 

Belgium Beer Weekend ＠Hibiya Park: July 29, 2022

 

I visited Belgium Beer Weekend event held in Hibiya Park, central Tokyo.

The event started in Japan in 2010. It is held in several cities in Japan, including Tokyo, Osaka, Yokohama, Nagoya, Sapporo, Fukuoka and others. The plans were irregular in the last three years because of Covid-19 infections.

Hibiya Park is in the center of Tokyo. It is only one bloc from the Imperial Palace.

It is surrounded by skyscrapers.

Large lawn ground as well as fountains are in the park. (See the top photo)

There are also many trees.

Getting into the event space was strictly restricted to prevent the Covid-19 infection. Only checked persons are allowed to go in.

More than 200 thousand cases are found on July 23 throughout the nation. The number stays over 200 thousand. More than 40 thousand cases were found on July 28 in Tokyo.

No restriction orders have been issued so far in Tokyo. Still, people started to avoid having large-scale gatherings in closed places, such as restaurants and drinking bars.

People at the beer festival site are in the open space. It was not difficult to imagine that some of they were talking about Covid-19.

 

 

Summer Sky: July 24-27, 2022

Tokyo is in summer.

The rainy season ended in the late June, the earliest in Japan’s postwar history. Then, the weather changed drastically in Tokyo and other parts of Japan.

Extremely hot days continues in the early July; heavy rainy days repeated in the middle of the month; and hot summer days returned in the late July.

The sky was beautiful in the last few days.

Various clouds are seen.

It was observed on July 24.

The cloud was quite different on July 27. (See the top photo)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Upper house election: July 10, 2022

  

Japan had an upper-house (House of Councilors) election on July 10.

It was the second nationwide election under PM Fumio Kishida’s regime. Kishida took office in early October in 2021 and the lower-house election was held later in the month. 

There are many issues and challenges Japan is facing – international relations and security policies after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, economic policies, Covid-19, support for people who have been hit by Covid, the policies to increase payment for workers, climate change and energy policies including nuclear polices and many others.

Discussions on such important (and heavy) issues have not held much in the election campaign period (from June 22 to July 9). One-way appeals by each party have been made everywhere in the country.

The upper house has 248 seats. Half of the seats are elected every 3 years. 148 seats (74 seats in every 3 years) are elected by constituencies and 100 (50 in every 3 years) are elected in the national proportional representation system.

 In Tokyo, more than 30 candidates ran for 6 seats this year.

 Their posters were on the public-built election- poster board. (see also the top photo)

There are more than 40 thousand polling stations throughout the country. This is one of them.

People looked at the posters before entering the polling station.

 Former PM Shizo Abe was assassinated on July 8 in Nara prefecture during his election campaign. It was the first assassination of former PM in Japan after the World War 2.

The ruling parties – LDP and its junior partner Komeito – had a big win in the election. It was the 8^th consecutive wins in the nationwide elections for the ruling parties since 2012.

 

 

Hottest season begins: June 27-30, 2022

The rainy season was over and the hottest season began in Tokyo on June 27, according to the Meteorological Agency.

It is the earliest end of the rainy season in decades.

 

It is very hot every day this week.

The temperature went up over 35 degrees in sex consecutive days after June 25 (toll June 30).

There are fewer people in towns in daytime.

I found fewer cars than usual on the road.

 

Many people use umbrellas to cut sunshine when they go out. (See also the top photo)

 

The peak of flowers change as the season passes.

The combination of lavender and white hydrangea was impressive in the Roka Park, Setagaya City, western Tokyo.

 

Various flowers, including marigold were in the flowerbed.

The sunflower was not yet open in the park.

 

 

Rainy season scenes: June 23, 2022

  

Tokyo is now in the rainy season. It began on June 6 according to the Meteorological Agency. It usually ends in July, but it may be earlier this year.

It was not rainy but cloudy today.

I saw many hydrangea during my walk in Setagaya City.

The leaves are fresh and clean as they are frequently washed out by rain in this season.

When rainy season is over, we will have hot summer days.

 

 

 

Tokyo Station in an early summer day: June 2, 2022

 

I walked around Tokyo Station.

It was a beautiful early summer day.

Tens of skyscrapers have were built in the area in 20-30 years. New buildings are under construction now.

The building left behind the station is Gran Tokyo North Tower. Daimaru Department Store and other shops, offices are in it. It is a 43-story building.

The tower right behind the station is one of buildings of the Tokyo Midtown Yaesu project.

There were not many people around the station. The influence of COVID-19 is getting smaller, but its influence on people's behavior remains. 

The station building was renovated a few years ago. Traditional designs have been preserved.

Today's sky was clear and blue. Tokyo will enter into the rainy season soon.