Sengen Shrine and its mountain in Shizuoka:Oct 30, 2022 （Off Tokyo）

I had a short trip to Shizuoka City and visited Sengen Shrine.

It was a season of Shichi-GO-San, a traditional ceremony to cerebrate the kids at the age of seven, five and three.

Several kids in traditional Kimono costume were there. Their parents also dressed up.

Some gifts were sold for the kids.

I climbed a small mountain at the back of the shrine.

The mountain is 140 meter high. It took about 30 minutes to reach the top.

The scene of Shizuoka City was below me.

I could not see Mt. Fuji unfortunately, as there were some clouds, Still, I could see the Suruga Bay and the Izu Penninsula behind the see. (See also the top photo)

 

Autumn scenes: Oct 10-23, 2022

 

The season is turning to autumn.

I enjoyed some autumn scenes during my walks in western Tokyo.

The colors of the leaves began to change in Hanegi Park, Setagaya City.

The Japanese apricot leaves turned to yellow and brown.

The gingko leaves were still green, but will soon turn to yellow.

 

The maple leaves began to turn red at Gotokuji Temple, Setagaya City.

 

I found many cosmos flowers in the walking paths.

 

I also found persimmon fruits grown at the side of the walking path.

 

There were several gourds hanging in a small field.

 

Hundreds of birds (probably starlings) were flying over big trees in an evening. It was impressive. (See also the top photo)

 

 

Changing Shimokitazawa: Oct 2, 2022

Shimokitazawa has been seen as one of Tokyo's attractive towns. 

It locates not far from Shinjuku and Shibuya, the metropolis's leading business centers. 

The town has many theaters and other facilities. Many young people gather there. The town creates unique atmosphere. 

Shimokitazawa has experienced rapid changes for years. It is triggered by the reconstruction works of  the station as well as the railways (the Odakyu Line and the Keio Inogashira Line) in the 2010s.

I visited Shimokitazawa to see recent changes of the town.

There are open air stalls in the square in front of the station.

I saw many people gathering, chattering and drinking there.

New restaurants and shops were developed under the Inogashira Line, which runs about five meters high from the ground. (See also the 2nd photo)

Basement made of soils and stones was used to support the rails before the renovation. The scene has completely changes.

The Odakyu line used to run on the ground. It runs underground now.

The overground place is now used for various purposes.

There is an event site near the station. Kids were playing there. (See also the 3rd photo)

New commercial facilities were developed.

They held a Czech festival.

There also developed a hotel there.

It is fun to see the drastic change of the town.

 

Komabano Park: Oct 2, 2022

We had series of rainy days the end of September in Tokyo and other part of Japan.

Now, it is October. It is fine today.

I had a short walk in the Komabano Park in Meguro City, western Tokyo.

The park preserves natural woods. I walked along the walkways in the bushes.

There is a rice field outside the park. It is mainly used for educational purpose.

They decorated scarecrows there in this season. They were made on the images of comic characters.

The season is turning into autumn.

 

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.