Nakasendo Walk (32) Toriimoto(63/69)-Echigawa(65/69)-Gokasho: April 3, 2023 (off Tokyo)

I resumed my Nakasendo Walk after 3-year halt due to the Covid-19 pandemic. My last walk was in May, 2019.

Today, I walked from Toriimoto, the 63rd shukuba station from Nihonbashi in Tokyo, to Echigawa, the 65th station. Today’s walk was about 16 km.

Toriimoto is in Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture. There are many Edo period-style buildings preserved here.

They include old style drug store.

 

Toriimoto’s paper-made raincoats were famous in the Edo period. The signboard was preserved at a store.

 

One of traditional house was used as an elderly care service station.

 

The tourist information in the town, such as information boards and exhibitions in a tourist center, is much better now than four years ago, when I visited here last time. I was glad of the improvement.

 

I walked southward. Nakasendo runs through a flat place between Lake Biwa in the west and the Suzuka mountains in the east. Nakasendo, the Shinkansen Line and Meishinexpressway run in parallel.

I found statues of Jizo, a Buddhist guardina deity of children, in many places during my walk. (See the 2nd photo)

 

Takamiya, the 64^th station, is also in Hikone City. It was one of the largest shukuba stations in Nakasendo in the Edo era.

Old-style buildings are well preserved in Takamiys, too.

 

A big gate of Taga-taisha shrine stands in at the center of the shukuba street. Taga-taisha is the biggest shrine in Shiga Prefecture.

 

Takamiya was famous for its trade of linen fabric in the Edo era. One of trader’s house is now used as a tourist center.

A lantern shop in Edo period-style is open near the big gate. (See th 3rd photo)

 

I passed the “Muchin (free charge) Bridge” on the Inukami River when I left Takamiya station. Cherry blossom in the river banks were beautiful.

 

I continued walking. Agricultural fields spread on both sides of Nakasendo in some parts.

The Suzuka mountains were beautiful.

I found cherry blossom behind a wheat field (See the top photo).

 

I passed Toyosato Town before arriving in Echigawa station. The birthplace of famous merchants Ito Chubei 1st and 2nd – father was active in the Meiji to Taisho period; son in the Showa period – is preserved at the side of Nakasendo.

Omi, or Shiga prefecture in current name, was historically famous for producing many famous merchants.

 

Echigawa is in Aisho Town. It is also famous as a hometown of many famous merchants, including Yasujiro Tsutsumi.

Two gates in both sides of the station welcome tourists.

I finished today's walk at Gokasho, aout 3km from Echigawa.

 

Cherry and other spring flowers； March 19-21, 2023

 

Tokyo declared the start of cherry blossom a few days ago (on March 14).

Now, they are in full bloom.

Other spring flowers are also open.

We can enjoy the combination of various flowers in many places in Tokyo.

 

Yellow rapeseed flowers and pinky cherry made a good contrast in Roka park in Setagaya City, western Tokyo. (See also the top photo)

 

I also enjoyed the combination of tulip and cherry there.

 

People enjoyed hanami picnic in Hanegi Park in Setagaya. (See also the 2nd photo)

 

The cherry in the walking paths were also beautiful.

 

I found herons and other birds in the creeks along the walking paths.

 

The combination of cherry and blue sky was also impressive.

 

 

 

WBC Baseball fans @ Tokyo Dome: March 16, 2023

I passed by the Tokyo Dome baseball stadium during my Tokyo walk.

Many people gathered there as a WBC (the World Baseball Classic) match between Japan and Italy was scheduled.

People made a queue from JR Suidobashi station to the dome.

Many people were waiting the gates open. (See also the 2nd photo)

Some visitors were in baseball uniforms.

Not a few people wore Shohei Otani’s uniform. (See also the top photo)

It was announced that more than 40 thousand audience attended the game.

Japan made a 9-3 win and advanced to a semifinal game scheduled in the U.S.

 

Covid rules eased; people still wear masks： March 15-16, 2023

 

Japan on March 13 withdrew its request for the people to wear masks when they go out. The request was issued just after the outbreak of Covid 19 in 2020. Now, people are free to decide whether or not to wear masks.

The country also decided to downgrade the legal status of the Covid-19 from “Class 2” to “Class 5.” Class 5 is a category applied for seasonal influenza.

The easing is a move to follow the trends in European countries, U.S. and some other countries.

I visited several places in Tokyo after the request on masks was got rid of. I found that most people still wore masks.

Almost all people were with masks at the Godzilla street in Shinjuku. (See the top photo). The left photo was taken at Shinjuku Station.

 

The situation is similar at Tokyo Station. I found people wearing masks at the ticket gates (the 2nd photo), in front of the station building (3rd from the top), and in the main entrance (left).

 

This is a scene in Yasukuni Shrine.

 

There are, of course, some changes. People are allowed to root for favorite teams, instead of just to silently watch the games, in the sport matches.

Many people tooted for the Japanese team in the World Baseball Classic games held in Tokyo this week. 

The left photo was taken just before the game between Japan and Italy on March 16.

Most people were with masks outside the dome when they were waiting to enter (See the p2nd photo).  

More people visit restaurants and drinking bars.

With easing the rules, Japan entered into the “with-covid” era. People’s lives are changing gradually.

Cherry season starts: March 15, 2023

The ume (Japanese apricot) season is over; and the cherry blossom has just started.

The cherry blossom in Tokyo is declared when more than five flowers are open at the benchmark cherry tree in Yasukuni Shrine. It happened on March 14 (yesterday).

The benchmark cherry tree is Somei-yoshino, a hybrid cherry developed in the late Edo period (about 200 years ago). Somei-yoshino is most popular and widely-seen cherry in Japan.

I visited the shrine. The tree had tens of flowers today.

Many visitors were taking photos. (See also the top photo)

Another kind of cherry was fully open.

I had a walk around the Imperial Palace.

Only a few flowers were open at Chidorigafuchi.

The place will be crowded with many hanami visitors (flower watchers) in a week or two.

The banks of the palace were flesh green.

Some cherry flowers were fully open.

I found camellia flowers.

This is bokeh flower.

There were many people enjoying walking in the outer garden of the palace.

 

Spring Flowers: Mar. 5-9, 2023

Spring has come to Tokyo.

It is getting warmer and the day is getting brighter.

I walked around the towns and found many spring flowers.

The ume (Japanese apricot) blossom is now in the last stage.

Some flowers are still open in Hanegi Park in Setagaya City, western Tokyo.

The flowers have already fallen in some trees.

Green leaves started to grow.

The Pink flowers were impressive at Gotokuji Temple in Setagaya. (see the 2nd photo)

The rapeseed flowers began to open in Roka Park in Setagaya City. (See also the top photo)

A white heron was walking near reposed flowers in the Sengawa River in Setagaya.

Magnolia flower is now open. It is earlier than usual.

This is Japanese quince.

New buds are growing on hydrangea trees.