Hiroshima：A-bomb Dome & Peace Memorial Park: March 30, 2024

Hiroshima is one of must-visit places in Japan. I visited the city for the first time in about 40 years.

The Atomic-bomb Dome is world famous.

It used to be a building for industrial activities and exhibition. The first atomic bomb exploded about 600 meters above the building on August 6, 1945.

Hiroshima City decided to preserve the dome as a memorial of A-bomb in 1966.

Since then, total 4 preservation works were done in 1967, 1989, 2002 and 2015.

 

There is Peace Memorial Park in the south of the dome. A cenotaph for the a-bomb victims is placed in the center of the park.

I saw many people praying for the victims.

The G7 and G20 summit meetings were held in Hiroshima in May 2023. The global leaders made official visits to the park.

The Peace Memorial Museum is in the park. 

The exhibitions show what happened in Hiroshima on August 6 in 1945 and thereafter.

They tell us the inhumanity and danger of nuclear weapons. Visitors watched the exhibitions in solemn atmosphere.

 

I found many foreign tourists in the park and around the dome. Knowing Hiroshima and Nagasaki is, needless to say, very important.

 

 

Dressage competitions in Equestrian Park: March 17, 2024

 

 

The season is turning to spring. It is getting brighter and warmer in Tokyo,

I visited Equestrian Park in Setagaya City.

The weather was fine.

I found many families enjoying their times in the park.

 

There were dressage competitions held in the park.

Young riders from universities and horse-riding clubs participated in the event.

The facilities in the park were renovated after the Tokyo Olympic games in 2021.

The left is the main arena, where the competitions were held.

 

There were many horses in the waiting arena.

Many people were watching the horses and riders. (See also the top and 2nd photos) 

 

 

 

 

Yaizu: Feb 10, 2024

I visited Yaizu City in Shizuoka Prefecture.

The city is famous for its fishing industry and a legend of Yamato Takeru, a hero of  ancient Japans.

 

There are several fishing ports in Yaizu city. Many ships and boats stay at the quays.

Yaizu is one of the largest fishing ports in Japan.

Its landing amount in value terms was the largest in 2023. It was the 4^th largest in volume. Other large fishing ports include Choshi in Chiba Prefecture, Kushiro in Hokkaido, Hakata in Fukuoka, Nagasaki and Sakai Minato in Tottori.

The view of Mr. Fuji from the port was so beautiful. (See the top and 2nd photo)

Seagulls were flying over the sea. 

People were enjoying fishing. (See also the 3rd photo)

 

I found several new banks under construction in the ports. It is to prevent tsunami from moving into the city. Most parts of the banks are made of concrete, but toughened glass sheets are used in some parts. We can see the ports through the glasses.

 

I also found several Tsunami evacuation towers in the ports.

The possibility of a large earthquake is repeatedly discussed in the area.

 

Yaizu locates along the Suruga Bay.

There is a museum which focuses on the deep sea water of the bay.

The deepest point of the bay is 2500 meter. It is the deepest among hundreds of bays in Japan.

 

Yaizu has a legend of Yamato Takeru, a hero of ancient Japan.

Yaisu Shrine was built to enshrine him.

 

Yaizu is also famous for its hot spring. There are several hot-spring hotels in the city.

There is a footbath facility near the railway station. It is open to the public.

 

 

 

 

Ume Blossom: Jan. 30, 2024

 

It is still January, but ume blossom is approaching its peak at Hanegi Park in Umegaoka district in Setagaya City, western Tokyo.

The opening of ume, or Japanese apricot, seems to become earlier as years pass.

 

Today was a fine day.

There are hundreds of ume trees in the park

I found white, red flowers.

 

I also found bare gingko trees behind ume trees. (See also the top photo)

 

Some trees have yellow flowers. The smell well.

 

People were enjoying the flowers.

 

 

New Year’s visits to shrines and temples: Jan. 1-5, 2024

 

 

The year of 2024 started.

Japan had a large earthquake in Ishikawa Prefecture on the first day of the year.

Hundreds of people are estimated to lose ther lives; tens of thousands of people lost their houses; tens of communities are isolated as roads and communications lines are cut.

I visit several shrine and temples to make new year’s prays. I prayed for the safety of the victims and recovery of the disaster-hit people areas.

Meiji Jingu Shrine is one of the largest shrines in Tokyo. It is in an artificial forest. (see also the 2nd photo)

Millions of people visit there on January 1 every year.

There were fewer, but many people in the shrine on Jan. 5.

 

Yoyogi Hachiman Shrine is also a popular spot for new year’s visit.

They displayed works of calligraphy by elementary-school kids at the sides of the approach to the shrine.

 

Gotokuiji Temple is famous foe its lucky cats. (See also the top photo)

I found many foreign tourists there on Jan. 1.

 

People made a long queue at Setagaya Hachiman Shrine on Jan. 1. The queue continued outside of the shrine. (See also the 3rd photo)

 

I visited Rokusho Shrine in the evening.

There was a place to burn last year’s good-luck charms.

I burned several items with my gratitude for the safety in the last year.

 

 

“Boro-ichi” open-air market in Setagaya: Dec 16, 2023

I visited “Bori-ichi” open-air market held in Setagaya City. It has 400 years of history and is one of famous open-air market in Tokyo.

The market was held in the areas near Kamimachi and Setagaya stations of the Setagaya Line.

About 600 stalls were open at the sides of streets. They sold foods, clothes, accessories, toys, tableware pieces and many other things.

Old books were also sold there.

They open the market total four days – Dec. 15 and 16 in 2023 as well as January 15 and 16 in 2024 – this winter.

The market was crowded with visitors. Setagaya City estimates that about 200 thousand people visit the market each day. (See also the top and 2nd photos)

 

The original form of the market started in 1578 under the deregulation policy of Hojo Ujiyasu, the ruler of Kanto area at the time. The style of the market changed after the Edo era; current style started after the World war 2.

The local governor’s house, or daikan yashiki, is preserved in the area.

I enjoyed both Bori-ichi market and Setagay’s history.

 

 

 

Yellow carpet of gingko leaves: Dec. 10-14, 2023

The season is turning to winter.

The leaves of gingko trees started to fall.

We find yellow carpets of the leaves in many places in Tokyo.

I walked Hanegi Park in Setagaya City,

The carpet was soft. I saw people enjoying walking.

This is a photo taken in a walking path in Setagaya.