Meiji Shrine 2009.9.13

Most Japanese people are influenced by Shintoism even though it is not clearly recognized by themselves. Nature worship lies at the center of Shintoism. Ancient Japanese saw the spirits of their ancestors in the mountains and deep forests and this worship developed into Shitoism.

The best place to share this feeling in central Tokyo is Meiji Shrine. It is relatively new (built in 1920), but is the largest and is the only shrine with deep woods in central Tokyo.

The paved road turns to a gravel path when you walk in the shrine through a big entrance gate (torii). Then, you may feel that you are in the different world. Twenty meter-high cedar trees block the sunshine. Only the footsteps and birdsongs are heard.

Around ten-minutes walk lead me to the main building. There were many small tablets hung on the walls near the building. Some visitors write their wishes in various languages in the tablets. The wishes include: the happiness of their families, promotions in their businesses, big money (without any efforts), and the world peace.

The shrine was build to commemorate the Meiji Emperor and Empress. There are more than 80 thousand shrines in Japan and some of them have more than 1000 years history.

There is a open place in front of the shrine. Famous cosplay girls attracted tourists. Foreign tourists were busy in taking pictures of them (and with them).

Omotesando 2009.9.13

It’s too much to say that it’s like Champs-Elysees, but Omotesando is one of the most fashionable streets in Tokyo.

Famous fashion brand companies open their shops there. Young people enjoy window shopping (and sometimes real shopping). The street was so crowded in the weekend it’s hard to walk fast. We hear English, Chinese, Korean and other foreign languages here.

Omotesando Hills is a new landmark in the area. The building is a bit queer. The floors are sloping and visitors walk upward or downward.

The street was originally developed as a pass to the Meiji Shrine, one of the country’s most famous shrines build in the Taisho era (1912-26). It has turned into the shopping district in the post war era.

About 30 minutes slow walk from the subway Omote sando (space included in this case) station took me to the entrance of Meiji Shrine (see other blog post).

Yoyogi Park 2009.9.6

Every time I visit Yoyogi Park, I find something new around people’s life and culture of Tokyo.


Some parts of the park are covered with pine and other trees. The air is fresh. I saw families enjoy cycling through the trees.

At the open space, people were spending their own times in the Sunday afternoon. The activities included: sleeping on the grass, reading books, rope jumping, badminton, the hoop, sword battles etc. The ratio of non-Japanese was extremely high here.

Not only young people but also middle-aged men and women were playing music and dancing. A middle-aged group in black costumes (off-mainstream style of the 1980s) attracted people.

The park always is messy and interesting.

Odaiba & Tokyo Bay area 2009.9.5

There are many artifucially-built islands in the Tokyo Bay. The most popular spot for visiters is Odaiba. I walked Odaiba and surrounding areas.

Odaiba was diveloped after the 1980s and the district is seen as one of the most fashinable places in Tokyo. Many shops, hotels and amusement spots are there.

The Odaiba Seashore Park has a beautiful sandshore. People enjoy suimming and suntan in the summer season. Over the sea from the park, we find the Rainbow Bridge, which connects the mainland and Odaiba, and the skyscrapers of central Tokyo.Families and couples enjyed their times in the evening.

The copy of the Statue of Liberty stands at a corner of the park. 18 meter high Gundam, a famous robot in Japanese comics, also stands in the park and defends the earth from the invasion of the aliens.

There is another park called Mizu-no-Hiroba Park near Tokyo Big Sight, one of the biggest international exhibition centers in the metoropolis. The sea was so blue and beautiful.

Imperial Palace, East Garden 2009.8.23

When asked the best places for foreign tourists to visit in Tokyo, my answer always include the East Garden of Imperial Palace.

It is full of nature and history. The palace was originally a castle of Tokugawa Shogun in the Edo period. It is surrounded by moats and swans and other birds swim there. Big stone walls remind us of the power of the Tokugawa government.

Skyscrapers stand around the palace. You will find buildings through the lines of pine trees and 400 year old moat or over the beautiful grass garden. It is intersting to see the contrast between old and new aspects or traditional and modern Japan.

I walked through the gardens and arrived at the ruin of main tower (tenshudai). Special exhibition of current emperor and empress -- The Majesties of Emperor and Empress, Memories and Human Ties -- was held.

It takes 30 minutes if you just have a slight look of the palace. But it takes half day if you want to enjoy the nature, history and the atmosphere.

The west part of the palace is the residential area of the Emperor. It is inaccessible.

**********

Similar blog by the same writer: Grassman's London Walk (in Japanese language)
http://grassman-london.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/

Sumida River Walk (1) 2009.8.16

Sumida River (Sumida gawa) runs through east part of Tokyo.

The lower river region was the busiest commercial area in Edo (Tokyo's former name) in the Edo period (1603-1867) and is still flourished.

The region has been modernized in the last 3 decades. Many tall office buildings and residential apartments stand along the river today. At the same time, many historical places are scattered in the region.

I walked from the mouth of the river up to Asakusa, a busy commercial center in traditional atmosphere.

Famous Tsukiji Fish Market lies in the river mouth area. The flow is slow and the water is salty. I saw people riding water crafts.

Tsukuda-jima, about 2 kilometers from the mouth, is famous for tsukudani, traditional soybean-taste fish food. The area was developed in the Edo period by immigrant fishermen from Osaka. Osaka-origin Sumiyoshi Shrine remains at the center of the district.

The riverside walkways (Sumida Terraces) are well arranged.

There are Ukiyo-e pictures of Hiroshige, one of two greatest Ukiyo-e artists with Hokusai, copied on the metal frames in the walkway at Ryogoku area, about 5 kilometers from the mouth. Kokugikan, Sumo's home ground, stands at the opposite side of Hiroshige's pictures.

There are 12 bridges (excluding railway bridges and highway bridges) in the 7-8 kilometers from the river's mouth to Asakusa. Blue plastic houses stand under the bridges.

I am sure that I will have more walks along Sumida River.

Uptown's Green Walkways 2009.8.8

Small green walkways (Ryoku-do) run through residential areas in Tokyo. I walked along Kitazawa-gawa Walkway and Karasuyama-gawa Walkway in Setagaya and Meguro Wards (ku), Tokyo's uptown.

People take walks (sometimes with their dogs) from early morning till midnight. Joggers and cyclists are also found.

We can also enjoy the sounds of cicadas in chorus (Semi-shigure in Japanese) at this season.

Walkways are usually built on the places where creeks run. They have been covered and turned into small paths. Some parts run through residential houses and some parts are along roads.

These ways have been arranged in last two or three decades reflecting people's voices. They have become more eco-friendly. Currently, they also hope the ways to be free of barriers.

Cherry trees are planted in some parts of the ways. Artificial creeks run in other parts. Real creeks run under the ground.

Yodobashi Camera 2009.8.1

It is widely known that digital electronic equipments are among the most popular souvenirs for foreign tourists to Japan.

Akihabara is most famous as such shopping place, but there are many other well-known places. Yodobashi Camera's Shinjuku shop is on of them.

The PC prices have been rapidly down in last 3 months, partly because of economic depression and partly due to the government's special support programs. It's time to buy?

The announcements are made in Japanese, English, Chinese and Korean in the shop. English information in their web site is not enough.

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building 2009.8.1

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building is especially impressive among many skyscrapers in Shinjuku area probably because of its huge figure and unique design.

The 48 floor building was designed by famous architect Kenzo Tange and was open in 1990.

There are two observatories -- at 46 floors of north and south wings. Tourists, families and couples enjoy the overview of Tokyo every day. There lie countless buildings and houses under the viewers. More than ten millions of people live there.

The observatories are free. We can also enjoy Tokyo's night view.

Shinjuku Central Park 2009.8.1

Shinjuku Central Park may be one of the best placeｓ to see the prosperity and social problems of Tokyo.

The park is 800 meters from Shinjuku railway station and only 100 meters from Shinjuku Metropolitan Government Building.

There are hundreds of tall trees in the park, which create green-rich atmosphere. Between the trees, however, we find skyscrapers.

There are many homeless people living in blue plastic houses. I upload the picture taken in April as leaves block the view of Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building from this angle today.