Sangenjaya: June 24, 2012

Sangenjaya is one of major terminals in Setagaya Ward, western Tokyo. It is about four kilometer west from Shibuya.

We find both old and new faces of the town like other terminals,


There are old shopping areas in several places in the area. There also spread newly-developed buildings. 27-story Carrot Tower is a landmark of the town and is a good example of new faces of Sangenjaya. The tower is so called as its outside is carrot color.

They hold open-air market every weekend. I found Carrot Tower behind the market.

I visited Setagaya Park about 15 minute walk from Sangenjaya. People enjoyed the sunshine on the lawn.

Hydrangea @ Fuchu Open Air museum: June 23, 2012

Ask me the images of June in Tokyo. The answers may include rain, the summer solstice, firefly and hydrangea, not June bride or father’s day.

Today was fortunately a fine day (though it is still rainy season in Tokyo), so I visited Fuchu-no-mori open air museum in Fuchu City to enjoy hydrangea today.


There are about 10 thousands of hydrangea plants in the place. Purple, blue, pink and white flowers were fully open. I found various kinds of hydrangea flowers.

Fuchu is about 20 km west from Shinjuku, Tokyo’s largest commercial area. The capital of Musashi country was placed here in the 7th century. The city is famous for Tokyo Racecourse and Okunitama Shrine.

It is midsummer season. We have about 12 and half hours of daylight in Tokyo at this season. The sun rose at 4:25 am and set at 7:00 pm on June 21, the summer solstice day, according to the Meteorological Agency.

Iris Fields @ Meiji Shrine: June 10, 2012

Rainy season began in Tokyo.

Japanese people traditionally enjoy iris in this season the season. I visited Meiji Shrine’s iris fields.


Hundreds of purple, light purple and white flowers were open in the wet fields.

There are three kinds of iris flowers in the fields. They are Ayame (Iris sanguine), Hana-shobu (Iris ensata var. ensata) and Kakitsubata (Iris laevigata).

 It is easy for professionals to make difference between the three, but not for me.



The fields were made in the order of the Meiji Emperor. Many visitors enjoyed the flower.

I also walked around Meiji Shrine. There were many foreign and Japanese visitors as usual. It was also usual to see a wedding ceremony. They held a special Bonsai exhibition in the entrance space of the main shrine.

Rose garden @ Ikuta Ryokuchi: May 27, 2012

We had nice early-summer days this weekend. The breeze was nice and the sky was blue.

I visited Ikuta Ryokuchi Rose Garden in Kawasaki City. The garden is open a few weeks in the early summer and autumn respectively.


More the 500 kind of roses are planted. The flower’s red, yellow, pink purple and other colors were impressive. It smelled so good.


The green color of the trees in the hill was also beautiful.

Tokyo Gate Bridge: May 26, 2012

Tens of man-made islands have been built in the Tokyo Bay the last 100 years. Today’s front line of the land is about 6 kilometers away from the line in the early 20th century.

A new bridge named “the Tokyo Bay Bridge” was open last February. The bridge links the Wakasu island and Outer Central Breakwater Reclamation Area.


The bridge is a truss bridge. It is sometimes called “the dinosaur bridge” from its shape.

It runs about 61 meter above the sea level (so that large ships can sail). The highest of the bridge is only 87.8 meter (so that it will not make any trouble on the flight to and from the  Haneda Airport nearby).

A Rock concert was held in the Wakasu Park, where the bridge starts. People enjoyed fishing in the wharf under the bridge. Airplanes flied over the bridge.

Annular eclipse :May 21, 2012

Tokyo experienced annular solar eclipse this morning.

It started around 7:31 am and lasted about 5 minutes.

It was slightly overcast. The weather was not best for astronomical observation, but people could fortunately see the solar show.

Sanja Festival@ Asakusa:May 19, 2012

The days of Sanja Festival came again. It is held at Asakusa Shrine and is known as one of Tokyo’s most famous festivals.

It also tells the beginning of summer.


The festival was not held last year because of the Great East Japan Earthquake last year. Local people, visitors and festival freaks were waiting the event resumed.

It was the second day of three-day festival. There were tens of thousands of visitors in the area. Both Asakusa Shrine and Sensoji Temple stand in a site.


People moved around the area carrying Mikoshi or portable shrines. Local people were wearing happi or traditional costume.

Dogs were also wearing happi costume. Cute trio dogs attracted visitor’s attentions.


Special charity sales to help quake-hit Tohoku district was also held.


Tokyo Sky Tree, the world’s tallest tower, will open on May 22. The scene from Asakusa shrine was beautiful.

Yoyogi Park: May 13, 2012

It was a nice day today. The season is changing from spring to early summer.
I visited Yoyogi Park for the first time in this spring.

Various aspects of life, culture, nature were there.
I saw:

Japanese, Chinese, Americans, Europeans.



Families, young couples, groups of friends, elders, young people, babies, drinkers.

Dogs, crows, tadpoles,


People playing ball lifting, rope jumping, badminton, volleyball


People playing the guitar, drums, saxophone

Soap bubbles, fountains, a pond

Maple trees, pine trees, chestnuts, roses.

I also visited Thai Festival held in a part of the park. More than 10 thousands people were there. It was far crowded than pervious years.

Ginza: May 12, 2012

We find Japan’s new business and consumption trends every time we visit Ginza, Tokyo’s most famous shopping center.

Shops were holding Mother’s Day special sales. People were enjoying shopping and walking in the early-summer weather.



I visited Uniclo’s new store, which opened in mid March. It is the largest of the company’s about 1100 stores in the world (and about 850 in Japan).

The store is 12-story high. They have floors for women, men and kids. Some floors were used for new type of T shirts and for cool-biz goods.


The shop was crowded. Chinese, Korean and other foreign languages were heard there. The shop is becoming a must-visit place for Asian tourists to Japan, according to some tourist guidebook.

The messages in the electronic display boards were and eye-catching and strong. I felt a sense of speed (unlike other old Japanese companies) in the store.


The changes of luxury brand stores such as Hermes, LOUIS VUITTON and Giorgio Armani are rapid (both in opening/closing and the shop’s renovation). Some stores were different from their appearance three months before.

Special event was held to support Tohoku district, which was hit by earthquake and nuclear disaster last year. 14 months have passed since 3.11, 2011.

Tokyo Port Festival @ Harumi: May 12, 2012

I have already walked many times in the Tokyo Bay area. (see Tokyo Bay Walk 1, 2, 3, 4 )

Today, I visited Harumi pier to join Tokyo Port Festival.

The festival is held to celebrate the opening of the Tokyo Port in 1941.

Some special exhibitions were held. I had an opportunity to visit a dredging ship, which is dredging sands in the Tokyo Bay.

Parents were taking pictures of their children with coast guards.

Canals run around the area. Many tall apartments have been built in this 30 years in the area.