Cherry Blossom; March 26-31, 2022

 

Tokyo had the cherry blossom season this week.

The flowers were open in the parks, along the streets, and in the temples and shrines.

The full bloom continued about a week and I enjoyed walking many times.

 

This is the third cherry blossom season under the COVID-19 pandemic.

The restrictions of behavior are weaker this year than ones in the previous two years. Still, people are asked to refrain from having fusses.

I did not find any drinking parties of big groups under the cherry trees.

Most people were walking along the cherry trees and taking photos. Some were with their dogs.

Some were with their baby carriages.

Kids were playing in the park.

This photo is taken at Gotokuji Temple in Setagaya City, western Tokyo.

I also found a beautiful cherry at Rokusho Shrine in Setagaya City.

 

 

Street scenes and skyscrapers in Shibuya and Roppongi: March 12, 2022

 

The season is turning to spring in Tokyo.

The days are getting warmer and brighter.

The ume (Japanese apricot) blossom is over and other spring flowers began to open.

 

I walked in Shibuya. 

There was an open-air market in front of the UN University in Shibuya area.

I moved to Roppongi area in downtown Tokyo.

People enjoyed walks in a sunny day.

I found new skyscrapers under construction in Roppongi area. The project is organized by Mori Building Co. and plans to build three skyscrapers, including a 330-meter-high building. It will be the highest building in Japan when it is open in 2023.

The construction site is not far from the Tokyo Tower. The tower is 333 meter high. (See also the 2nd photo)

 

The landscape of Tokyo is changing drastically even when the economy is gloomy in the COVID-19 pandemic.

I looked at Roppongi area from the Aoyama cemetery. The Roppongi Hills and other skyscrapers, as well as the Tokyo Tower, were in the sight. (See also the top photo)

People pray for peace at Ukraine Embassy in Tokyo: Marche 12, 2022

  

More than two weeks have passes since the first day of Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Cities have been destroyed in Ukraine; many people have been killed; and millions of people have fled from the country.

I visited the Ukraine embassy in central Tokyo. It is a small embassy in a residential area.

Photos of the war were displayed on the walls. Yellow and blow flowers were placed on the table at the entrance. (See the top photo)

Several people were there. They prayed for peace and left messages in the message cards. So did I. (See also the 2nd photo)

 

I also visited the Russian embassy. It is a big facility.

There were several small groups protesting against the Russian invasion.

 

There are many policemen and police cars around the embassy. It was probably to prevent violent actions by demonstrators or political groups.

Large-size demonstrations were held on several days, including Feb. 26 and 27, in several areas in Tokyo.

It looks that many Japanese people are still overwhelmed with the large-scale war.

 

 

 

 

Ume blossom: Feb. 11-12, 2022

Japan is now in the 6^th wave of the COVID-19 infection. Around 100 thousand new cases are confirmed every day throughout the nation. About 20 thousand cases are found in Tokyo.

The ume (Japanese apricot) blossom has just started. I visited Hanegi Park in Setagaya City, western Tokyo to enjoy ume.

There are about 650 ume trees in the park. Ume flowers were open at about 20-30% of the trees.

They usually have the Ume festival at the season, but it was cancelled this year because of COVID-19. This is the 2^nd consecutive cancellation.

There were some visitors there, but the park was not crowded. 

The sky was blue on Feb. 12. There was a moon over the ume tree. (See also the top photo)

The season is turning to spring.

A special sales of dishes and other ceramic goods was held in the Umegaoka railway station. It is a seasonal event held at the Ume Festival period.

 

Snow: Jan. 6, 2022

 

Tokyo had a snow today.

It laid 10 cm deep in the central Tokyo.

It was deepest in the last four years.

 

The town turned white in the Setagaya city.

 

The snow fell slowly. (See the top photo)

 

The snow crystal remained on the ground.

 

 

 

New Year Scenes: Jan. 1-4, 2022

 

The new year started.

It is the 3^rd year under the coronavirus pandemic.

A new wave of infection is now starting after a short break of expansion in cases.

I walked neighboring areas to see New year scenes.

People visited shrines to make new year prays.

They made a line in front of the main building of Setagaya Hachiman Shrine.

This is a scene outside of the Daita Hachiman Shrine. (See also the top photo)

Various prays were written in the wooden plaques in the Shrines. The wishes for the “recovery from the COVID pandemic” were described in many boards.

 

Families enjoyed flying kites in Hanegi Park in Setagaya City.

 

The weather is cold at the season and many trees are bold. Still some plants opened new flowers. A Japanese apricot tree opened white flowers.

 

2nd Christmas under Covid pandemic: Dec 23-25, 2021

It is Christmas.

Following the previous year, we had the holy day under the Covid-19 pandemic.

Japan is now in the short break of infection. Still, people are asked to refrain from some activities, such as having big Christmas parties, and the towns are relatively quiet.

Shops were decorated with Christmas goods and illustrations. The photo was taken at the Odakyu Line’s Kyodo.

People visited a bakery shop to buy Christmas cakes in Umegaoka.

They had open air stalls in front of Shimokitazawa station in Setagaya City.

People were in a line to draw the Christmas lotteries after their shopping in Gotokuji on the Odakyu Line. 

There are many and various Christmas trees in Tokyo. This is an artificial tree in the Roka Park, Setagaya City.

Churches hold the Christmas mass and other events.

 

 

Winter Scenes: Dec. 23-25, 2021

  

We had the winter solstice this week.

Northern parts of Japan were covered with heavy snow.

Tokyo had cold days.

The gingko, cherry and other trees have lost their leaves.

This is a scene in the Hanegi Park. The gingko trees held yellow leves two weeks ago. They are now bold.

A type of Japanese apricot opens its flowers at this time. Other types will open the flowers in the coming February.

A large gingko tree in Shinganji Temple has just lost its old leaves. A temple person was collecting the fallen leaves.

All trees were almost bold at  the Setagaya Hachiman Shrine.

This is a scene at the walking path.

Season turning to winter: Dec. 11-12, 2021

 

 

It is the 2nd week of December. 

The season is turning to winter in Tokyo.

Japan now has a short break of pandemic. The restrictions on people’s activities are now looser than before. However, next wave of infection is expected to arrive in the coming months (the spread of omicron variant started in the world).

 

I enjoyed the latest sights of autumn color during my walks near my house.

The gingko trees still held yellow leaves at a walking path. (See also the top photo)

People walked under the gingko trees in Hanegi Park in Setagaya City. (See also the 2nd photo from the top)

 

I found the maple trees still holding red leaves.