Yanagimori Shrine near Akibahara
Yanagimori Shrine is a shinto shrine located across the Kanda River from Akibahara. It is dedicated to the tanuki (Japanese racoon dog), often pictured with enormous testicles.
sightseeing
Walk along the Tama River
After Todoroki Valley, I continued walking south until I reached the Tama River (多摩川). It is the same river that passes through Okutama and Ome. I then followed it until Tamagawadai Park, famous for its hydrangea (which bloom in early summer).
Todoroki Valley / Todoroki Fudo Temple
Todoroki Valley is a park in Setagaya City, Tokyo. It features a pedestrian path in a forested ravine along a river. The Todoroki Fudo Temple is at the southern end of the park.
Gotoku-ji Temple in Setagaya
Gotoku-ji is a buddhist temple in Setagaya City, Tokyo. Its claim to fame is that this is supposedly where the maneki neko dolls (beckoning cat) were first used, as an offering by worshipers to show their gratitude when their wishes became true.
Bunkyo Azalea Festival at Nezu Shrine
The Bunkyo Azalea Festival is currently taking place at Nezu Shrine. Its garden contains more than 3,000 azalea plants.
Cherry blossoms at the Aoyama Cemetery
Aoyama Cemetery (青山霊園) is located in Aoyama, Minato, not far from Roppongi. The cemetery is famous for its cherry blossoms and many people visit it during hanami season. When I visited, the blossoms were already past their peaks and petals were falling from the trees and covering the tombs and alleys.
Cherry blossoms along the Takinogawa River
Starting at Oji station, I walked on a pedestrian path along the Takinogawa River (滝野川) until I reached Naka-Itabashi station. The path is lined with many cherry trees.
Ceremonial sumo tournament at Yasukuni Shrine
Every spring, a ceremonial one-day sumo tournament called Honozumo is held on the grounds of Yasukuni Shrine. Entrance is free.
Cherry blossoms at Yoyogi Park
With more than 600 cherry trees, Yoyogi Park is a popular hanami spot for the Harajuku crowd.
Hatonomori Hachiman Shrine in Sendagaya
Hatonomori Hachiman Shrine is a shinto shrine in Sendagaya, Shibuya City. Its distinguishing feature is its Fujizuka, called the Sendagaya Fuji. Fujizuka are small mounds that represent Mount Fuji. Fuji worshipers who are unable to do a pilgrimage to the top of Mount Fuji can use one of those instead. There are many other such Fujizuka in Tokyo (for example, at Shinagawa Shrine or Onoterusaki Shrine in Iriya).