iBeacon on Nexus 10 with Android 4.4
Android has added support for Bluetooth Low Energy (aka Bluetooth Smart) and thus iBeacon (a profile of BLE) in version 4.3. However, on my Google Nexus 10 (2012 edition, now running Android 4.4 aka KitKat), support is disabled in the official version provided by Google, even though the hardware supports it. Since I want to try out (and maybe develop) apps that use iBeacons, that makes me very sad… Thankfully, there is a way to enable it, by replacing the original Bluetooth-related libraries on the device with patched libraries that add support for Bluetooth Low Energy.
Chiba Port Tower
The Chiba Port Tower is a tower located in Chiba Port Park, Chiba. It is 125m tall and has 4 stories. It was built in 1986.
Abandoned "Tokyo Peace Pagoda" at Mount Odera
A Peace Pagoda is a Buddhist stupa. It is designed to inspire peace and to help unite people of all races and creeds in their search for world peace. Most peace pagodas built since World War II have been built under the guidance of Nichidatsu Fujii, a Buddhist monk from Japan and founder of the Nipponzan-Myohoji Buddhist Order. Fujii was greatly inspired by his meeting with Mahatma Gandhi in 1931 and decided to devote his life to promoting non-violence. In 1947, he began constructing Peace Pagodas as shrines to World peace.
The Tokyo Peace Pagoda was inaugurated in August 1974 at the summit of Mount Odera (大寺山; 960m) near Lake Okutama. Not sure why or when it was abandoned. I had a first glimpse of the pagoda when I went to Mount Gozen a few weeks ago and I had no idea what it was: It seemed like a large structure (actually 45m in height and 55m of diameter) but there was no mention of it on maps or tourism pamphlets. So I went to see for myself after I got down from Mount Mito. The trail starts between Mito Bridge and Miyama Bridge on Lake Okutama. It takes about 50min to the summit. After getting back to Lake Okutama, I crossed the Miyama Bridge and waited for the bus back to Okutama JR station.
Hike to Mount Mito
A couple of weeks ago, I hiked Mount Mito (三頭山; 1531m). It was my last of the “Three Mountains of Okutama”.
Chrysanthemum Festival at Yushima Tenjin Shrine
The kiku (chrysanthemum) is not only the ‘imperial flower’ of Japan but it’s also one of the symbolic flowers of autumn. There are many festivals celebrating the flower in Tokyo. The 35th Chrysanthemum Matsuri of Yushima Tenjin (near Ueno Park) took place last November.
Hiking by the sea in Yugawara: Mount Shiro, Mount Maku and Mount Nango
A couple of weeks ago, I went hiking in the sea-side town of Yugawara, in Kanagawa Prefecture, going up, in order, Mount Shiro (城山; 563m), Mount Maku (幕山; 626m) and Mount Nango (南郷山; 610m). They are not very high mountains but since the route starts at sea level, it still made for good exercise. The view on the Pacific Ocean during the hike was also great.
Autumn at the Koishikawa Korakuen Garden
Koishikawa Korakuen Garden is in Koishikawa, Bunkyo, Tokyo, next to Tokyo Dome City. It is one of two surviving Edo period clan gardens in modern Tokyo and one of the oldest and best preserved parks in Tokyo.
Lake Okutama Ikoi Trail / Floating Bridge
After getting down from Mount Tsukiyomi, I walked the Ikoi trail (奥多摩湖いこいの路). It is a mostly flat path that follows the south bank of Lake Okutama from the Ogouchi Dam to the Yama-no-Furusato Village. The autumn colors were quite nice in the sunset. Very relaxing after the mountains! Although I only did a short section, the whole trail takes about 4 hours.
After the Village, the Ikoi trail gives way to the Lakeside Path (湖畔の小道), which ends at the floating Mugiyama-no-Ukihashi (麦山の浮橋) bridge (aka Drum Bridge). The bridge takes walkers across the lake, next to the Ogouchi Shrine on the north bank. However, it is sometimes removed in case of drought (this blog should have some up-to-date info on closures).