June 24, 2014

Tokyo Walk: Kameido, Arakawa River, Funabori Tower Hall, Kyu-Nakagawa River, Tokyo Skytree & Asakusa

In May, starting at Kameido station, I walked east towards Edogawa City, until I reached the Arakawa River. I then crossed it in order to visit Funabori Tower Hall and its observatory. I went back to the other side of the Arakawa and walked along the Kyu-Nakagawa River (旧中川) then turned west at the Kitajukken River (北十間川), which goes all the way to the Sumida River, passing in front of the Tokyo Skytree. I ended the day with the Sanja Matsuri in Asakusa.

June 21, 2014

Daien-ji Temple

Daien-ji is a buddhist temple located near Meguro station. This is where the Great Meiwa Fire that destroyed Edo in 1772 started. A notable feature of the temple is the 500 arhat statues standing as a monument to those killed in the disaster.

June 20, 2014

Hana Matsuri at Zojo-ji

While I was at Zojo-ji, there was a Hana Matsuri (花まつり; literally “Flower Festival”) celebration going on. It takes place at buddhist temples all over Japan around April 8th in order to celebrate the birth of Buddha. During the festival, small shrines decorated with flowers and a baby Buddha figurine bathed in sweet tea are displayed in front of temples. Another symbol of Hana Matsuri is the parades with children in fancy clothes pulling a papier-mâché white elephant.

June 19, 2014

Tokyo Walk: Temples & Shrines of Minato City

Minato City is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo. In April, I walked from Shinbashi to Roppongi, visiting some of the many shrines and temples of the area along the way.

June 18, 2014

Hike from Hinohara Village to Lake Okutama (Part 2): Tokyo Citizens' Forest & Mount Tsukiyomi

Continuing the hike from Hinohara Village to Lake Okutama. After Mount Mito, I stayed in the Tokyo Citizens’ Forest (Tomin-no-Mori) and went down towards Mito Waterfall then continued to Lake Okutama. Check Part 1 for the map.

June 18, 2014

Hike from Hinohara Village to Lake Okutama (Part 1): Mount Sengenrei & Mount Mito

A few days after my hike to Mount Usuki and Mount Jinba, I went back to Hinohara Village: This time, I took the trail to Mount Sengenrei (浅間嶺). After the summit, I kept walking on the Sengen Ridge (浅間尾根) until I reached Hinohara Tokyo Citizens’ Forest (檜原都民の森; Hinohara Tomin-no-Mori) and Mount Mito (三頭山), which I had already climbed starting from Lake Okutama. After that I went down to the Visitor Center, enjoying the Forest Therapy Road and the sight of the Mito Waterfall (三頭大滝; Mito Otaki). When I set out in the morning, I had planned to stop there but there was still a bit of time before sunset so I decided to keep going all the way to Lake Okutama (奥多摩湖), going up again through Mount Toishi (砥山) and Mount Tsukiyomi (月夜見山) before going down to the lake through the camping grounds of the Mountain Hometown Village (山のふるさと村; Yama-no-Furusato Mura). I then crossed the lake at the Floating Bridge (浮橋; Ukihashi) and waited for the bus on the other side.

June 15, 2014

Tokyo Walk: Temples & shrines of Asakusa (Part 2)

Continuing the visit to the temples and shrines of Asakusa. First, Imado Shrine, which claims to be the birthplace of the maneki neko (beckoning cat).

June 14, 2014

Tokyo Walk: Temples & shrines of Asakusa (Part 1)

Asakusa has a large number of shrines and temples in easy walking distance from each other. There is even a pilgrimage of the 7 Lucky Gods, where you can go through a few of those shrines and collect stamps along the way. For myself, I did my own pilgrimage last April. Starting in Uguisudani, the least used station of the JR Yamanote line and finishing at Senso-ji, I visited:

Onoterusaki Shrine
Otori Shrine
Benten Pond
Yoshiwara Shrine
Tobi Fudoson Temple
Ishihama Shrine
Hashiba Fudoson Temple

June 13, 2014

Spring at Kyu-Furukawa Garden

While I was at Kyu-Furukawa Garden for the rose festival, I spent some time strolling around the Japanese garden.

June 12, 2014

Rose Festival at Kyu-Furukawa Garden

In May, I went back to Kyu-Furukawa Garden for its Spring Rose Festival.

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