On yet another spectacular autumn day I headed to Mieji juigen for a walk in the trees. At the temple there were several wedding parties a well as what was obviously some sort of day for children with many kids dressed up and having a good time. Video can be found on youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63BVlsI7ohM).







On the last weekend of autumn the cherry trees of Aoyama cemetery and the ginko trees along Maidenhairs trees ave., leading to the Meiji Memi Picture gallery, finally began to change colour.





On a warmer day visiting Disney land last month we came across another celebration of Halloween. While very similar to previous years the outstanding efforts this year were the guys dressed up with tails (still blows me away that teenage boys/early 20’s men) dress up as a group for a day a Disney land).
 

Of course there was the parade – can’t go past that for a spectacle.


On a wonderful autumn day I was wondering down a street in Aoyama and saw the Prada building – spectacular.














After emerging from the subway station and entering the traditional Kiyosumi gardens it's easy to forget that you are in Tokyo even with only a thin barrier of foliage separating you from busy Tokyo streets. The Tokyo metropolitan government has rightly designated the Kiyosumi gardens as a place of scenic beauty.



  
The original gardens are thought to date back to the Edo era (around 300 years ago) and cover an area of about 81,000 square metres.




The current gardens were reconstructed 150 years ago with 55 huge water worn rocks moved to the site from all over Japan.









The lake in Kiyosumi gardens has three manicured islands and a teahouse on the pond. The lake also contains a number of stepping stones (isowatari) along the banks of the lake and across small inlets.



There are a number of fountains spread around the garden and it is apparent that the small entry fee is spent on maintaining the garden in great shape.



As you walk around the lake shore and cross bridges and stepping stone curious carp and turtles come begging for food.