Last weekend I headed to Yebisu to see how the brewery had decided to mark Christmas. On this night there was opera in front of a giant chandelier on a stage overlooked by a European style chateau. Leading from the road was the Christmas tree and the obligatory row of tree decorated with lights.
12:05 PM |
Category:
Christmas,
Living in Japan
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After winter arrived in Tokyo with such vengeance on Saturday with rain and wind making it feel like it was going to snow any moment then Sunday morning broke and the weather had changed 18o degrees. Bright sun and, when you found a place out of the wind, it was very pleasant to sit and drink a coffee.
From Odaiba there are glimpses of Mt. Fuji across Tokyo bay and between the buildings near Tamachi station.
At one of the parks near Odaiba the Japanese maple were just starting to show their autumn colours – very spectacular.
On the way back across the rainbow bridge there was a wonderful view of Odaiba.
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.
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.
8:43 AM |
Category:
Out and about
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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.
8:38 AM |
Category:
Out and about
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