Bentendo (弁天堂) sits on an island of sorts in the middle of Shinobazu Pond.

This temple is nothing spectacular, but with the lotus pond, in the background, at its peak in size and greenness no one could call it an eye sore either.

Posted on October 23rd, 2009 under Japan. Tags: Tokyo, ueno. Comments: None

On a gorgeous, Sunday morning we headed over to Ueno Park for the first time in two and half years. It was still early so few of the duck paddle boats were in the middle of the pond yet. We found out a couple hours later that we should have arrived even earlier as the number of people in Ueno Park on a Sunday afternoon becomes rather insane.

Shinobazu Pond was ripe with giant lotus. It turns out this pond is natural and looks very different depending on the season. I had never seen it like this before.

Posted on October 22nd, 2009 under Japan. Tags: Tokyo, ueno. Comments: 1

Sometimes you take a picture of something not knowing why or even what it is you are looking at. Then, later, you are glad you did. Such is the case with this photograph of Saigo Takamori’s statue that I took in Ueno Park.

It wasn’t until I read Looking for the Lost that I was able to learn who Saigo was and what he did. (I had seen The Last Samurai but didn’t make the connection.) As I read Alan Booth‘s words I remembered taking this picture of his statue.

In Looking for the Lost, Booth retraces Saigo’s steps (as best he could given that some of the paths have been completely overgrown with vegetation and snakes).

Next time I’m in Ueno Park I’ll be able to tell my kids a story or two about Saigo and the Satsuma Rebellion instead of just staring blankly at his statue. This bronze statue, by the way, has been standing in Ueno Park for over 110 years now.

Posted on May 4th, 2009 under Japan. Tags: alan booth, people, Tokyo, ueno. Comments: 1