|
The above will search Traveljapanblog.com. Concerts - Landscapes - Sports |
A bicycle sits alone in Tokyo's Shakujii Park
If you like to people watch, head to one of Tokyo’s many parks on a weekend or holiday. For something more solitary, check ’em out on a weekday. Chances are pretty good that you won’t see anyone other than a few retired folk and/or some pre-schoolers. It may end up just being you, a parked bike, and a sign at Shakujii Park (石神井公園).
Tenso Jinja in the Fall
My neighborhood shrine (Tenso Jinja) looked great in autumn. I say autumn, but this was actually December. By December in my neck of the woods the fall foliage is long gone, but in Tokyo one can still enjoy fall colors.
Ikki Sawamura playing Takeda Shingen in Kofu in 2010
At last year’s 信玄公祭 the famous actor Ikki Sawamura played the role of Takeda Shingen. I say famous, but I had never heard of him before. Gathering from the crowd reaction, though, I think he is rather well known by the Japanese.
Autumn in Japan
If you are currently in Japan, October and November are excellent months to go hiking. The weather is generally good, the fall foliage is beautiful (although the fall colors generally don’t hit their peak near Tokyo until late November), and the crowds (especially on weekdays) are slim to none.
Today’s photo was taken in late November on our way up Mt. Mitake.
Mt. Kuratake Hiking Trail stream - near Otsuki, Japan
I took today’s photo (my random wallpaper of the day) on my way hiking to the top of Mt. Kuratake, not too far from Tokyo.
Japanese float @ 麻布十番商店街祭り
The wonderful thing about wandering the streets of Tokyo in the summer is you never know what you will run into. One day I stumbled upon a festival featuring this festival float (舞車) which looked like it could have been from a much earlier era (were it not motorized). The Japanese kids playing the instruments on the float could have looked a bit happier, but I suppose after a hot day of playing the same thing for hours on end they had lost much of the gusto I imagine they had earlier in the day.