Category: News (Page 17 of 29)
Debby and Alison Gibbs are here on their way to Singapore and Malaysia so we took in Harajuku and a saw a few weddings going on at Meiji Shrine.
At Meiji Shrine
The wedding party
The Procession
Harajuku
View of Marunochi from the Imperial Palace grounds
Family
This week is Golden Week in Japan. It is a week with 3 holidays in a row and when you combine that with the weekend it is a good holiday. We usually travel, but this year we decided to stay in Tokyo and take day trips. Today we went to Yokohama station and traveled from there by subway and bus to Sankeien. It is a very large garden with several old buildings brought from other places in Japan. Most of the buildings were moved here to preserve them. For example, one of the buildings would have been destroyed when a dam was built. It was a fabulous day and the gardens were beautiful.
After we finished at the garden we hopped on a bus headed back into the city. Our destination was Chinatown and lunch. What we thought would be a quick bus ride ended up taking over an hour because of traffic. There are some days when the train is the best option. Yokohama’s Chinatown is one of the best I’ve seen. There are over 160 Chinese restaurants. It is said that just about anything Chinese can be found here. After lunch we walked around a bit.
This week is a big holiday week in Japan and much of Asia, Golden Week. Several national holidays are together and we usually go away. This year we decided to stay in Tokyo and take some day trips. Today we went to Naritasan (Naritasan Shinshoji Temple). It is a large and very popular Buddhist temple complex in Narita City, not far from Narita Airport. I thought it was going to be packed when got there because the train was crowded and everyone seemed to get off at Narita. It was also quite busy on the shopping street leading up to the the temple complex. We stopped at a restaurant and ate tempura. I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn’t very crowded.
Omotesando Shopping and "dining" Street
This temple is as popular as Meiji shrine in Tokyo. I definitely liked Naritasan better. There is so much more to see than at Meiji.
Main Gate
Incense smoke
Prayer Tablets
Naritasan was built in the year 940 around its main sacred object of worship, a statue of the Buddhist Fudo Myoo deity. Many temple buildings stand on the spacious grounds of Naritasan, including the temple’s new and former main halls, a three storied pagoda and a huge Tahoto style pagoda, named the Great Pagoda of Peace. The park that surrounds it is beautiful. We had a great day and I can’t believe that this is our first trip there in four years.
Three Story Pagoda
Details
This hall is 920 years old
Turtle Island covered with turtles
Close up
A few years ago, during a Relief Society meeting, we were asked what our favorite spot in Tokyo is. I thought of many places I like to visit and was surprised when my friend Dori said her’s was Arisugawa Park. She lived as near to the park as I do. At the time, I was surprised because I hadn’t really come to love and appreciate the amazingness of this park that is my front yard. Since then, I have watched it through many seasons and have truly come to love walking there on my way home from the store or on days like today sitting and taking everything in.
Arisugawa Ike
Taking a Break
Wipeout
Chizu (cheese)
Play nicely
Whee
Walking the dog
Ice Cream
I didn’t think I knew these girls when I took the picture. I saw them later and realized it was my sweet friend Jess and she introduced me to her best friend Rita.
My favorite tree and...
...it's new little Gingko leaves
So if you ask me now I will reply, “Arisugawa Park is my favorite place in Tokyo!”
One of the really cool things about dining out in Tokyo are the displays of plastic food at the front of the restaurant. They come in quite handy when there is not an English menu available. I can just take the waiter out front and point to what I want. Most of the plastic food is very realistic, but every once in awhile I see some that is very old, faded and just scary looking. The display at the Berry Cafe in the Omotesando area of Tokyo is quite amazing and some of the best I have seen in my 4 years here. It was 6am and the cafe was closed so I did not get to see the real thing.
The last one makes me crave a trip to La Duree. Yes, there is one in Tokyo! I love macaroons!
When I left Tokyo the weather was warm and signs of spring were everywhere. I took photos in Aoyama Cemetery on the day I left for Texas. The cherry blossoms were in full bloom. Today, spring is even more evident, but it is so cold.
