Sankei-en Garden in Autumn

Sankei-en Garden is owned and operated by Yokohama City. So, Yokohama citizens over 65 years old are free of charge. In Autumn we can enjoy chrysanthemum flowers.

The minature garden was awarded by Yokohama mayor.

This three storied pagoda was tranferred from Kyoto.

This farm house was transferred from Gifu Prefecture.

A fireplace in the farm house

Rinshunkaku was transferred from Wakayama.

 

Omotesando, the main approach to Meiji-jingu Shrine

Omote-samdo means the main approach to a shrine. In this case the main shrine to Meiji-jingu Shrine.Meiji-jingu Shrine was founded to commemorate Meiji Emperor, great grandfather of the current Emperor. 

Omotesando Hills

Omotesando Street

I felt as if I was walking along the famous street in Paris 'Les Champs-Elysees'

Written and posted by Mitsutoshi Masunari.

Let's go to the Harajuku area

Get off at Harajuku Station and you will find the sign of Takeshita Exit.

This is the entrance to Takeshita Street.

Takeshita Street is very popular for not only Japanese but also for foreigners.

I took this film on Nov. 24,'11 which was Thursday, a weekday. Still, it was a busy street.

Hama-rikyu Gargen in Tokyo

At the request of a Canadian tourist agent I went to Hama-rikyu Garden to make a tour plan in Tokyo.

The entrance gate to Hama-rikyu Garden

This garden was owned by the Tokugawa Shogunate during the Edo Period(1603-1867)

A beautiful pond in the garden.

A guest house ' Hobai-tei' in the garden.

A long bridge over the pond

Mitsutoshi is introducing Hama-rikyu Garden

A French tourist was spending his time at Hama-rikyu Garden. He speakes English pretty well, so I could communicate with him without  any problems. He is staying at his friend's house in Yokohama, so I recommended him to visit Sankei-en Garden in Yokohama because it has a lot of valuable structures.

Tokyo Tower

In the vicinity of Zojo-ji Temple there stands Tokyo Tower. It was built in 1958 and then was the tallest tower(333m) in the world.The Eiffle tower in Paris is 320 meter high.

Rainbow Bridge

The River Sumida

Roppongi Hills

Sky Tree(New Tokyo Tower=634m)

From the observatory

At the foot of Tokyo Tower, Mitsutoshi is introducing the tower in this film.

Chrysanthemum Exhibition at Shinjuku-gyoen Garden

In autumn we can enjoy beautiful chrysanthemums in Japan.
I went to Tokyo to see the exhibition of chrysanthemum at Shinjuku-gyoen Garden.

These are all different type of chrysanthemums in Japan.

This garden was owned by Naito, a vassal of Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Tokugawa Government. In 1906 it became an Imperial Garden. After World War Ⅱ it was opened to the public as a people's park.

Red leaves were very beautiful.

Shinjuku-gyoen Garden is in the vicinity of the second city center of Tokyo, Shinjuku.

There are many sycamores.

Old guest house 'Goryotei'

Chrysanthemum is an emblem of the Imperial Family of Japam.

Honmon-ji & Hongyo-ji Temples in Ota Ward of Tokyo

In Ota Ward of Tokyo there is a main temple of Nichiren-sect. That is called Honmon-ji Temple.

Nichiren's statue

Soshi-do, founder's hall

Five storied pagada beyond a basin

I have a reason to introduce this temple here. I wrote some stories  about Nichiren in this blog. He escaped from many risks in Kamakura caused by his aggressiveness. In 1274 he was pardoned from an exile to Sado Island and founded a temple in Mt. Minobu and named it 'Kuon-ji Temple'. He used it as the head temple of Nichiren Buddhism in Yamanashi Prefecture. In 1282 Nichiren sufferred from illness and stopped by Mr. Ikegami's mansion house in Ota on his way to Ibaraki for treatment at a hot spa(=onsen). He founded a big temple in a mountatin at the back of the mansion and named it Honmon-ji Temple. In a month Nichiren passed away at Mr. Ikegami's mansion.
In 1283 this mansion was donated to Nichiren's group and Hongyo-ji Temple was founded there. 

This way to Hongyo-ji Temple

 Nichiren's well

This is where Nichiren passed away.