Category: Parks & Nature

Autumn 2015: Tonogayato Garden

Visit Date: 11/29/2015 (Best viewing Time: late November to early December)

Tonogayato Garden (殿ヶ谷戸庭園) is a 21,124 m2 traditional Japanese garden in Kokubunji, Tokyo. It was constructed from 1913 to 1915 as part of a villa for Teijo Eguchi, the Vice-President of the Manchurian Railway. In 1974, the garden was purchased by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government from Iwasaki family, who acquired the garden in 1929, and it was opened to the public in 1979. It was designated as a cultural asset or a “Place of Scenic Beauty” in 1998.

TonogayatoGarden01

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Autumn 2015: Rikugien Garden

Visit Date: 11/22/2015 (Best viewing Time: late November to early December)

Rikugien Garden (六義園) in Bunkyō-ku is famed as one of the most beautiful traditional Japanese garden in Tokyo. It is a typical Edo Period strolling garden which consists of a small pond, river, trees, and hills surrounded by forested areas.

Rikugien_01

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Autumn 2015: Chureito Pagoda

Visit Date: 11/03/2015 (Best viewing Time: late October to mid November)

The Fujiyoshida Cenotaph Monument also known as Chureito Pagoda (忠霊塔) is a part of the Arakura Sengen Shrine in Fujiyoshida. It was built in 1958 to enshrine about 960 citizens who died in the wars which occurred after 1868. The location offers a great view of the city and Mt. Fuji.

Chureito_Pagoda01 Maple leaves around the pagoda are starting to turn red while most of the cherry leaves have fallen.

 

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Autumn 2015: Karuizawa

Visit Date: 11/01/2015 (Best viewing Time: mid October to early November)

Karuizawa is an upmarket mountain resort situated at the foot of the active volcano, Mt. Asama in Nagano Prefecture. The town is surrounded by various mountains with different trees like birch, lark, and pine trees giving it a breezy atmosphere. It also boast iconic architecture such as the Mikasa Hotel, Karuizawa Stone Church and St. Paul Church as well as natural scenery like the Shiraito Waterfall, Kumoba Pond, Onioshidashi Park, and Usui Observation deck.

Karuizawa is one of the popular autumn destination as it possesses a beautiful foliage.

Karuizawa A beautiful autumn spot along the Kumoba pond.

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Autumn 2015: Showa Kinen Park

Visit Date: 10/09/2015 (Best viewing Time: early November to early December)

The Showa Memorial Park 昭和記念公園 located in Tachikawa, which is about 60 minutes from Tokyo Station, is a massive park that is very popular in spring and autumn. The park has gorgeous flowers particularly sakura (cherry flower), tulips, and poppies in spring and vibrant fall colors.

As of today, the park has already started to show autumn colors, although still at the very early stage. The cherry trees have turned orange while some of the maple trees are starting to turn orange and the ginkgo trees are already showing some yellow.

Showakinen_2015-10-09_01 Cherry trees along the dry canal.

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