Tag: Tokyo

Kameido Tenjin Shrine Wisteria Festival 2017

Kameido Tenjin Shrine (亀戸天神社) is a Shinto shrine located on the east side of Tokyo in Koto ward. It is not only a place to pray butalso a great place to view wisteria. About 200 trees of lovely purple wisteria blossoms dangled from 15 trellises, which mostly hang around the pond.

2017 Season: April 15 – May 7, 2017

It is one of the lesser known flower festivals but equally as beautiful and very accessible to central Tokyo.

04/27/2017: The trellises near the shrine are in full bloom creating a gorgeous canopy over the pond and bridges.

Lovely lavender-colored wisteria flowers dangled from the trellises.

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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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花火 Hanabi 2014 – Summer Fireworks Festival

Summer in Japan means it is the season of fireworks. Firework festivals are held all over Japan during the summer season as the wind is gentler and the sky is clearer. Attending a hanabi event had been a fundamental part in Japanese culture. Visitors come in their traditional yukata or jinbei and enjoy the fireworks display while having a picnic or buying from the food stalls and participating in the game booths.

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Bassanova Ramen: TOM YUM + RAMEN = OISHII

Ramen Hunting: I found a cool ramen shop, Bassanova, beside Shindaita station near my lab. It serves a number of fusion dishes including this very interesting tom yum ramen–oh yes, as in the sour and spicy Thai soup dish. The ramen’s tom yum soup was adjusted quite nicely to suit the thin noodles that they used. A pair of fried pork dumplings topped the steaming bowl. Even though it was very spicy, I kept going on with the soup to savor the medley of interesting tastes–the heat of the chillis, the zest of lemon grass and tamarind, the umami of pork broth, etc., etc. Four glasses of cold water later, there was an empty bowl in front of sweaty me. I will come back soon for their green-curry ramen. 


Komaba neighbors ikimashou! 
Bassanova Tomyum Ramen

 

Store Info:
Address: 東京都世田谷区羽根木1-4-18 (Setagaya-ku, Hanegi 1-4-18)
Phone: 03-3327-4649
Store Hours: Open 6:00pm-1:30am. Closed Sundays.
Google Maps: Bassanova

 

Sakura 2014: Kitanomaru National Garden (2014.03.31)

This park is a part of the Imperial Palace Outer Gardens and was formerly the northern fortress of Edo castle. Kitanomaru National Garden is located around 1.1 kilometers from the popular cherry blossom spot, Chidorigafuchi Ryokudo. The sakura trees around the lawn area are also in full bloom as of today. Unlike other parks in Tokyo, Kitanomaru Park is not as crowded thus provides a peaceful ambiance.

Kitanomaru Park 01Lawn area in Kitanomaru Park.

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