Flower Carpet in Ginza

I took these photos on Miyuki-dori ( street ) in Ginza yesterday.
This event is held on April 29 every year.
That day is a national holiday in Japan, many people enjoy it.
Those tulips came from toyama prefecture.

Models in Tora-san Kinenkan

I took these photos in Tora-san kinenkan ( Tora-san memorial hall ) in shibamata.
Those are models which reproduced the approach to shibamata taishakuten temple of around a half century ago.
Those models have fine details.
You can be in the old down town of Tokyo.

(Note)

These photos were taken on April 22 , 2009.

Tora-san Kinenkan ( Memorial Hall )

Tora-san memorial hall is located under the hill of shibamata park.
Tora-san is a main character of popular movie series.
There are many display about Tora-san movies in the hall.



Photo above is a movie set of Tora-san movies.



You can watch popular scean of the movie series with multi screen.

(Note)
These photos were taken on April 11 , 2009.

Shibamata Park

Shibamata park is located in shibamata, katsushika-ward.
The park include yamamoto-tei and a part of bank of edo-gawa(river).
You can see nice view from top of the park.

(Note)
These photos were taken on April 11 , 2009.

Gate of Yamamoto-tei

I took this photo from the garden of yamamoto-tei .
This gate is rare.
The shape is a traditional Japanese style.
But it has western style designs.

(Note)
This photo was taken on April 11 , 2009.

Rickshaw in Yamamoto-tei

This rickshaw is set on an entrance of yamamoto-tei.
English word, "rickshaw" came from Japanese word "jinrikisha".
Jinrikisha literally means human power vehicle.

(Note)
These photos were taken on April 11 , 2009.

Yamamoto-tei

Yamamoto-tei was a residence of Einosuke Yamamoto who was a businessman in Taisho Era.
I is belong to katsushika ward, and open to public now.
It is located in shibamata, katsushika ward.

Sorry, I couldn't take photos of main garden and inside of the building.
I will show you them someday.

(Note)
These photos were taken on April 11 , 2009.

Yagiri no Watashi ( Yagiri Ferry )

I suppose you can't believe that I took these photos in Tokyo.
But actually I took these photos on Tokyo side of edo-gawa( river ).
Anyway, please enjoy country side of Tokyo.

"Yagiri no Watashi " is a ferry across edo-gawa(river).
Yagiri ferry connects shibamata and yagiri.

Yagiri is a district in matsudo city, chiba prefecture.
The place is the scene of an excellent novel, "Nogiku no Haka (Grave of Wild Chrysanthemum)" which was written by Sachio Ito (1864-1913).

This ferry often appeared in tora-san movies.
So, yagiri ferry is well known by that novel and tora-san movies.

But, in 1983, it caught attention from all over Japan again by a popular song titled "Yagiri no Watashi" (singer Takashi Hosokawa).

Yagiri ferry has carried passengers since the early time of Edo Era.
In now a days, it is for sightseeing

The boat is rowed by boatman.


Photo above is a ticket counter of yagiri ferry.


Photo above is a landing pier of yagiri ferry.

(Note)
These photos were taken on April 11 , 2009.

Bank of Edo-gawa (River)

On that day I visited Shibamata Taishakuten temple, I walked to the bank of edo-gawa (river) from the temple.
That bank is eastern edge of Tokyo.
The other side of the river in this photo is matsudo city in Chiba prefecture.
That bank is very wide.
I think It is nice to spend a time on the bank of the river in weekend.




(Note)
These photos were taken on April 11 , 2009.

Belfry in Shibamata Taishakuten

If you enter Shibamata Taishakuten from nitenmon (gate) , you will see this belfry at your left side.
This belfry was built in 1955.
It is very big and it has fine sculptures.

(Note)
These photos were taken on April 11 , 2009.

Street Perfomer in Shibamata Taishakuten

When I went to Shibamata Taishakuten temple.
I found a street performer in the precincts of the temple.
In the photo above, he is spinning an umbrella.
And you can see a ring spinning on the umbrella in the photo.
He did many performance.
And his talk made us laugh.

Pine Tree in Shibamata Taishakuten

This pine tree stands by Taishakudo hall in Shibamata Taishakuten temple.
It has fine shape and those branches extend very long.
This pine tree is called "zuiryu no matsu".

(Note)
I took these photos on April 11 , 2009.

Shibamata Taishakuten

Shibamata Taishakuten is a Nichiren buddhist temple located in shibamata.
You can go to there from keisei shibamata station by walking.
This temple was foundede in 1629.
Formal name of the temple is Kyoeizan Daikyoji.






(Note)
These photos were taken on April 11 , 2009.

Nitenmon of Taisyakuten Temple

This is a gate of Shibamata Taishakuten temple.
It is called "Nitenmon".
The gate was built in 1896.

(Note)
This photo was taken on April 11 , 2009.

Portraits of Tora-san

When I walked on the approach to shibamata taishakuten temple.
I found those portraits displayed in a window of restaurant.
Tora-san is the main character of popular movie series titled "Otoko Wa Tsurai Yo".
Please check my article, statue of Tora-san.

Tora-san movies are comedy.
But those movies are full of pathos and humanity.
So many people were moved by them.
Shibamata is home town of Tora-san in those movies.
And they say that shibamata is home town of Japanese in mind.

(Note)
Those photos were taken on April 11 , 2009.

Approach to Taishakuten Temple

Shibamata is an old temple town of Taishakuten temple.
Photo above is the approach to Taishakuten.
Many shops such as souvenir shops and traditional food shops row along both side of the approach.
I introduce you some traditional snack shops on the approach.


Photo above is a Japanese dumpling shop.


Photo above is a Japanese candy shop.


Photo above is a rice cracker shop.

I think this approach remains atmosphere of Edo era.


(Note)
these photos were taken on April 11 , 2009.

Statue of Tora-san

This statue stands in front of shibamata station.
Tora-san is the main character of movie series titled "Otoko wa Tsurai yo".
It is a very popular movie series (1969-1995) starring Kiyoshi Atsumi.
In tora-san movies, shibamata is home town of tora-san.



Photo above is a movie poster.
It is displayed in Tora-san memorial hall in shibamata.

Shibamata Station

This is a station of Keisei electric railway.
Shibamata is a old temple town located in katsushika ward.


Photo above is a view in front of the station.
I start new series from today.
Please enjoy atmosphere of old down town in Tokyo.

(Note)
These photos were taken on April 11 , 2009.

The Garden in a Spring Day

I took these photos in the garden of national museum of western art a week ago.
This museum is located in ueno park.
When I go to ueno park, I always visit there.
Because the garden has different atmosphere in every season.

In this time, I found a lovely tree in the garden.

I suppose it is a peach tree.

(Note)
These photos were taken on April 11 , 2009.

Kiyomizu-Kannondo with Cherry Blossom

Kiyomizu-Kannondo is a hall which is located in ueno park.
I took these photos last Saturday.
Cherry blossoms in the park were almost in full bloom.

If you visit there, you should go up to the stage of the hall.
I like view from the stage.




In the photo above, you can see shidare-zakura (weeping cherry).

(Note)
These photos were taken on April 4 , 2009.