Day 270, Tokyo, Japan
Totally by chance, we ended up booking a place a short walk from Tokyo’s most popular park, Ueno. It has a zoo, numerous museums, shrines and temples, a small amusement park. I have never been in a park that has such a wide variety of photo possibilities. I’m excited to come here every morning to see what pictures I can get, as Ueno is famous during cherry blossom season and draws millions of visitors. There is also a Starbucks located in the park. We decided this is the perfect place to get coffee every day.
This brings me to the first thing I enjoy in the park, watching all the school groups going to the Ueno Zoo, which is next to the Starbucks. They are in their matching caps and uniforms, buddied up, and excited to see the animals.
I love the assortment of different animals to watch in the park, especially the dogs. This little guy was waiting for his owner to hurry up and get his Starbucks.
Watching not only the dogs, but what they’re wearing is fun.
This owner and his dog were working on new tricks.
There are also many cats living in the park.
People pay a lot of attention to the pigeons.
Others watch buskers.
Drawing the cherry blossom.
There are many museums bordering the park. The Natural Museum of Nature and Science will be one of them.
Some gardening in the fountain flower beds.
There is a large homeless community who live in the park. I didn’t see where in the forest they live. But theft is not a large problem here. The homeless people leave their belongings unlocked, lining this fence.
Kiyomizu Kannon Temple
Hanami or flower viewing, is extremely popular in Ueno park. Over 8,800 trees bloom in the spring, many of them Sakura, cherry blossoms.
Ueno Daibutsu
Ueno Toshogu Shrine
Ueno Toshogu Shrine
In a way this park has a little bit of everything, all in one place.
Later in the evening we went to Giza to hear a concert with our cousin’s wife, Yuriko. This is a serious fashion and shopping district.
First we went out for supper in a place that specializes in breads. Here was the tray of many choices. I tried three and they were each delicious.
After our meal we went to hear the baritone/bass Hirohisa Sannohe at Oji Hall. This is the son-in-law of a friend of Yuriko’s. The singer sang in German, French, Italian, Spanish, and Japanese. After a very excellent concert, we got to meet some of her classmates and the teacher of her drawing class. It was a wonderful evening with Yuriko.
We walked home through the Giza district. The lights reminded me of Times Square.
