The cherry trees are in their last few days here. We had a very windy and rainy day that knocked a lot of them down, and plastered them everywhere! Made for some very interesting shots. But first a walk on a sunny day before the rain...
In our front yard. It has been so interesting to see what flowers have popped up, planted by the previous tenants and owner.
On the walking path right behind our house
More from our front yard
Cherry blossoms
Checking the mail. Notice our futons hanging out in sunshine and fresh air.
Then the rain and wind started
Our back "yard." I'm standing on our stoop, and the yard ends at the gate. That's the walking path beyond the gate. The fence to the right is where the neighbor's yard begins.
Our neighbor's house, from our stoop. Love the patterns of the petals.
The petals blow into our front entrance each time we open the door. We actually like it this way and are not too quick to clean it up!
This is out our second floor window looking down on part of our neighbor's roof.
Barbara and I went to a meeting in downtown Tokyo. The Tokyo Train Station has been newly renovated and we took the opportunity to look around. Where we live in Chiba (about an hour and a half away) can get crowded, but this was something else.
But before we take you to Tokyo, a video from early this morning right behind our house:
And on to Tokyo Station...
Everybody loves the Yomiuri Giants
The newest Bullet Train is "Japan Red" but this is a model. Maybe on another trip we'll see the real thing.
Shinkansen is Bullet Train
Exterior of the station
Inside the building near the station, where we had our meeting on the 4th floor
Hawaiian Hamburger Shop
Tokyo is in the running to host the 2020 Olympics. This was in the lobby of the building.
Some cultural exchange event was going on between Japan and Chile.
I don't know who photo bombed whom, me or this smiling lady.
Coffee shop in the lobby
Cherry Blossom Cafe, so fitting for these two weeks of blooms everywhere
Walking back to the station from our meeting
That's about a dollar per 10 minutes. And now they have charging stations for Prii or whatever the plural is of Prius.
Back to the station
South Entrance
The walls are made of marble, but some people take it for granite.
Sorry :-)
Inside lobby with new dome. If you click for a larger view you might be able to see the mesh netting to keep birds out.
City of Tokyo Rail Map
The red arrow near the middle marks your location at Tokyo Station on the circular Yamanote Loop Line. Bigger map on left side is trains and smaller one on right is subway lines. So you superimpose the left one on top of the right one. Really mind boggling to consider the infrastructure involved.
People looking up at the dome as light comes down from above. Pray with us that more Japanese would look up to the true and living God.
There are numerous levels down to get to the many different different train and subway lines that converge in Tokyo Station. You just keep going deeper and deeper and try not to think about earthquakes or tsunami!
The Keiyo Line goes out to Chiba where we live.
Some videos...
Watch for the kid from the movie "Up"!
Inside the dome area
Walking back from the meeting to the station. Two ambulances pulled up and several people were loaded in. Never found out what happened.
Monday is our day off, and I had seen a castle off in the distance from the train a few stations away so I went exploring. When I found it I was excited upon approaching that there was only one older lady outside. I thought this is great, I'll have the whole place to myself! Turns out the reason it wasn't crowded is that it is closed on Monday. Since I didn't get to go in and up to the top, those pix will have to wait for another day. It was cold, crisp and sunny, great for outside pictures.
In my wandering around looking for the castle, I found a great ramen shop. Delicious. Always on the lookout for these places!
The main approach
Assuming this is the warlord who owned the place, or maybe just one of his warriors.
Quite a tree trimming job. The car gives perspective for how big it is. Can't imagine the ladder or scaffold or crane needed.
If it had been open, this is where I would have gone in!
A little rest station on the grounds
As always, there is a shrine nearby. Stone lantern out front.
Close up of lantern - that's a sheep, I think.
Closer still, a macro of the top decoration of the lantern.
The main part of the shrine itself
Side view of shrine with water and flower offerings
Gateway to the shrine
Back out near the castle, there was tea house on the grounds that oddly enough was open. There was a camellia shrub wall all around it.
I think they serve the tea and sweets as you sit out here. There was also seating inside. But zero customers.
Bamboo grove nearby
Probably a cherry blossom tree. Should look really beautiful in a month or so!
On the way back to the station I saw a graveyard right in the middle of downtown and decided to take a look around. There were two cars parked inside, and what looked like the caretaker / priest's house, but no one to be seen.
At another similar graveyard years ago we were told these are memorials to children who have died, possibly aborted ones. Don't know for sure about these.
A few blocks down toward the station was the local municipal building with this guy's statue outside. No idea who he was, but a statesman of some kind it appears.
