La maison du chat noir / Koishikawa, Bunkyo-ward

To tell the truth, I hadn't known the presence of this unique building until my friend ブライアン(Bryan) who lives in the US told me. He said he run across this cat accidentally during his Sanpo when he lived in Tokyo.

This building is located in near the Konnyaku-Enma. It's a neat and quiet residential area. (Regarding the Konnyak-Enma, please visit my previous posting)

Recently I found that the owner of this building is a famous journalist, nonfiction writer, Takashi Tachibana. I like his article because he is very good at introducing a cutting-edge of science or political things with his plain wording.
I heard that he used this building as a library. As I learned this information, I feel the face of this cat seems to look intelligent, , , don't you think so?

Sakura at Harimazaka park / Bunkyo ward

Last weekend was the last chance for ohanami party. Now, most of Sakura petals already scattered down, and instead of that, fresh light-green leaves have appeared.

These photos I posted today were taken at Harimazaka park 10 days ago.

It was a little bit cold but Sakura were in full bloom.It was before 9 AM, but many ohanami fans had come to the park to enjoy Sakura.

Below is the Sakura of Yushima Seido at Ochanomizu. I'd like to introduce the Yushima Seido on the next posting.

Sakura blooming in February / Kawazu-zakura @Harimazaka park

In early February, Lee and I went to the Harimazaka park. As I posted before, there is well known as a good place for enjoying Sakura (Cherry blossom). But, as you are aware, the best season of Sakura is the end of March to early April. So, we had not expected we could see the Sakura blossom in February…..

?!

Wow! Sakura is blooming!

This is “Kawazu-zakura”, Prunus lannesiana Wils. cv. Kawazu-zakura. A kind of Sakura which was found at Kawazu, Shizuoka pref. in 1955. It starts to bloom in the end of January. Botanists estimate they were produced by natural crossbreeding between Kan-hi-zakura and Oshima-zakura.

As you can see, these petals have deeper pink color than the popular Sakura (Somei-Yoshino).

In Kawazu-cho, the home town of this Sakura, the “Kawazu-zakura Matsuri” festival has been held until March 10th. I found the homepage of this festival.
http://www.kawazuzakura.net/index.html
Unfortunately they don’t seem to have English page, but you can enjoy the Sakura trees via Live camera.

http://www.kawazuzakura.net/html/sakuralives.html

Speaking of Kawazu-cho, that was located in the Izu peninsula and famous for the Onsen (hot spring), wasn't that? Why don't we go there and take a good Onsen, Shige?

Ume (prunus mume) 3 / Ushi-Tenjin

Yushima Tenjin, which was introduced previous posting (1),(2), is well known nation wide and always crowded with examinees, meanwhile, there are many quiet small local tenjin-sama allover Japan.

Ushi Tenjin, which have been cherished by Koishikawa neighbors for a long time, is one of them. Lee and I went to there to see Ume on March 1st.

In here, Koubai (red Ume) dominated rather than Hakubai (white Ume).

Gardian animal, Komainu.

I've never seen such a fantastic Komainu. It(she?) was in the middle of breast feeding! I didn't know that Komainu has gender difference. This feeding Komainu stood right side of the gate.

So then the left side one was the father?

The closest station is Korakuen(Marunouchi line and Nanboku line, Tokyo Metro), but it takes about 10 min. on foot from station. You can find the map from Ushi Tenjin's web site.

Autumn colors @ Kyoikunomori Park / Myogadani, Bunkyo ward

Every morning, I'm walking through the Kyoikunomori park. This is my favorite morning walking course with Lee, and also a part of our (Kana and me) route to school/office. There is the Myogadani station of the Tokyo metro Marunouchi-line behind the park. I feel blessed that I can enjoy walking the park everyday.

One of the reasons why I like this place is because we can feel the turning of the season there.

Let me show you some photos of autumn colors.

This was taken at the end of October. Leaves just began to yellowing/browning. (28th Oct.10:00am)

And now, mid November, trees are turned to crimson. (18th Nov. 6:30am)

Gingko leaves just start turning yellow.

This place once was a college campus. Uh, I wrote this in last year. (click to previous post)

Ginkgo leaves turned to bright yellow / Kishibojin-Zoshigaya-Myougadani

Finally, it's the last month of the year 2006. Tree's leaves are turning to autumn color and falling down.
When I(Shige) was a child, I often smelled the fall leaf burning, and it told me that winter was coming soon. It was smoky but a little bit sweet scent. I loved that inscence.
Nowadays, I seldom get a sniff of the burning of fallen leaves.
How is your neighborhood?

I went for a walk with Lee to enjoy the yellow colored ginkgo leaves.

Kishibojin has an old ginkgo tree that is said to be 600 years old.

Kishibojin has perfectly changed the atmosphere from the summer(see the previous post).
I love both, the summer and the fall.


Zoshigaya cemetery's ginkgo leaves.


At the "Kyoiku-no-Mori" park.

This is the place I routinely visit during the morning walk with Lee.

This place was originally the campus of a university. At 1st, "Tokyo Koto Shihan Gakko(Tokyo higher normal school)" was established here in Meiji era, then it was restructured as "Tokyo Kyoiku Daigaku(Tokyo University of Education)" after the WW2. When it turned to the University of Tsukuba in 1975, most of the facilities were moved to Tsukuba city of Ibaraki prefecture, and the vacant site of the University turned into the park. This park includes the gym, indoor swimming pool, the playground, etc. The closest station is Myogadani of the Marunouchi-line (Tokyo Metro).

Sakura / Cherry blossoms of the Harima-zaka park were in full bloooom!!

Hi, it's Lee.
On Saturday morning (April 1st), we visited the Harima-zaka park again.
Hey, Look! They were in full bloom!

Sakura / cherry blossoms at the Harima-zaka park, Koishikawa

Hi, it's Lee.
"Achoo!"
Can you hear that? In these days, Shige has been sneezing all day long.
"Achoo!"
Bless you.
"Thanks"
Did you catch a cold, Shige?
"No. I have Hay fever."
Hey! Fever! ...but you don't seem to be having fun.
"Achoooooo!!"
Uh-oh.

Shige, sis and I went to the Harima-zaka park on Saturday morning(March 25th).
Look! Sakura trees(cherry blossoms) has began blooming! I love spring time!
"Achoo!"
...Bless you
I love walking with sis!
Around 30% bloomed.