Colored Leaves in Happoen, Tokyo

Now the season for colored leaves! In Tokyo, they started to change colors, too. Today I visited Happoen, which is very close to our photo studio and a great place to visit in Autumn. 

紅葉の季節ですね！東京の木々も色づいてきました。今日は私たちのスタジオから近い紅葉スポット、八芳園に行ってきました。

This place used to be a Samurai's residence. Later, with the beautiful garden, this place was named as "Happoen" in 1950, and now this is one of the most famous wedding locations and Japanese style restaurants. "Happo" of Happoen means that this place is perfectly beautiful from "all direction" (we says "Shihouhappo" in Japanese).  

ここはもともとあるお侍さんのお屋敷だったところです。その日本庭園を生かして1950年に八芳園と命名され、今は東京でとても有名な結婚式場、料亭となっています。八芳園の名は「四方八方どこから見ても美しい場所」という意味なんですよ。

Happoen is actually a wedding location, however, visitor also can walk in the garden. This Japanese style garden is very beautiful, and the best part of it is that you can see all colored leaves, Bonsai trees, a pond and Koi carps, tea ceremony house and a small shrine at once.

結婚式場ではありますが、一般の人も庭園に入る事が出来ます。この庭園がとてもきれいで紅葉、盆栽、池と鯉、茶室、神社、一度に全部ぎゅっとなっててお得です。

One of the Bonsai tree is over 500 years alive! Many people took care of this tree for a long time, full of histories.

盆栽は樹齢500年を超えるものが！たくさんの人の手で守られてきたのですね。

The Koi carps in this pond are huge and varicolored and gold, there are many.

ここの池の鯉、すごい大きいんです。錦鯉に金の鯉もいて見応えたっぷり。

In this garden, there is a small tea house and you can actually taste Matcha (powered) green tea here. (The price was 860 JPY when I went there). If you make a reservation in advance, you can experience very formal tea ceremony as well.

庭園の中には茶室もあって抹茶を頂く事ができますよ。事前に予約をすれば正式なお手前も頂けるそうです。

So, if you go out for colored leaves in Autumn, let's go in Kimono! From our studio to Happoen is one station away by Metro, or 3 minutes by taxi (730 JPY when I went there).

素敵な日本庭園にはぜひ着物を着て行きましょう！

当スタジオから八芳園まではタクシー３分、または地下鉄で1駅です。

Our Kimono Rental Plan is from JPY5,900+tax~ (ALL inclusive)
For the customers who rented kimono here, we have special offer for studio plans. ( From Nov 24th to Dec 3rd, 2016 )
Please ask for more details!

- Kimono Photo Studio WA -
目黒駅から徒歩1分
Meguro Station, JR Yamanote Line - 1 minute walking distance
TEL：070-6455-9831
mail：info@kimono-wa.com

Experience Japan!

Kimono with cherry blossoms along Meguro river

Cherry blossoms were in full bloom and really beautiful along Meguro river in this week. It is only 5 minute walk from our studio to Meguro river. We went there for outside photography for our customers in this time.

今週、目黒川の桜は満開を迎えとってもキレイでした。スタジオから目黒川まで徒歩５分。今回は撮影のため、お客様と花見に行ってきました。




First, we stopped by Daienji-temple, and prayed our customers' good luck to deities of travelers...(We can guide the temple and show you traditional way to pray there.)

まずは大円寺に寄って道祖神にお祈りして... (お寺のガイドもしますよ！）

 

Then, we went through Meguro Gajoen, which is the oldest wedding and banquet hall in Japan...

日本国内最初の総合結婚式場である目黒雅叙園を通り過ぎ...

Finally we got to Meguro river! How beautiful the cherry blossoms were!

目黒川に着きました！満開の桜、素敵でした！

They are such a nice couple from Russia. The weather was so nice, the best day for flower viewing. I am sure that they always well-behaved :) The kimono she chose was really good on her and she is so pretty!

ロシアから来てくれたとっても素敵なご夫婦。天気もよくて花見には最高の日でした。きっと日頃の行いが良すぎるんでしょうー。彼女が選んだ着物もお似合いで写真もこんなに可愛く撮れました。


At KIMONO PHOTO STUDIO WA, we can also offer outside photography in kimono with your request. Please inquire anytime. We are looking forward to seeing you here!

着物フォトスタジオ和ではリクエストに応じて着物でお出かけの撮影もしています。ぜひお問い合わせくださいね。ご来店お待ちしております。

Experience Japan!

Mt. Fuji from Fujimi-zaka in Meguro

I often ask our customers where they visited in Japan, and most of them answer, "Mt Fuji!" Wow, everybody loves it, of course me, too. Actually I have not known, but found out Mt. Fuji can be seen from the slope very close-by our studio.
お客さんに日本のどこに行った？と聞くとほぼ毎回返ってくるのが富士山。ハイ、私も富士山好きです！そして私も最近知ったのですが、なんとスタジオのすぐ近くから富士山が見えるんです。

From our studio to Fujimi-zaka (Mt. Fuji viewing slope, there is no sign though)...
目黒の富士見坂（と言ってもサインはありませんが...）へは...

After you get out from our studio's building, turn left and walk 1 minute... you will see Hotel Princess Garden. You can see Mt. Fuji from the slope between the hotel and condominium which has Italian restaurant on the 1st floor.
スタジオのビルを出て左に1分ほど歩くとホテルプリンセスガーデンがあります。富士山はそのホテルの手前の坂道から見えます。

Look down this slope to the west...

西向きに見下ろすと...

On sunny and clear day, we can see beautiful Mt. Fuji like this! Please try looking for it when you come to our studio! 
天気の良い澄んだ日はこんなにキレイに見えるんですよ。私もビックリです。スタジオにいらっしゃったときはぜひ立ち寄ってみて下さいね。



- Kimono Photo Studio WA -
http://www.kimono-wa.com/en/
目黒駅から徒歩1分
Meguro Station, JR Yamanote Line - 1 minute walking distance
TEL 070-6455-9831
E-mail info@kimono-wa.com

Experience Japan!

Green Oasis in Busy Ginza & Tokyo area, Hibiya Park

Hibiya Park is located next to the Imperial Palace, and it is 20 minutes walking distance from Tokyo station. The park is close to Ginza shopping area, too.  The park is very famous and shown on TV often (dramas and weather news).  

The park used to be the estate of feudal lords and became the military parade ground after. Later, the park was designed with the influence of Western culture, and Hibiya park opened in 1903.  This is Japan's first western-style modern park.  

The park has various kinds of flowers and trees, for example, cherry blossoms in spring, colored leaves in fall, ginkgo, Japanese apricot, camphor, pine, tulip, rose, etc.

You can see the Imperial hotel back of the park.

The park area is 161,636m2, and has Hibiya Public Hall (large music hall), small music hall, parade ground, Hibiya Library Books and Culture Hall, Museum of Park, tennis courts, children’s playground, food and drink stands, ponds and fountains, a flower shop, and a restaurant.

Hibiya Kadan is one of the most famous flower shops in Japan.

Hibiya Kokaido, music hall.

The restaurant, Matsumotoro is also opened in 1903. The restaurant has been famous and is on the literary works of famous novelists.

The park is loved by various kinds of people as a relaxation place.  You will see senior people exercise radio gymnastics in the morning, children's and mothers playing in the afternoon, and also a office worker doing chinning exercises on an iron bar at lunch time. 

Hibiya Park

Address: 1-6, Hibiya Koen, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Open 24 hours, 365 days. No admission. 
2 minutes walk from Hibiya Station on Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line
8 minutes walk from Yurakucho Station on JR Yamanote Line
10 minutes walk from Ginza area

Experience Japan!

Tokyo's Oldest temple, Sensoji Temple

If you have a chance to travel in Tokyo, you must visit Sensoji Temple in old town Asakusa. This temple is the oldest in Tokyo and about 30 million people visit here every year.

Kaminari (thunder) -mon gate is the most famous symbol in Asakusa, a statue of thunder deity and wind deity are sit in the both sides of the gate. Even though the gate was burnt by fire before, the gate was reconstructed by Konosuke Matsushita in 1960, who is the founder of Panasonic. The gate is always full of people.

There are 2 gates in Sensoji Temple, and also 2 red lanterns. Please do not forget to check the back side of the lantern, you can see the beautiful sculpture.

Nakamisedori Shopping Street leads you to the temple.  The street is 250 meter long, and about 90 shops are on the both sides. You can buy various kinds of souvenirs such as Japanese fans and swards and Japanese fast foods.

The origin of this temple is that two brother fishermen found a a statue of Bodhisattva Kannon (Buddhist goddess of mercy) from Sumida river, which flows on the east side of the temple in the year 628. Since then, the statue has been worshiped and enshrined. Currently, the statue is hidden and public people cannot see it. 

Before you enter inside the temple, rinse your mouth and wash your hands with fresh water at the purification fountain. Then, go to the incense burner and put the smoke on the part which you want to cure of your body. Legend said it that the smoke can cure the bad part of your body.

The main hall is about 30 meter high. The golden decoration, and red and white architecture are awesome!

Inside of the main hall... you can see 3 characters in a frame, SEMUI - means which Bodhisattva Kannon (goddess of mercy) gives one a fearless mind and can relieve this world.  

Five-storied Pagoda is on the left side of the main hall. Relics of the Buddha (busshari) are kept on the top floor. Originally it was built in 942, but it was burnt by air raids during World War II and reconstructed in 1973.

  

There are various buildings in the back side of the temple precincts, and beautiful nature such as flowers, trees, rivers. The precincts also has Sensoji Shrine, so this site is syncretization of Shinto with Buddhism. Please feel Japanese old atmosphere and find your favorite spot. 

Sensoji Temple

Address: 2-3-1 Asakusa, Tato-ku Tokyo

TEL: 03-3842-0181

The halls are open from 6:30 am to 17:00 pm

Admission free

http://www.senso-ji.jp/about/index_e.html

Nakamise Shopping Street

http://asakusa-nakamise.jp/e-index.html

Experience Japan!

Divine Spirits bless YOU! - Meiji Jingu Shinto Shrine 2

If you come to Meiji Jingu Shinto Shrine, you wish you to be blessed, right?  Meiji Jingu is a big power spot in Japan, thank divine spirits and get blessed.

In Shinto, we do not have only one god, which is different from other religions. Instead, we value for the harmony of us and nature. We have millions of divine spirits such as mountains', rivers', safe driving, kitchen's, even toilets'.  Probably the right one for the right position??

When you enter the precinct of the shrine, bow one time at the shrine gate for greeting and for acceptance of the shrine owner. Next, go to the purification fountain before you go to the main hall to purify yourself. This is to clean not the physical dirt, but to purify more spiritual dirt inside you. 

Take one ladle and fill it with water and rinse both hands. Then sip the water from your cupped hand and rinse your mouth. (Do not drink or do not sip directly from the ladle.) lastly, clean the ladle by the water left. 

  

At the offering hall, throw a coin into the offertory box, at least 5 yen. If you really really wish, maybe more... something 5 should be good.  Bow twice and clap your hands twice. Then bow once and put hands together. Tell your name and where you are from so that the divine spirits can recognize you and pray within yourself briefly. (Remember, the visitors to this shrine is 3,500,000 people per year!) 

You can also write your wish on Ema, Votive tablets for special personal prayers and gratitude toward the deities enshrined.  Ema is sold at the precinct near the main hall and the price is JPY500. Hung the tablet after you write your wish and leave at the shrine.  These Ema will be offered at every morning ceremony in the shrine, and your supplications are conveyed by the priests. 

 
 
 
 
 
 

At the auspicious calendar day, especially on the weekend, you might able to see wedding march in Japanese style. The couples are sooo beautiful. Congratulate them and get happy air :)  

If you wish to find a right person for marriage or wish your happy life with your partner, pray for these couple camphor trees. These trees are in front of the main hall.

I wish you good luck!
If your wish come true, please come back here to thank the divine spirits!
Please also check 8 things you should know before visiting Meiji Shrine.

http://www.meijijingu.or.jp/english/index.html

Experience Japan!



Meiji Jingu Shinto Shrine - 8 things you should know before visiting

Meiji Jingu is one of the most famous shrines in Tokyo, Japan.  It was established in 1920 by the people who donated 100,000 trees from all over Japan and overseas. Now the shrine is covered by a big forest, and you can feel spirits in here.

I write 8 interesting things you should know before visiting. You will see why I wrote 8 later.

CHECK 1 - Enshrined deities are souls of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken, who passed away in 1912 and 1914. At that time, Emperor was just like God for Japanese people. Meiji Jingu is comparatively new shrine.

 

 

 

CHECK 2 - The precinct's temperature of the shrine is 3 degree Celsius below compared to outside metro area in Tokyo because it is covered by a big forest.  The forest is artificial and created by donated trees.  The forest has 245 species of trees, which is unusual for a forest.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHECK 3 - The number of visitors to the shrine is about 3,500,000 per year, and 1,200,000 people of them are foreign visitors. Wow, 1 of 3 people are from overseas!

 

 

 

CHECK 4 - after a while you walk in the shrine, you can see Sake (rice wine) barrels and grape wine barrels donated. At normal shrines, you do not see grape wine barrels even though Sake is sacred drink in Japan. In Meiji period, Japan finally has opened the door to overseas and started to learn Western cultures.  Emperor Meiji also tried western style attire and hair. Especially he loved grape wine, and it is said that he passed away due to diabetes. 

 

CHECK 5 - Because center of the approach is for the divine sprits' passage, try to walk on the left side of the approach to the main hall.

CHECK 6 - The corner of the approach to the mail hall is not 90 degree, but 88 degree angle because 8 is lucky number in Japan when we write in Chinese character, the shape of 8 is auspicious.


CHECK 7 - The second shrine gateway of Meiji Jingu is the biggest wooden gateway in Japan.  The material wood used is Japanese cypress, 1,500 year old and brought from Taiwan. You can still smell the scent of wood especially in a rainy day.

 

 

 

CHECK 8 - The heart shape ♥ you can find of shrine's structure is not heart, it is actually the eyes of wild boars. They do not like fires, and their eyes can protect wooden shrines from fires... not sure if they are really heart shape?? But try to find hearts in the shrine!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope you can find something new about Meiji Jingu?

Experience Japan!

 

The symbol of Osaka, OSAKA CASTLE!

Osaka Castle is located in the central of Osaka, and many Japanese people visit there for sightseeing and cherry blossoms viewing.  The castle is surrounded by moats and the moats are surrounded by green forests, Osaka Castle Park, which also has Osaka Castle Hall and Hokoku Shrine. I had been there for my elementary school trip... long long time ago ><

 

A military commander, Hideyoshi Toyotomi built a impregnable castle to show his power and status and to unify the nation in 1583. It was golden glittering form, glorious and magnificent.  However, after Hideyoshi' death, his political control was deprived by Generalissimo, Ieyasu Tokugawa, and the castle fell during the Summer War in 1615. 

Even though the second Tokugawa's generalissimo had reconstructed the castle in 1630, the Main Tower was destroyed by lightning strike only after 35 years later. Finally in 1931, Osaka public efforts and enthusiasm made the construction of the Main Tower come true. So the castle looks modern now and the inside of the castle is operated as a museum.  But do not disappoint, there are still interesting displays in the castle.

Let's go to the observation deck.  You can look Osaka's nice view with Shachigawara, "Roof tile in the form of a legendary killer whale." A pair of golden shachi-gawara embellished the top roof of the main tower of Osaka Castle. The height is 2m19cm and 400kg. The castle is covered by moats and green, and cherry blossoms in spring. Hideyoshi probably had enjoyed the same view from here.

The museum has miniatures of hot fighting "The Summer War of Osaka" 1/20 scale.  At this time, we already had guns, but many warriors fought with spears. 

 

If interested, you can try on a helmet, surcoat and casual kimono, and take photos with your camera on the second floor. (JPY300 per person per time)

 

Osaka Castle has some mysteries.

1. There is a deep well just in front of the castle, and it is said that golden nuggets are sunk by Hideyoshi Toyotomi, however, they have not discovered yet... try looking into the well!

2. It is said that the castle has a secret underground passage.

3. In front of the Sakura Gate, you can see a giant rock, Tako (octopus) stone. It is amazing that people in 400 years ago could cut and bring such a big stone here. Furthermore, look at the left side... can you see some creature? Yes, it is octopus! It is more clear when you look on the rainy day. 

 

 

Osaka Castle

1-1, Osakajo, Chuo-ku, Osaka
Open Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
(Last admission at 4:30 p.m.)
Opening hours are extended during certain
periods in spring and summer.
Admission: JPY600 per adult

http://www.osakacastle.net/english/

Experience Japan!