#Hamarikyu garden

[nobu11051991]

Tokyo 1 day tour!Hamarikyu garden, Tea ceremony, colorful leaves, monorail, Odaiba, Daiba 1 chome street , Takoyaki ( octopus balls), Gundam robot, Statue of Liberty, Tokyo cruise, Zojoji temple, Tokyo tower, Ginza, fluffy pancake!!

Tokyo 1 day tour!Hamarikyu garden, Tea ceremony, colorful leaves, monorail, Odaiba, Daiba 1 chome street , Takoyaki ( octopus balls), Gundam robot, Statue of Liberty, Tokyo cruise, Zojoji temple, Tokyo tower, Ginza, fluffy pancake!! Hi I’m Nobu, I like traveling overseas and in Japan, visited 26 countries! I’m a National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter of English for 10 years. For the…

[bou-vie]

Hamarikyu Gardens

Hamarikyuteien, Chuo City, Tokyo, Japan, April 2024

[hi-technique]

[lantur]

trip updates part one: Tokyo

It was a mercifully smooth 12-hour flight from Minneapolis to Tokyo! The seat next to me was unoccupied, so I could stretch my legs out, sleep a bit, read, and watch my shows. I finished Black Friend by Ziwe, which I loved, and Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors by Piers Paul Read. I also watched the first five episodes of Succession, season one! I'm so into this show.

It was so easy to navigate Tokyo via the subway. I took the train from the airport to my hotel, dropped my stuff off, and had time to visit Senso-ji Temple that evening. Visiting a religious site is something I like to do as soon after landing as possible. Senso-ji in the evening, lit up, was beautiful. I wandered through the temple grounds to look at the pagodas and the stone Buddha statues, while listening to the clinking of people dropping their coin offerings into the metal collection area. I found a little ramen spot nearby, and the ramen was incredible and very comforting after 12+ hours of travel, going through customs, navigating around a new city, etc.

The next day, I found a cute little cafe right next to my hotel where I could start my day with my caffeine fix. I headed to Tsukiji Market, and I LOVE a market. Normally I hate crowds, but when there's food involved, that hatred goes away. :) I explored the food stalls and ate all the seafood my little heart desired - crab legs, eel, scallops, a sashimi bowl.

I went to Meiji-Jingu shrine, in the middle of Yoyogi Park, which is very forested. One of the coolest things about this location was seeing a wedding ceremony that was taking place, with the couple and family dressed in traditional Japanese clothing. It was a lovely area to explore, and after I inevitably got lost in the park and found my way again, I had sakura flavored soft serve ice cream as a treat.

The Hamarikyu Gardens were an unexpected stop for me, while I waited for my evening kabuki show to start, and I'm so glad I went. The flower field there was yellow as far as my eyes could see, and there were tons of hummingbirds around.

The kabuki show was a cool experience - I loved the music, and the body language of the actors!

Other highlights of the rest of my time in Tokyo:

Matcha lattes and pancakes at the cafe near my hotel

Seeing cherry blossoms at Ueno Park!!

The collection of art and artifacts at Tokyo National Museum

The food - ramen, katsu curry, pho!

Soaking in the large, hot public bath at my hotel, which I had to myself that night.

One thing I didn't expect:

The weather! Coming from one of the coldest places in the United States, where it gets to be -30 F, I didn't think that Japan in spring would challenge me. And yet, it did. I brought my mid-weight spring coat, which has been working fine for me at home. For some reason, I found Tokyo very windy, and the wind cut right through me. I was very uncomfortable walking around, and finally, I had to buy another coat at Uniqlo here, as well as a scarf. I got both for ~$40 USD so it didn't break the bank, at least. :)

I got to Kyoto yesterday morning and I have more to journal about that, but I will do so in a separate post. :)

It has been amazing to be on vacation. To not have to worry about work, or grocery shopping, or cooking, or getting my workout done before work starts, or anything. I love my job and it still feels AMAZING to not work.

Oh, also, I almost forgot to add - I got an email as soon as I landed in Tokyo, confirming that I have been accepted at the university I applied for, and will be starting my MSW in fall. It's been a lovely celebratory trip!

[xerophile]

@sulphursouls

Hamarikyu Gardens, Tokyo, Japan

[a-student-out-of-time]

This is gonna be a very different and interesting valentine adventure, I can imagine him as if doing a scavenger hunt getting clues to his next destination, good luck hajimeme you have a long day ahead of you :3

Yeah, I've got a pretty big day ahead of me...

And yeah, I'll worry about the financial ramifications of White Day when I come to it.

Let's see...

Chiaki- 11:00-12:00: The Fountain Hiyoko: 1:00-2:00: Ueno Park Mikan: 3:00-4:00: Hamarikyu Gardens Sonia & Gundham: 5:00-6:00: The Dorms Hibiki: 7:00-The rest of the night

Guess it makes sense she secured the rest of the night for herself.

Seems like this gives me time to meet up with everyone, and they've really got me traveling all over Tokyo.

Well...I'm sure this'll be fun.

[lowpolyrose]

Hamarikyu Gardens 🌲

To say I fell in love with this place would be an understatement. The contrast between the urban skyscrapers and the nature that is cultivated in the middle of it was just awe inspiring. The tea houses are beautiful as well, and so well maintained. ❤️

[battlestations]

Frequent Travel Battlestation - Hamarikyu Gardens

[shrokyo]

the hamarikyu gardens were absolutely gorgeous. everything was so lush and green and the flow of the grounds was really well done. i appreciate the immense care and thought put in to the way japanese landscape designers curate their gardens and outdoor spaces especially in the middle of big cities such as Kyoto. the care of the plants themselves was also extremely impressive, every plant was perfectly maintained and it truly conveyed the deep respect had by those who maintain them.

the tea house experience was one of my favorite moments of the trip so far, it was so lovely. i enjoy the ritual of stopping yourself to really sit and enjoy a cup of tea. it really slows down your day for a moment of appreciation and respect. it is also a great moment to share with someone as you both take in the utter beauty of the gardens

[caiart]

Hamarikyu Gardens sketch

[yexinlinartwork]

Hamarikyu Garden. Luscious nature that flows or be controlled. Humans will forever work with nature, even if they don't seem to. This garden displays how the ancient Japanese people survive and live in their daily lives through nature. Trying to use the flow of nature for survival, humans come to understand and respect nature and feel it's quiet, beautiful aura if we all listened.

[nobu11051991]

Tokyo 1 day tour, Hamarikyu Gardens, Odaiba, Daiba 1-chome retro arcade , Statue of Liberty, Gundam robot,Ramen, Meiji shrine, Takeshita street!!

Tokyo 1 day tour, Hamarikyu Gardens, Odaiba, Daiba 1-chome retro arcade , Statue of Liberty, Gundam robot,Ramen, Meiji shrine, Takeshita street!! Hi I’m Nobu, I like traveling overseas and in Japan, visited 26 countries! I’m a National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter of English for 10 years. For the people who are interested in and planning trip to Japan ,I show you hidden local…

[bou-vie]

Hamarikyu Gardens

Hamarikyuteien, Chuo City, Tokyo, Japan, April 2024

[loganinjapan]

Day 3: ACTIVITIES

Today was much better. Much better than yesterday. Hamarikyu Gardens / Tea Ceremony: This was so peaceful and tranquil. My group was the first to do the tea ceremony. We watched the person make the matcha tea, apparently she has been a tea expert for decades. We were also served Japanese sweets, or wagashi, before the tea. The matcha tea was pretty good. Afterwards, we got to head outside and explore the Hamarikyu Gardens. Again, super peaceful and relaxing. There was a 300 year old pine tree, plenty of other nature stuff, and a bench to sit on!!! Yay! Lunch: After heading to Tokyo Skytree, I was generally unsure of where to go to eat. After seeing multiple maps, I settled on Ginza Grill Cardinal. I ordered Omurice and Hamburg Steak. The omurice was really good, on par with what I've had in the USA, but can we talk about the Hamburg Steak? Oh my god. When I die, I want to be buried in Hamburg Steak. This meal gets a 10/10, and in terms of all the restaurants I've tried, it is on par with Tonkatsu Hinata. Tokyo Skytree / Sumida Aquarium: Super super super high up. 450 meters kind of high up. I could see basically everything! Ended up with multiple failed attempts to point out Mt. Fuji. Afterwards, we went to the Sumida Aquarium and it was small but awesome! I saw fish, jellyfish, eels, penguins, sharks and more! The jellyfish room was completely dark so the jellyfish had their natural glow, made for some great photos! Dinner with UF Alumni: Goodness gracious. Before I get into it, I will already tell you this was a 10/10 and the best meal I've had so far. The big deal with the group dinner was getting to meet some notable UF alumni. David Semaya serves as the Executive Chairman of Sumitomo Mitsu Trust Asset Management and previously worked at Barclays and Merrill Lynch. Sachio Semmoto is a legend in the telecommunications world, having cofounded KDDI and served as the CEO of Y!Mobile. Both of these guys were amazing and provided great advice. The meal was completely paid for and my gosh, it was the best. It was a five course meal consisting of some sort of pate, bread and oil, crab soup, F1 wagyu steak and a chocolate dessert. It was unbelievable. The wagyu just melted in my mouth like butter. It was without a doubt one of the best steaks I've had. It was unreal. I doubt anything is going to beat it. Photos coming soon. Let's hope tomorrow is just as great!

[kaitothefirst]

May 8- Tea Ceremony, Tokyo Skytree, and Dinner with David Semaya

I was very excited to start this day after hearing that we would have time to walk around the Hamarikyu Gardens during the tea ceremony activity. Our group went first for the tea ceremony, and I really enjoyed both the wagashi and matcha that was served. When it was time to stroll around the park, I broke off from the group and was able to independently take in the nature that was surreal to see in the middle of Tokyo. When we made it to the Tokyo Skytree and broke off for lunch, I checked out the Taiwan Festival and picked up some great fried chicken (almost rivals Famichiki) and guava juice. At the top of the Skytree, I immediately focused in on Tokyo Tower, which was one of the main sights I was interested in visiting in Tokyo. This made it even better when we went to the Tokyo American Club later that evening, where I got to see Tokyo Tower lit up in the dark. The dinner itself was amazing, especially because I’ve practically only been eating convenience store food, street food, and McDonald’s since coming to Tokyo. I also loved hearing from Mr. Semaya and Semmoto-san about their experiences in Japanese business and even their suggestions for where to visit in Tokyo. I think today definitely had some of my favorite activities so far in terms of both traditional and modern Japanese experiences.

Academic Reflection

The content of Ohki’s reading on Chanoyu led me to pay very close attention to Takeda-san’s actions during the tea ceremony. The tea scoops that she was using seemed to be made of bamboo, which reminded me of Rikyu’s introduction of carving simple yet unique tea scoops from bamboo. Our host also mentioned the practice started by Rikyu in which the entrances to teahouses were low to the ground to level hierarchy (as everyone must lower themselves to enter). She further explained that samurai could not bring their swords into the teahouse with such an entrance, causing their status (along with their sword) to be removed when entering. It was amazing to draw comparisons between tea ceremonies held now and the standards set by Sen no Rikyu during the sixteenth century.

The height of the Tokyo Skytree observation deck gave the perfect perspective by which I could view the urban planning described in Sorensen’s reading. One thing that especially stuck out coming from the United States was the lack of any major suburban regions. As described in the text, Ikeda Hiroshi’s zoning system was primarily focused on separating heavy industry zones from residential zones. As such, commercial businesses were well mixed with residential buildings, creating a view from the Tokyo Skytree of a city that was very well spread out. There was no clear sense of any location where the main “city area” ends and the living area begins, contrasting from many American cities, such as Buffalo. I personally really enjoy the convenience of Japan’s zoning system to that regard, and it made for an amazingly expansive view from the Skytree.

[zacharyja]

Wednesday, May 8th, 2024

Wagashi, Tea Ceremony, and Tokyo Skytree

Today began a bit earlier than normal, as we had to get to the tea ceremony a half hour early, so breakfast was at 7:30. We then walked to the station to get on a train bound for the tea ceremony at Hamarikyu gardens, which originally belonged to the Tokugawa shogunate. After browsing the gardens for a bit we went to a traditional tea ceremony, and we were served matcha tea hand selected by a tea master. Apparently Uji, a city just south of Kyoto has the best matcha in all of Japan. We were served wagashi and shown the process of a traditional tea ceremony in a tea house.

Following this we spent some more time in the gardens and got to take in the serenity and tranquility that the nature provided. The location of the garden was amazing as we were able to see much of Tokyo including the famous Tokyo Tower, which looked nice given the juxtaposition when viewed from a traditional Japanese garden.

After leaving the gardens we then made our way to the Tokyo Skytree, which is the tallest tower in the world and the third tallest structure in the world. We took a break before going up to get some lunch where some friends and I decided on a random unagi restaurant which was actually pretty tasty. This was my first time eating eel before so I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised by the fluffy interior that melts in your mouth contrasted by the crispy exterior.

Here we were able to see breathtaking views of Tokyo at about 450 meters above the ground. It was amazing to see so much of the city but also quite overwhelming as there was just city and development as far as the eye could see.

After that, we were free for the rest of the day and some friends and I saw that there was an aquarium just a few minutes walk from the Skytree, so we went to check it out. The Sumida aquarium was not too big but had a lot of fun stuff, including penguins, seals, reef fish, eels and much more. It was pretty fun to see everything since I am a big fan of fish and other marine life.

After the aquarium we went back to the hotel to get ready for dinner with an unnamed UF alumni. We then got dressed and made our way to the Tokyo American Club to have dinner with the alumni, who was none other than David Semaya, who is the executive chair of the board for Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Asset Management. He talked to us for a while and gave us plenty of advice on our future endeavors. We also enjoyed a 4 course meal including wagyu steak, fish, dessert, and white wine. We also met Sachio Semmoto, who created the Japanese telecommunication company KDDI from scratch, which is now worth $80 billion dollars, who is also a UF alumni. We learned a lot from these high ranking business officials and enjoyed the dinner thoroughly.

After this we walked back to the train station to get back to the hotel, and once at the hotel some friends and I hung out for a while before heading to bed to rest before the next day.

Academic Reflection

Today’s first reading revolved around the arrival of tea to Japan and the ceremonial aspects that followed. It was interesting to read about how tea was introduced to Japan through China in the eighth century. It was also interesting to see that tea ceremonies often served as a way for people to find a quiet moment amidst a fast paced society, offering a moment of peace and serenity. I was able to experience this firsthand at the tea ceremony at the Hamarikyu gardens where I also learned the the entrances to tea houses were often so small that you were required to kneel down and scoot in on your knees. This was during the times when samurai were active, and would have had to leave their sword behind in order to fit in the entrance, which was a also symbolic of leaving behind worldly possessions and having everyone at the same social status inside the tea rooms. Another reading was centered around urban planning in Tokyo, or better the lack thereof. Tokyo has much looser zoning laws than in the United States, as there is a lot of mixed use zoning which is why you can get things like businesses and restaurants in the same building as residential areas. This allows for more walkable cities with access to food and convenience stores and shops all within walking distance. This is quite the sharp contrast from the United States where zoning laws are strict and many people who live in single family homes in the suburbs are forced to drive miles into the city to find a restaurant or grocery store. This reminded me of our dinner last night at the sushi bar, which was a tiny hole in the wall place that was built underneath residential area and as good as it was, could never exist in the United States because of the strict zoning laws.