Day 21 Wandering old Stomping Grounds
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Some paying attention will notice that Day 20 has been skipped over. Nothing much happened - we visited Marie' at her new job near Roppongi with a few shots, but not worth a full post. Some of the better shots include the go-karts at Roppongi Crossing, and a Green Building... |
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The next day was one for a bit of nostalgia for us - hanging out at one of our old regular places. In an earlier post I wrote that we were staying close to our last apartment in Tokyo. Kichijoji, a small, hip city in Western Tokyo with its justly popular park, Inokashira Koen, was a short train hop away. A good excuse to spend a restful day, in the mode of 30 years or so ago.
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Kichijoji is more than Inokashira, but our focus was to have a relaxing day in the park. Between the station and the park is full of shops and restaurants, mostly aimed at the younger set. |
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Thankfully, there are also some of the legacy shops remaining, like the yakitori place we picked up our lunch that has been here long before us.
Down to the Inokashira Park, which surrounds a large "pond" (? - literal translations from the signs, but more like a small lake).
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The park has a number of historic plaques, a small zoo with aquatic center, and a small Buddhist temple, making it a popular site for school trips - easily identifiable by their organization and uniform hats... |
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Benzaiten, who this temple is named after, is apparently a Buddhist saint mostly linked to the Hindu god Saraswati but considered a protector of Buddhism. |
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The pond itself is fed from an old spring, currently assisted by a pump to get the water to the surface. This feeds the pond which is one of the sources for the Kanda River, eventually flowing in the the Sumida River on the other side of Tokyo. |
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It all made for a good, restful day in a really familiar spot. |
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The day ended tastefully at Marie's favorite restaurant, which is in the Tokyo Eating Special Edition... |
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More pictures in the Roppongi/Tower and Inokashira Koen Galleries.