A Nice Walk in Aioi

I stayed overnight in Aioi, Hyogo last week.  It is a small city, but Shinkansen stops.  I could take a nice walk in the morning of Friday.

This is the entrance to Zenkoji Temple - formerly a local feudal lord's fortress.

I took a back-trail up to the top.

By the temple, also was shinto shrine.

The view of the area where the fortress used to be - the building on the right is the temple.

There's a nice little harbor.

Students running by the port.

A sunrise over the temple.

The local junior high school - students were already there in the school ground.

A monument at a park - distances to major cities are shown - from left - Sydney, Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, San Francisco, New York, Mexico City, and Rio de Janeiro.

Students arriving on bicycles.

Aioi bridge - spans over the harbor.

Peronjo - a shopping complex that looks Chinese.

A view from Aioi Bridge - the building on the left is a big factory.

A nice picture drawn on a commercial building.

There are many rivers in Aioi.

A Nice Sunday Run

Yesterday - it was a beautiful winter day for my wife and I to go for a run.

The entrance to Kashiwanomiya Park in Suginami-ku.

A nice teahouse - originally that of a lord of Obama-han during Edo Period.

Hamadayama Station.

Inokashira-dori avenue just north of the station.

Suginami Childrens' Traffic Park - a great place for the kids to play and learn about traffic rules.

"Degoichi" or D51 steam locomotive displayed at the park.

"Kanpachi" or Ring Road No. 8 by Ogikubo Station.

A shotengai south of Nishi-Ogikubo station.

A pretty big plum tree with early blossom.

Inokashira Line train between Kichijoji and Inokashira Koen stations.

Looking at the play are and the pond from a trail of Inokashira Park.

Steps that leads to Kichijoji station from the park.

A crowd gathering around a street performer by the Benzaiten Shrine.

Another Run to Shakujii Park

Yesterday, I could run with my wife to Shakujii Park which is about 5 km away from my home.  The weather was clear, but the temperature only went up to 6 degrees Celsius.

On the way there, we saw school children - although it was Saturday.

Swings at the park.

Shakujii Pond - on the east side of the park.

There are nice houses along the pond.

The walkway along the pond.

Volunteers were planing flowers at the garden.

Ducks by the boat area.

 A grey heron was there.

A very early plum blossom.

A photographer on the boardwalk of Sanpoji Pond - on the west side.

A view of the pond.

Benten Shrine.

Hikawa Jinja - a shrine affiliated with the original one in Omiya.

An Ema depicting the Animal of the Year - the Rooster.

A bamboo trail close from the park.

A Short Walk Around Akasaka

I took a short little walk in Akasaka on Friday - I had a bit of time in-between meetings.

An interesting object in front of Kioi Tower.

Hotels of Kioi-cho.

A fishing club by Benkeibashi Bridge.

One of many Tokyo construction cranes by Aoyama-dori.

Toyokawa Inari Temple.

I always thought it was a shrine, for Inari - worshipping fox - usually is such.  However, I learned that this temple that has its origin in Aichi is indeed a temple. 

This one is with a little one.

In Japan, in its long history, got Shintoism and Buddhism mixed up.  This temple is a very good example. I learn new things every day.