Toudai Autumn II

The University of Tokyo Hongo campus this-morning was at its most beautiful state. All the golden leaves where falling illuminated by the very welcome sun. It has been raining most of the week. It was quite the popular scene amongst many amateur and professional photographers. Families and their damn cute tiny tots rustled amongst the bed of leaves.

 

Toudai Autumn I

These some shots taken from the stairwell of Building 1, University of Tokyo (Toudai), Hongo Campus.  This the Civil engineering and Architecture departments. The autumn colors are beginning to appear. Quite the site.

Chrysanthemum: Japan's Flower

Today's regular Japanese class was substituted for a visit to Yushima Shrine to see the colorful Chrysanthemum displays. Our Sensai guided us  there early enough to witness the morning ritual service and many workers dropped by to pray and leave for their regular Monday schedules. An arresting display of individual prayer boards all bearing the message of hope in passing the upcoming exams reminded me of my painful high school examinations. The flowers are a sure summer has passed and winter is on the horizon. A close friend asked me the other day what would be a good time to visit Japan, and of-course April first came to mind, however from my very brief time here so far I understand that Japan relishes in celebrating the beauty that each season has to offer. Autumn is definitely the season of rich color and vibrant color.

The chrysanthemum is the official flower of Japan. It has been cultivated there since the 8th century when it was introduced from China. The imperial family crest bears the symbol of the 16-petaled chrysanthemum, which has long been a symbol of longevity, dignity, and nobility.
 

Autumn Sunday

After discussions of a Sunday autumn excursion over beers in Omotesando, I trudged home with my close friend C from the Toshima-ku dorm. I had a quick read over some web info on various Tokyo excursions and found the Nishisizawa Ravine hike as the most exciting despite the scarce info provided online. So I hit the futon (really hard) at 2.30am knowing I would need to get moving fairly early for the three hour journey out to Nishisizawa. The following morning all is well and I am up and about, finding myself on the 8.30am Limited Express to Enzan station. I reach Enzan feeling fresh and excited due to the glorious weather; therefore am eager to get the bus out to the starting point of the 4 hour hike. It's 10am and the next bus is at...1pm (two buses are at 8.10 and 9.05am). A few choice four letter words in my native English are blurted out and much to my surprise a local taxi driver close by understands me clearly and joyfully chuckles at my obvious dilemma. So my options are to go home (admitting defeat) or take a $70 taxi to the starting point (keep the autumn excursion dream alive).

Bugger it! let's roll Mr Chuckles.

The taxi ride is glorious. After a month of hectic Tokyo life cruising at top speed next through the mountainside was liberating to say the least. Mr Chuckles is super and stops the meter at least 10mintues before we actually stop, and takes me right to starting point. The hike takes 3.5 hours
(will take longer depending on fitness and amount of photography stops). It was a perfect hike for the afternoon; superb scenery and with easy going path but with interesting sections of clambering up rocks and crossing bridges. I would highly recommend this hike to anyone from Tokyo wanting to escape for a day.

 An unexpected highlight was Erinji Shrine (Shingen's family temple). I managed to catch the 3pm bus back to Enzan but saw the temple out the window and instinctively smacked the 'I want to get off' button. As the photos hopefully portray, it is a handsome Shinto shrine encompassed by a superb landscape garden designated by Kokushi Muso.

I concluded the already blissful day stumbling across Keuin Cafe. Run by a friendly and kooky local, Keuin Cafe is decorated with a array of hand-made objects, nic nacs, clothing, instruments, pottery, tapestry, artwork and jewellery. The cafe is located on the second level of this obviously architect designed concrete triangular planned shop / house. The owners living space is clear to view as you enter from the main street and is decorated in a similar hoarding/botanist style as the cafe area above. The coffee and complementary cookie were timely and delicious. She also fed me with books and magazines on Gokayama and iitobori wood carving after I expressed my interest in the traditional Japanese House and her personal collection. I consciously stayed much longer than I should have however I managed to make up time by hitching a ride back to the train station with a local tradesman in the now moonlit Enzan.