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[IBC] Tokyo
I am headed to Tokyo the end of the month. Any ideas of things
to do? You can't be bored! Tokyo Green Club in Ueno, Tokyo. This is bonsai central for Tokyo. They often have shows on weekends and there's a nice shop, with trees, pots, tools, books and magazines. Get off the JR train at Ueno station. Walk along the LEFT side of Ueno park (between the park and the lake. Take the walkway across the lake (to the left) to the upper left corner of the lake. Walk straight ahead for a block or two; then ask for "bonsai, desuka?" and someone will point your way. There is a large bonsai shop there and often are bonsai exhibits in the Green Club building itself. I don't know the schedule for the summer. Peter??? Takagi Bonsai Museum, Ichigaya, Tokyo. Get off train at JR Ichigaya station. With the moat/canal at your back, cross the street, past the subway exit. Go straight 1/2 block, past a bank (I forget which one -- Yokohama, I think). The museum is on a little street to the left behind the bank. Its entrance is guarded by two impressive statuary lions (or dogs). Call ahead and I understand there can be someone there who speaks a little English (tel: (03) 3221-0006 ) to take you around. We were unaware of that on our visit -- unfortunately. And then, of course, there is Omiya Bonsai Village. Take the Nagano train out of Tokyo Station. We did NOT go there (but passed it several times on the train). There are several very nice, large gardens in Tokyo. Hama-rikyu Gardens from the 17th century. East of the Shinbashi station on the Sumida River. Go EARLY in the morning (6 o'clock or even earlier) and visit the nearby Tsukuji fish market, the largest in the world and have some raw fish for breakfast, then wander over to the garden and spend the rest of the morning. There is a cruise of the Sumida River that goes between the garden and a dock in Asakusa every hour or so. One train station farther on (Hamamatsucho station) and within walking distance of Hama-rikyu (walk south from the entrance about 3 blocks, past the theater to a main street, Turn west until you come to the train overpass, then follow it to the station. The park (Kyu-Shiba-rikyo Garden) is immediately to the west of the station. It is one of the loveliest in Tokyo. Ninomaru Garden is part of the Imperial Palace grounds that are open to the public. Most of the ground are in a pseudo-western garden style and are rather pedestrian, but Ninomaru garden is exquisite. There is a small garden in Asakusa, near the Kwannon temple that you must visit. You need permission from the temple, through. Behind the big, imposing Yasukuni Jinja Shinto shrine is an intimate little tea garden - Buddhist garden that, if the reconstruction has finished is one of the prettiest places in Tokyo. Ueno shrine is worth a visit. They often have bonsai or ikebana on display near the entrance. Visit Asakusa and Asakasa (they're different) for views of old and new-trendy Japan. Many if not most of the Ginza or Nihonbashi Department Stores have bonsai and some bonsai supplies. You'll usually find them on the top floor or roof. These will be pricey, but are surprisingly nice trees. None will be particularly well maintained and you will have to fight to keep yourself from pinching and trimming. Visit Ginza Morimae, just down the street from Mitsukoshi Department store. You can't afford a thing there, but it's fun to look. I recommend the Open Road Publishing's "Tokyo Guide" for info on other gardens. And Frommer's "Tokyo" outshines Fodors or any of the other guides that I've seen. In Kamakura, there is a nice small garden at the Hase Kannon Temple. Walking through the streets of Kamakura (and wander some of the narrow back ways if you have time), keep an eye out for bonsai in people's front yards. You should see several on the small, narrow-gauge train ride from the JR station to the Great Daibutsu (Buddha). I regret that on our last trip to Japan, we didn't get to Nikko, but an ailing elderly companion precluded that side trip. Next time (the memory of and effects of that gawdawful flight are gradually wearing away to the point that I MIGHT consider another trip). I spent many pleasant weeks in Nikko when we lived in Tokyo. Learn to eat at the streetside cafes -- Yakitori chicken or noodles of one kind or another, beef or seafood -- and stay away from Kobe beef! Be certain to get a Japan Rail Pass if you're going to be there two weeks or more. It lets you go anywhere on JR trains, buses, and subways, in-city and inter-city. It's not worth it if you're only going to be there a week. You can't possibly ride often enough to pay for it. You get those HERE before you leave. Check the Japan Travel Bureau web site for info or search for Japan Rail Pass. Enjoy. Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - "I like trees because they seem more resigned to the way they have to live than other things do." -- Willa Cather ************************************************** ****************************** ++++Sponsored, in part, by Evergreen Gardenworks++++ ************************************************** ****************************** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ |
#2
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[IBC] Tokyo
On Sun, 16 Mar 2003 15:51:59 -0500, Jim Lewis
wrote: and stay away from Kobe beef! Why? Just curious. ************************************************** ****************************** ++++Sponsored, in part, by Evergreen Gardenworks++++ ************************************************** ****************************** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ |
#3
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[IBC] Tokyo
On Sun, 16 Mar 2003 15:51:59 -0500, Jim Lewis
wrote: and stay away from Kobe beef! Why? Just curious. In no particular order: 1. It is 70% FAT, marbled throughout, so you can't cut it off like in a "normal" steak. So it will contribute to your premature death. 2. It is (usually) cut in such thin slices, you might as well be eating bacon. 3. A 4- 6-oz meal (bite) will cost you about $100 - $150. (and then, there's the rest of the meal). 4. So much more Japanese food is tastier, cheaper, and better for you. Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - Our life is frittered away by detail . . . . Simplify! Simplify. -- Henry David Thoreau - Walden ************************************************** ****************************** ++++Sponsored, in part, by Evergreen Gardenworks++++ ************************************************** ****************************** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ |
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