May 30, 2016

Yokojukken-gawa-shinsui park


Before the “tsuyu”-rainy season-,nowadays,it’s one of the best seasons for a walk in the nature.

In Koto-ku, there are some parks or promenades along the canals.

 Yokojukken-gawa-shinsui park is one of them.

This park is 1.9k long, 5.1ha in area.

In this park you enjoy boating and especially for children,playing on the playing equipement on the warter.


Japnese iris are now in full bloom.

And you can also see some wild birds,like a Japanese cormorant or some kinds of heron.

If you have a chance,you can see a spot-billed duck with her baby birds!


About Yokojukken-gawa-shinsui park


By M. O.

May 17, 2016

Let’s Walk Around Toyosu Area 

A lot of sunshine.  Temperature is very pleasant.
May is a very good season to walk around the town.
When you feel like spending a holiday somewhere nice,
Toyosu can be one of your choices.

Toyosu
Toyosu, one of the rapidly developing area in Koto city, can provide a variety of places to visit.
The following is a list of “where-to-go” in Toyosu.
1.    Urban Dock Lalaport Toyosu ( 3 minutes-walk from the Metro Toyosu station)
There are more than 180 shops and restaurants.
You can purchase anything you want and you can eat anything you like.
Recently many tour buses visit this shopping complex.
2.    KiZania Tokyo
Inside of Lalaport, children can experience his or her future job in Kizania.
They can be a pilot, flight attendant, bank officer or even a surgeon.
3.    Toyosu Civic center ( 1 minute-walk from the Metro Station)
          A new tall building (built in Sep 2015) provide a variety of information.
          You may enjoy concerts or performance on the 5th floor, where you can see
          Rainbow Bridge in Odaiba from the stage.
          If you are a book lover, you can read or rent a novel or a magazine from the library on the 9th floor.
          There is a gold statue “Byakko(a white tiger) in front of the entrance.
4.    Toyosu Park( 2 minute walk from the Metro Station)
      A beautiful grass field with colorful playing tools for children can be found
         near Lalaport.  On weekends, young parents and their children enjoy their
  “obento (lunch)” under the sun.

Toyosu Civic Center

Byakko statue

Lalaport from Toyosu Park

The above are very popular places you can visit. Today let me recommend one more place to visit: “ Gas Science Museum”.
Gas Science Museum
Gas Science Museum is just a 6-minute walk from the exit 7 of Toyosu Metro Station.
When you get out of the station, you will pass “Toyosu civic center” and Toyosu Park (explained above) and easily reach the entrance of Gas Science Museum soon.

This museum (2-story and rooftop) is operated by Tokyo Gas and have a lot of exhibits which you including young children can touch and learn a lot of things.
The main theme of this theme park is “Learning about all ”?” (questions) of energy and the environment, for your “!” (findings).
Good points of this museum
1.    Children (and parents) can learn many thing by participating in a science show with experiments and demonstrations
2.    A lot of programs(such as cooking) are provided
3.    Admission free
Another surprising thing here is that you can command a fine view on the grass on the rooftop. You can find a lot of skyscrapers across the canal and also can view the Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo Tower.
 


Lastly the attached is the picture of Toyosu Market, which is to open Nov 7 2016.
One more attractive spot is coming soon in Toyosu.



Toyosu became a very attractive spot in these years and still advancing.
Let’s find something new in Toyosu!.

By H. I.

May 9, 2016

Let’s go to Ningyocho! A district of old downtown Edo with history and tradition!!



 Ningyocho is located in central Tokyo’s Nihonbashi.  Ningyocho gets its name from being a town of dolls, ”ningyo”. About 400 years ago in the Edo era, puppet shows for the common people developed into affordable entertainment, gaining great popularity.
 There are still many traditional craft shops dating back to the Edo period and old established restaurants in “Amazake Yokocho” and other alleys.  One can find many items, such as a display of “tenugui” wash cloths, chinaware and incense.
 Ningyocho also features many popular shops serving traditional snacks such as “sembei”
rice crackers and “tai-yaki” fish shaped cakes, “ningyo-yaki” doll shaped cakes.


 If you feel hungry, you can find sushi restaurants and ”soba” noodles restaurants easily around there.
 You can also enjoy Japanese pubs, where you experience traditional Japanese fast food such as “yakitori” grilled chicken and ”tamagoyaki” soy-flavored omlets.


 Buying take-out foods such as croquettes, “karaage” Japanese fried chicken or other fried foods, ”tsukemono”, pickles , tofu and taking them back to your room for a party could create a wonderful memory of Japanese food.



 Enjoy a downtown shitamati atmosphere in Ningyocho.

Access  Ningyocho Subway Station: Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line, Toei Asakusa Line
        Suitengu Subway Station: Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line


By I.O.