Sumida-gawa Terrace walking in Koto City

As you may know, the Sumida-gawa river is one of famous rivers in Tokyo.
Sumida-gawa runs through Tokyo for 27 kilometers, under 26 bridges.
On the both sides of the river, Sumida-gawa Terrace is constructed, and provides
walking and jogging course. The course starts at Azuma-bashi Bridge, and finishes at Kachidoki-bashi Bridge. The length of Sumida-gawa Terrace is currently 28km.

Sumida-gawa river flows west side of Koto city, so let me introduce Sumida-gawa
Terrace walking in Koto city.

This picture shows Sumida-gawa terrace view from Shin-Ohashi bridge.

Shin-Ohashi bridge is located at the 5 minutes-walking from Morishita station of Toei Subway. It is a very simple shaped bridge.

When you walk on Sumida-gawa terrace towards the downstream, you can see another bridge called Mannen-bashi bridge. The original Mannen-bashi bridge was constructed in the 17th century. Current bridge was re-constructed in 1930.

The original bridge was drawn by Katsushika Hokusai,
one of very famous ukiyo-e artist.

A few minutes walking from Mannen-bashi Bridge takes you to another bridge.

This is Kiyosu-bashi Bridge.

Kiyosu-bashi Bridge is a suspension bridge. It is modeled after a suspension bridge in Cologne, Germany once considered the world’s most beautiful bridge. The Cologne bridge having been destroyed, its “world’s most beautiful” form can be seen only in the Kiyosu-bashi Bridge.

This bridge was designated as Important Cultural Properties by the national
government.

You can also see the beautiful Kiyosu-bashi Bridge and the tall Tokyo Sky tree from
Sumida-gawa Terrace.

It is getting warmer toward the March. Let’s walking Sumida-gawa Terrace while feeling Spring wind.

(by Yumi)

Find Spring Coming in Kameido Tenjin Shrine with Plum Blossoms

February is the coldest season and especially this year we have very cold winter.  
However, the blooming plum blossoms are a sign that it is almost spring.  Kameido Tenjin Shrine in Koto city is famous for its beautiful plum blossoms and a few trees have started blooming.  In its premises there are more than 300 red and white plum trees.  

Blooming seems to be a bit delayed this year.  They are expected to reach their peak in terms of blooming after mid-February. Plum blossom festival has already taken place there until March the 4th.  It will be crowded with people and many stalls will open.  

Feb 7, 2018

This shrine was dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, a very talented scholar, poet and politician in the 9th century and he became a god of learning.  He is the first person from the non-imperial families who was enshrined as god.  

It was established in 1662, when a wooden statue of Michizane from his favorite plum tree of Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine in Fukuoka was installed.  He liked plum blossoms and wrote about them in his many waka poems. There is a statue of him when he was at the age of 5 with his poem praising of the blossoms.

“What beautiful red plum blossoms they are. I would like to adorn my face with them.” (trial translation)

Why don’t you visit there to feel spring!

(by Tomoko)

Do you know “Bouldering”?

It’s a sports that attracts a lot of attention as a new event of Tokyo Olympics of 2020.
Bouldering is a kind of wall climbing.
Without any sporting goods, nor rope, you climb the wall.
We have a place where we could enjoy this sports without reservation in Koto ward.

“Fish and Bird (www.fish-bird.co.jp)” is a studio where even beginner can enjoy bouldering with help of the stuff.
After having rented the shoes (300 yen) and chalk(not to slip 200 yen), you can try this sports.
At the first time, we pay 1500 yen as a registration fee.
And for 3 hours, the fee is 1500 yen.

Today, I visited there. The wall looks very steep. I think it’s impossible to climb it. But they say for beginner, lady, and child, there are some ways to do, and they will tell us how to climb it.
So, next time, I will put on a sportswear, and try to bouldering.

（by Michiko）