Let’s visit a water front park in Koto City.

There are about 300 parks in Koto City. This section introduces one of the newest parks in Toyosu area, “Toyosu Gururi Park”. 

Gururi Park is a 5-kilometer-long park designed to allow visitors to walk around the outside of the Toyosu Pier where Toyosu Market is located, just as the name of Gururi literally means surroundings. It is an open park facing Tokyo Bay. Visitors can not also enjoy walking and jogging but get nice views of Tokyo Tower and a group of high-rise apartment buildings on the opposite side of the bay, as well as Tokyo Sky Tree in the distance, and also Tokyo Rainbow Bridge at the tip of the park. It’s least exaggeration to say that this is the park with the best view in Koto City. This time, let’s trace this park in a clockwise direction starting near Toyosu Nishi Elementary School and ending at Toyosu Park. In addition, it would be a good idea to bring some drinks or snacks before the start beforehand as there aren’t any convenience stores along the park route. The nearest station to the start point(K01) is Shin Toyosu Station(Yurikamome Line). 

There are distance indication signs standing on the parkway that show distances every 400m, so please take a look at them. You walk about 800 meters (K03) and you will see the "Ariake Arena" on the opposite shore. 

This is the indoor stadium where volleyball and wheelchair basketball competitions will be held at the Tokyo Olympics. It is characterized by its concave-like curved roof. If the roof were to be dome-shaped like a typical arena, the sun's rays would be reflected in the surrounding apartments all day long, so the center of the roof is concave, making it "curved". You walk down a little further(K04), you will see “Ariake Gymnastics Centre”, where gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and boccia competitions are held at the Tokyo Olympics. 

The roof, exterior and spectator's seats are made of wood, in keeping with the concept of a "wooden vessel floating in the Tokyo bay area", which is appropriate for its former location as a lumberyard. Further along, around the tip of the Toyosu Pier, the view changes dramatically as the Tokyo Rainbow Bridge comes into view. 

Many people can be seen fishing and enjoying a BBQ at the facility on the right (K07). 

You can enjoy BBQ without any prepared forehand. Fishing and BBQ with a view of the Tokyo Rainbow Bridge, what a luxury! If you go around the tip perfectly(K08), you will see many buildings. You can catch a glimpse of Tokyo Tower through the gap of them, and if you look further to the right, you can catch a glimpse of Tokyo Sky Tree at the same time.

If you want a more splendid view, you can climb “Rooftop Garden” on the roof of Toyosu Market on your right hand. You can use the elevators directly connected to “Rooftop Garden” from the park (the long, white building is the elevator building). 

On a clear day, you can even see Mt. Fuji, the highest mountain in Japan, from there. You walk down a little further(K11) and at the time when you see a colorful building in the front distance, you almost reach the goal. 

Near the goal, you will see a shopping center complex built on the site of a former shipbuilding factory, which is crowded with many people. You will reach the goal at the distance sign K13.

It seems to be a very short and fun 5km. Along the way, you can take a break and enjoy a meal outdoors, so you will be able to spend a very relaxing time there. After the finish line, you can enjoy shopping in the shopping complex, or you can use the bike sharing service (bike rental) to go further afield. You can also board a boat from the former dock near the finish line and travel to Odaiba, Hamamatsucho and Asakusa. The night view is also highly recommended. Just enjoy the view of the city center and the sense of freedom that makes you believe you are in the heart of the city. 

ATSUGI, Takeshi

New Japanese Sake Season

 

We are now planning two more new courses; one is Japanese sake and the other is tea ceremony. Here, I would like to give you a little information of Japanese sake.

 October 1^st is like New Year’s Day for Japanese sake.

Why? Please remember the growing cycle of rice that is one of the ingredients of Japanese sake. As sake rice is harvested in autumn, September to October, most of sake breweries usually start to produce in October. The sake brewing does not always start on October 1^st, however, the day is special for the breweries to celebrate the start of sake production season. They pray at a shrine for the safety and success of the sake brewing of the year, and then prepare, clean and check the tools and devices they use. This is one of the reasons for which the day was designated as “Nihonshu no Hi” or the day of Japanese Sake by the Japanese Sake and Shochu Makers Association in 1978.

Many Japanese-sake-day-related events and celebrations are held all over the country, or the world on that day. Especially “Kampai (or cheers) with Japanese sake” has been encouraged.

 New sake or fresh sake that is to be brewed this year will be on sale from around late November or December. Why don’t you have a taste one if you have a chance? Of course, it would be happy if you join our tour to find something and talk about sake!