The integration between the garden and the house was lovely and a highlight of my visit to Kyu Asakura house last weekend.

Kyu Asakura House- Connecting with the Past

A visit to Kyu Asakura house, in the upmarket neighborhood of Daikanyama, provided a connection to the traditional Japanese architecture and manicured gardens that informed my imagination and expectations of Japan.

A Kangaroo in Japan

I looked twice when this bus went passed.  Yes, it is a kangaroo and yes, it does have a  joey in its pouch and no, there were no Australians on board.

Reflections - The ancient and the modern

Reflections of modern architecture on the water of the moat of the Imperial Palace.

Chestnut Festival

I felt like I was in Stanley while wandering the food market last weekend at the Red Spider Lily festival.  Chestnuts grow in the area too and this fellow was busy roasting them.

This weekend there is a chestnut festival as well as the Red Spider Lily festival. Stanley folk should plan a visit for mid-September 2020!

Fashions in the Fields

This couple out for an afternoon of flower viewing and strolling amazed me! Its not the best angle, but a truly remarkable ensemble. How do you walk in those shoes?  Is this her Sunday best?

Red Spider Lillies

How many photos of red spider lilies is too many photos of red spider lilies?  Not too sure, but I did tke a lot of photos.  Love the colour and the texture of the moss on the tree in the backgound.

Its not just Cherry Blossom

On Sunday I left Tokyo by train for the "Red Spider Lily Festival" at Kinchakuda.  It was beautiful. A blanket of colour across a small area crowded with visitors.  The Japanese love seasonal plant colour!

Lines, Reflection and a Taxi

You may be able to call it an obsession now! The same building, but with a new London inspired black Tokyo cab in the foreground.

More Lines

The other side of Otemachi tower.  I really do like this building!

Lines and No Signs

There must be a rule - Japan has lots of rules- no signs on buildings.

A discrete sign at the entrance indicated this was The Otemachi Tower, headquarters of Mizhou Bank.

I like the modern lines and the textures and reflections.  Wikipedia tells me the architects is Kohn Pedersen Fox, one of the largest architecture firms in the world, based in New York.

Commuters

A beer in a bar

Scene from a small bar.

Supermarket Mysteries- Part 1 Happiness

Flowers? Happiness? Green or Purple or Red. But what is it? Detergent? Fabric softener? The mysteries of shopping in a Japanese supermarket!

Tokyo Trains

No talking on the Trains.

Mama Mia - Karaoke

Justin Beiber and Karaoke, not part of my life until last week on the Grade 12 trip,  have I lead a sheltered life? 

The students were surprised by my performance when Mama Mia came on.

Sheltered or not At least it was an authentic Japanese Karaoke experience, with endame beans and fries as snacks and Japanese tunes as well as Western pop songs.