The same day at Kanda shrine, Ryukyu dance was performed.

https://www.facebook.com/422623874739827/videos/619676418604407/

The same day at Kandamyoujin, another performance of Ryukyu odori, Eisa.
Ryukyu was former name of Okinawa prefecture.It was used to be the kingdom, not Japan.
So it has unique culture.
Their costume have mood of china.

My father has half blood of Okinawa and lives there.

He says the Okinawa people's identity is Okinawa, Ryukyu, not just Japan.

Even their language, my grandma's generation, is really different from Japan's.

Japanese court music at shrine

At Kandamyoujin shrine, one
event was held in january 19. Gagaku or japanese court music was played.

https://www.facebook.com/422623874739827/videos/635404137269880/

Old court style clothes, japanese traditional instruments and nobutai or no plays stage with pine tree painting were so beautiful.

Ｔｈｉｓ is Chinowa made by rice straw rope.
In January and June, people stroll around this rope to wish their health.

But this kind of music always make me feel sleeping.

The stage for No plays. Always the tree of Mastu aor pine tree is painted.
Itis the tree which the diety fall into.  

Nearby Imperial palace, used to be the house of feudal lord.

ear by Imperial palace, there is a park named Hobiya Kouen. This park is used to be the
place of feadal load, Matsudaira which was one of the branch family of Tokugawa, who had garvened Japan by 1868.

2 ponds and pine trees, old-eatablished cafes,
restaurants, play area for kids and library are there.

I just show you two japanese style gardens.
To protect trees from cold winter, some of trees are covered by banch of Straw.

the stone wall behind the pond is the ruin of checking point of Edo castle, the former name of Imperial palace.

You can enjoy cafe, going to Imperial palace,
and so on.

The stone wall is used to be the protection of the Edo castle.

Ｔｈｅ garden in front of Japan's diet house

The japanese style garden of the natural diet house, named Nantei, means south garden.

unfortunately, the path of this garden is mede concrete, not soil. but creak is beautiful.
Small cascade, stone lantern are are there.
I really want this poor garden make much more graceful, beautiful and joyful.

So few people were there at the time I went.
Almost of everyone doesn't know it, doesn't care. just exist there.

New years's decoration of Japan

New year holidays in Japan.The lease is decoration for welcoming the year god.
Rice straw rope is very important for sacred place and pine leaves and nats are also have meaning of spiritual in Japan. pine tree's Japanese name is Mastu.It means wait for something like god.if you have chance to stay Japan during New years, you will see lots of pair of displays such as bamboos and pine tree leaves or branches.
I've heard that the pine tree nats of christmass lease has same meaning as Japan. I just think how people of whole world have lived together with nature!

10km cycling and walking road named Sayama-sakai green road

Under the bluesky of May, you may want to do cycling or walking. I recommend this road.

Toilet of park

i don't know why, but this purple flowers are nicknamed Daikonnhana, means radish flower.
although they aren't radish flowers. 

udon restaurant, japanese noodle.

Backside of Udon restaurant

koinobori is festival for boys. koi-fish was believed to be dragon, become stron like a dragon, boys!

old stone for pray. people still warship it.

old farmer's house

Dagashiya. this is snack shop for children. all of snack are sol very very cheap!
nowadays, these type of snackshop are disappearing, sadly.

No dog!

Alongside of this road. there are some cafe, line of flowers, restaurant,and parks.

this road used to use for creak from lake Tama.
photos of thatched roof house is park which old japanese houses were moved. Luckily, it's free!

many people enjoy this road with jogging, walking and cycling.

this road is not for speedy rider. just enjoy japanese local scenery!

Greece style architecture in Ueno, Japan

International library of children is originally built for Imperial library in 1906.

At that time japanese era was Maiji. just opened country for foreign country.
During Maiji, many eastern style building were built, but after big earthquake and WW2, most of those were lost.
This library luckily survived thoe two disasters.
Recently it was renovated by world famous architecture, Tadao Ando.

The style of this building is rennaisance.

There is a small cafe in the garden.
If you want to have break time, this library maybe nice place, caz there are few people.