60. The Seven Herbs of Spring

《The Seven Herbs of Spring》

Japan has a long-lasting custom of eating rice porridge with seven herbs on the morning of January 7th.

Now, it is impossible to grow or pick up those herbs in the city and a package of herbs is available at supermarkets.

《This year I had the porridge as a supper on Jan. 4th.》

The seven herbs are: Japanese parsley,shepherd’s purse, cudweed, chick weed, henbit, turnip and Japanese radish.

Each plant has no special medical effect, like St. John’s wort, or scent, like peppermint or thyme.

I think that ancient Japanese had regarded those herbs as harbinger of spring.

We also have “seven herbs of autumn”, and according to Wikipedia, “seven herbs of winter/summer” also exist in Japan. I suppose people regarded seasonal plants and flowers as helpful for keeping health and enjoyed taking them.

59. Sparkling Trails in Tokyo

Winter has come☃️

At night we can enjoy illumination as well as light trails here and there in Tokyo.

[The traditional Omotesando light trail.]

As I remembered, this light trail along Omotesando street started about thirty to forty years ago, when LED lights have yet not appeared in the world. Putting many light bulbs on branches had been a burden for the trees, therefore created controversy and the lighting event was suspended once.

Now, thanks to the invention of LED, the lighting event has resumed and has pleased many people.

The next one is along Keyaki-Zara street, at Roppongi.

This lighting started about twenty years ago, when the zelkova trees were younger and shorter.

Now, the trees grown up, and  we can enjoy sparkling view with Tokyo Tower at their back.

[You can have German dishes and hot wine at the Christmas market nearby.]

The LED lights create various colors of lighting, such as this  blue lighting tunnel.

This is called “Ao-no-dohkutsu”, or blue cavern at Shibuya.

The trees along Marunouchi street are decorated with champagne-colored LED lights.

We can see Christmas trees or Saint Nicholas objects lighted with various colors of LED lights.

Although we have other types of winter illumination in Tokyo, many winter lightings are tree decoration.

That is probably because many zelkoba trees and Ginkgo trees have been planted on the side of streets.

Ginkgo trees still have leaves in this season, while zelkoba trees lose most of the leaves and suitable for lightings.

This winter we have to save energy. By spending evenings outdoors, we contribute to spending fewer energy.

58. The Flower Temple

Winter is beginning and now is the best season to appreciate autumn colored leaves.

Last week, I went to Hondo-ji temple in Matsudo, Chiba prefecture.

The temple sits within an hour’s train ride from the center of Tokyo.

Other sightseeing spots in Japan are now gathering many tourists, however, this place was not so crowded and I enjoyed autumn scenery to my heart’s content.

57. Medical Herb Garden

We are having warm and beautiful autumn days.

Sightseeing spots in Tokyo and the vicinities are stuffed with people especially on weekends.

Today, I went to Medical Herb Garden in Hanno, Saitama prefecture.

[Crimson colored maple leaves welcome us at the entrance.]

The garden is run by Tree of life, a herb shop in Japan and a friend of mine works there.

The garden is not so large but has a lot of medical herbs, which drew my interest.

We have fewer flowers in late autumn than spring or early summer, still this garden has a lot of flowers now.

There were few people in the garden so I can take a rest on the benches surrounded by aromatic plants.

[Chinese quince had fruits, which alleviate sore throat.]

At the shop I got some herb plants as well as honeys and teas.

[Those plans are available only at this shop.]

56 Mt. Fuji Climbing

The graph of Covid 19-infected people depicts a sharp mountain. We are probably on the summit now.

Last week I climbed Mt. Fuji, the highest mountain in Japan.

《A bottled mineral water from Mt. Fuji and pumice-shaped sweets can be purchased only at go-gohme shops.》

To tell the truth, I climbed it by bus to the half point (the so called, go-gohme) which locates about 2300 meters above sea level and stayed there only for an hour.

Mt. Fuji stands 3776 meters in height and attracts many climbers. And many of the climbers start climbing from the go-gohme. I heard it takes a day from there to scale the summit.

《There is a shrine on go-gohme.》

Unfortunately, Mt. Fuji was covered with thick clouds when I climbed.

I couldn’t take beautiful photos nor sceneries from the mountain.

I took a picture of flowers on the go-gohme.

Mt. Fuji and 25 of surrounding places have been registered as a World Heritage.

At the foot of the mountain there are many places to visit, such as an ice cave and shrines. I visited an ice cave and ate barbecue lunch close to the mountain.

《Beef is grilled on the pumice from Mt. Fuji.》

The only thing I feel regret is I couldn’t take a picture of Mt. Fuji, even though I was so close to the mountain.

《The picture of the foot of the Mt. Fuji would interest nobody.》

The beautiful photos of Mt. Fuji can be seen by the following sites:

https://www.istockphoto.com/jp/写真/mt.-fuji

https://www.gettyimages.co.jp/写真/mt.-fuji

55. Meigetsu-in Temple And Hydrangeas

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Japan has limited the number of people coming into the country.

Now, the restriction has become a little relaxed and soon the overseas tourists are coming back.

The infection has subsided a little in Japan and many people are now enjoying domestic tourism.

I went to Kamakura again to see hydrangeas.

Meigetsuin temple is famous for its garden where hydrangeas and Japanese irises beautifully bloom in June.

It attracted more people than I had expected.

The garden was filled with blue large flowers and lot of people who were busy taking pictures.

(Japanese Irises were beautiful, too.)

The garden looks more attractive through the circle window especially when maple leaves are colored in autumn.

54. Japanese Irises

The rainy season is beginning and Japanese irises are blooming.

Japanese irises include three types: Hanashobu (Iris ensata), Kakitsubata (Iris laevigata) and Ayame (Iris sanguinea). Here, I refer to the first one, Hanashobu.

The plant, Hanashobu grows in wetland, not dry field.

Tokyo has several places where we can enjoy a variety of iris flowers.

Meiji-jingu shrine is one of them.

It is said that 150 species of irises are grown in this garden.

You can enjoy various colors and patterns of irises here.

The Meiji-jingu shrine lies in the center of Tokyo, having an area of 72ha.

In 1920 the shrine was established to commemorate the virtue of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken.

The trees were dedicated from all over Japan to produce this ‘artificial forest’. Now, the forest harbors a large eco-system; a diversity of birds, insects, and small animals lives there not to mention various plants.

It is not only a place to dedicate prayers but also a place for relaxation, such as forest, park and garden.

(Lotuses are also having flowers in the pond.)