kyu.shiba.rikyu.onshi.teien.旧.芝.離.宮.恩.賜.庭.園

hmm.. how come you never know about this park for the last two months.  this park is almost right at your door step.  this is where the shogun meets skyscrappers.  this is how a park looks like when the new and the old meet -- a park with backdrop of high rise buildings.

this place is just next to the sister hama rikyu onshi teien.  and kyu shiba rikyu onshi teien is also just 10 minute walk from your apartment.  it is a lot smaller compare to the sister park but you just feel very cozy. very at home here.

what you love about tokyo is there are ample of parks, gardens, greens not too far from everybody's home, or close to the offices.  you like how you can easily feel the space and greenery without too much effort.

you love to reconnect to nature and tokyo is a perfect place for such - modern yet green at the same time.  you could sit here, have a picnic, enjoy your tea, eating your bento or just sketching, painting, reading, look at the reflection or just day dreaming away...

sakura may have passed her prime time and falling away and the branches of the trees showing green leaves - sign of new life, new beginning.

but azalea is slowly taking her place, showing her faces everywhere in the city, in different colors. she is a lady with character, never afraid to show off her beauties.

and in the meantime other plants are cultivating and waiting for its time and right season to shine...

there is a season for every activity under the sun... you remember the book of Ecclesiastes in your bible.

this is the highest point in the park, a mini hill not that you can see any further but just the idea of pond, hill, bridge unique of any japanese garden

and the contrast of the skyscrapers with the garden greenery, pond andjapanese pine tree is almost surreal

a bustlingg sounds of the city fade away as an air of serenity fills the grounds.  now that your days are numbered, your love and passion for tokyo grow even stronger.

today you love tokyo. you pray for tokyo and you remember the sufferings in tohoku area too.