Plum Blossoms at Koishikawa Korakuen

 Feb. 21st--Today we decided to go check out some more plum blossoms at the Koishikawa Korakuen.  This is one of Tokyo's oldest gardens, built in the Edo period (1600-1867).   In the picture are Logan, Audra, and Nathan.

 The garden was named Korakuen after a Chinese poem encouraging a ruler to enjoy pleasure only after achieving happiness for his people.  Like most traditional Japanese gardens, Koishikawa Korakuen attempts to reproduce famous landscapes in miniature, using ponds, stones, trees and manmade hills to replicate both Japanese and Chinese scenery.  The designer of this garden was inspired by the Chinese, and so this area has many Chinese attributes.   Look really close in the trees, and you will see a little red shrine....

See it now?  It's cute.

 In this man-made pond, there were large koi fish, ducks, and we also found this turtle swimming along!

 After walking for a bit, we decided to stop at some benches and eat our lunch.  There were some pine trees around, and nearby I noticed this sign stating that this place was called Red Pine Grove.  Apparently, the pine trees used to be much thicker, because the shogun's "aura" couldn't penetrate through it.  Ha!  :-)

 An old sake house.  There was an interesting table inside made from bamboo. 

 This is a rice field, hasn't yet been planted for the year. 

 Then, on the horizon, we finally spot what we came for: plum blossoms.

 Nathan showing off a beautiful tree. 

 Logan and Christopher

 I wish we could bottle up the smell from these blossoms and bring it home with us.

 This bridge is called "Engetsu-kyu" or full moon bridge because a full moon is formed by joining the figure of this bridge to its reflection in the water.  This bridge did survive the 1945 bombings, and is in its original form.

This wood shrine also survived the bombings and was interesting to look at because it is slightly different than other shrines.  It is built more like the Chinese rather than the Japanese shrines.  Inside contains two statues, but the shrine was locked up and we couldn't get in to see.

 Caitlin, Audra, and Tayla

Kirstin in the stroller, Raymond, Audra, and Caitlin on a red bridge.

 Nathan, Logan, Christopher, and Tayla

This would have been a great spot to get a family picture, but everyone started taking off for bathroom breaks, so I could only get a few kids at a time.

 These flat, vertical rocks near the stream was a favorite place for the shogun to come and meditate.  He would sit here on a rock next to the stream for hours and contemplate his great responsibilities.

 We really liked this area!  The bridge was so beautiful.  Above the bridge, to the left, was the foundation of a shrine that had burned down.  The washing area was still there--it being made of stone.  The shrine was a well-known favorite because it was on the top of a cliff. 

Aw....what a nice place.  Koishikawa Korakuen is a beautiful garden with many aesthetic areas.  We loved being here and exploring it.