Todoroki Ravine Park

While Dad and the two boys were at the Sumo Tournament, we didn't want to just sit around.  We were all needing to get out of the concrete jungle for just a little while....so I found a place called Todoroki Park where the promise of some outdoor scenery and elbow room awaited us.  We had to ride three trains to get there, but we were excited to get out and explore.

While we were walking along the streets toward Todoroki, we noticed this beautiful porch.  Beautiful door, beautiful blossoms, and they finished the look with some dried fish.  Guess they didn't want the smell in their house.

We finally made it to Todoroki Ravine Park, so named because it's in a ravine.  There is a very small river that flows through the ravine, and there is a pathway built on the side.  We could still hear cars going by, but it was so refreshing to get out and away from the tall buildings and the throngs of people everywhere!

There were bridges and pathways meandering all over.  We didn't worry about where we were going, just enjoyed walking around and enjoyed the beautiful nature that was surrounding us.  (Caitlin, Nathan, and Audra)

A few flowers on the trees.

Of course, it didn't take long until we came upon several shrines.  We loved this washing area, it was carved from a rock and had a bamboo pipe that provided the water.  Very different from all of the other washing areas we have seen thus far, and fit right in its surroundings.

 This area was almost magical.  (Tayla and Nathan)

 Two statues greeted us as we approached the shrine.

 You could hear water moving steadily down its bed in the river.....

 ....and also hear water dripping from the ravine wall as drops of moisture fell from the rocks.  There were also two waterfalls.  See anything interesting in this picture?

 Did you find this guy standing guard at the top of the weeping rock wall?

 The waterfalls were also from two separate dragon heads poking out of the wall. 

 There was a set of long stairs leading above the weeping wall, and so we decided to explore them and find out where they went.  There were several other shrines along the stairway, but this was the favorite for the kids, because it was carved out of the side of the hill. 

At the top, this welcoming dragon head bid you to wash yet again...

....before entering the Buddhist temple situated at the top of the hill.

 Coming back down the stairs, we noticed this small pond tucked in a corner.  The statue of Buddha, the stone dragons, and the koi fish really set the mood for this corner.  It was beautiful and peaceful.

 

 Walking down the main path again, we noticed a gate off to the side.  Upon walking through it, we came upon a small forest of bamboo trees!  We have been wanting to get up close to some bamboo trees so we could touch them.  It's maybe a little silly, but we just wanted to touch a bamboo tree while we were here.  We've never done that before.

Some of us were so excited to touch a bamboo tree that we hugged them also.  Bamboo is very hard, and it almost felt like metal to us.  Very different from the trees in the western U.S. 

 We liked being among the bamboo trees so much, we decided to sit down right in that spot on some big rocks and eat lunch.  We had packed some sushi rolls, and they were the perfect thing to eat at this spot.

Kirstin is cute.  :-)

 There was a rock pathway through the bamboo forest, so we decided to follow it up to the top of the hill.  Once we got to the top, the trees opened up to this beautiful Japanese garden with a stream. 

There were many things to see, but the kids were most excited to see several orange trees.

We stayed in this area for awhile, wandering around the paths and enjoying the beautiful scenery.

Heading back through the gate, we walked down the rest of the main pathway.



 This simply gorgeous scene was at the end of the park.  After going under the red bridge, we would have to climb up some stairs and find ourselves back in the concrete jungle and the constant movement and noise associated with a lot of busy people in the largest city in the world.  (Caitlin, Nathan, Audra in stroller, Tayla)

It was a wonderful day!  Sitting on the metro on the way home, Nathan whispered that this was the best day in Japan so far.

 

 

Here's what the kids thought about the day:

 

Caitlin:  It was cool to see bamboo in real life.  The mikan (oranges) were my favorite.  The water was really pretty.

Tayla:  I really liked it because it was peaceful and quiet.  I liked getting away from the busy streets of Tokyo.  I really liked the waterfall and the shrine that was inside the cave.  The bamboo trees were really awesome.

Nathan:  I liked the whole thing. 

Audra:  I like the fish.