Image search results - "adachi-ku" - JAPAN PHOTOS by Philbert Ono

Image search results - "adachi-ku"

Belonging to the Shingon Sect's Buzan school, this is one of Tokyo's major temples. The real name is Sojiji (總持寺), but everyone calls it Nishi-Arai Daishi.The temple grounds feature many flowering trees and plants including an unusual species of cherry blossoms which bloom in winter. Daishi-mae Station. Much larger station than I expected. Probably for the New Year's crowds. 大師前駅

Daishi-mae Station 大師前駅. Nishi-Arai Daishi Temple was said have been founded by Priest Kobo Daishi in 826. One of the Kanto Region's Big Three Daishi Temples.

The main path to the temple is lined with the usual shops, but it is not aligned with the train station. The path from the train station takes a different route.

Main path to temple

Sanmon Gate, the main gate. 山門

Sanmon Gate

Food stalls lead you to the main worship hall.

Dai-Hondo Hall, Nishi-Arai Daishi, Tokyo 大本堂According to legend, when prayers were offered to save villagers from an epidemic, pure water gushed out of a hitherto dried-up well and got rid of the plague. Since the well was on the west side of the temple hall, this area came to be called "Nishi-Arai" (New Well in the West). The temple is famous for warding off fire and misfortune.

Incense burner

Lantern

Dai-Hondo Hall 大本堂

Altar inside Dai-Hondo Hall 大本堂

View from Dai-Hondo Hall

Winter-flowering cherry blossoms

Winter-flowering cherry blossoms and Dai-Hondo Hall

Winter-flowering cherry blossoms, Nishi-Arai Daishi, Tokyo 寒桜

Winter-flowering cherry blossoms 寒桜

Ume plum blossoms

White plum blossoms

White plum blossoms 白梅

Red plum blossoms

In spring, see 4,500 peony plants in 70 varieties bloom. Temple is nicknamed "Botan Daishi" (Peony Daishi).

Red plum blossoms

Red plum blossoms and pagoda

White plum blossoms

Pond behind the Dai-Hondo Hall

Waterfall

Koi

Benten-do 弁天堂

如意輪堂

Side view of Dai-Hondo

13-story pagoda 十三大塔

Chigo Daishi 稚児大師

Three-story Treasure Pagoda 三重宝塔

水子地蔵

Salt Jizo 塩地蔵

Rokkaku-do 六角堂

水洗地蔵

Temple bell and pond

Koi

Koi. Seems like a sumi painter just painted on this fish.

A flea market is held monthly in the temple grounds.

光明殿

Hakkaku-do Hall 八角堂

Inside Hakkaku-do Hall. A glass door lets you see inside, but the door is locked. 八角堂

Entrance to Adachi City Urban Agricultural Park (Toshi Nogyo Koen Park).

Adachi City Urban Agricultural Park is a riverside park at the corner of Arakawa River and Shin-Shibakawa River growing many varieties of cherry blossoms including those from Washington, DC planted here in 1981-82.

The most prominent cherry blossoms from Washington, DC are the Somei-Yoshino cherry blossoms named "America." They bloom in late March along Shin-Shibakawa River.

These Somei-Yoshino "America" cherry blossoms are right behind the park's Visitors' Center. The America trees stretch along Shin-Shibakawa River for a few hundred meters, one of the park's major cherry blossom clusters.

I visited one or two days before peak bloom, so they don't look as fluffy or full. The weather forecast was for cloudy or rainy skies after this day.

"America" cherry blossom tree ID tag on a sakura tree.

This was one in full bloom.

"America" cherry trees in Adachi, Tokyo.

"America" cherry blossoms in full bloom.

"America" Somei-Yoshino cherry blossoms decorated the Shin-Shibakawa riverbank from here. They were in parallel with a riverside walking/cycling path on the left.

These were still one or two days before peak bloom.

Hanami picnic under the America cherry blossoms. Feeling the Spirit of America.

A long cycling path goes along Shin-Shibakawa River and the America cherry blossoms.

This is the end of the "America" Somei-Yoshino cherry blossoms.

The park also has this Reagan Sakura cherry tree planted here in April 2012 to mark the centennial of Tokyo gifting cherry trees from Adachi Ward to the US in 1912.This tree came from the original "Reagan Sakura" cherry tree planted in Nov. 1982 from a sapling given to Japan by Nancy Reagan in 1981. The sapling came from the original cherry tree planted in Washington, DC's Tidal Basin by Mrs. Helen Taft, the wife of President Willian Taft, in 1912.

About Adachi Ward's Japan-US Cherry Blossom connection and centennial in 2012.

Entering Toshi Nogyo Park along Arakawa River in Adachi Ward, Tokyo. The centennial ceremony was held during the Goshiki Cherry Blossom Festival in April 2012.

Toshi Nogyo Park has numerous cherry trees from America. These trees were planted here 30 years ago from American saplings taken from cherry trees which originally came from Adachi Ward in 1912. They are called "homecoming trees" (里帰りの�

On April 22, 2012, Adachi Ward in Tokyo marked the centennial of its cherry tree gift to the US. The ceremony was held at Toshi Nogyo Park along the Arakawa River in Adachi Ward. The mayor of Adachi and other dignitaries attended and gave...The ceremony was held at Toshi Nogyo Park along the Arakawa River in Adachi Ward. The mayor of Adachi and other dignitaries attended and gave speeches. The day's events included tree-plantings, sumo exhibition matches, and slide show talks by people who went to Washington, DC. This is a flyer for the centennial ceremony.

The cherry trees sent to Washington, DC in 1912 came from cherry trees growing along the Arakawa River in the Kohoku area (江北) of Adachi Ward. However, those cherry trees died by the end of WWII. Adachi Ward later undertook a project to regrow the...Adachi Ward later undertook a project to regrow the cherry trees with saplings taken from the trees in Washington, DC.

The ceremony began at 10:30 am with music performed by local junior high school bands.

The ceremony started at 10:30 am with music by local school bands, followed by short speeches by local officials. There were no representatives from the US government.

A good crowd was present, including local dignitaries.

The Honorable Adachi Ward Mayor Yayoi Kondo (近藤やよい), organizer of this commemorative ceremony, said a few words. See my Youtube video below for an English translation.

Adachi Ward Mayor Yayoi Kondo (近藤やよい). See my video for an English translation of her speech.

This ceremony was jointly held by the private Japan-US Sakura Exchange Centennial Event Committee and Adachi Ward. Committee Chairman Makoto Suzuki (鈴木誠) speaks. He is a professor at Tokyo University of Agriculture.

Committee Chairman Makoto Suzuki (鈴木誠), professor at Tokyo University of Agriculture.

Takao Kurita of the Nihon Sakura Society presented letter to Adachi Mayor Kondo..."We will now have a presentation of a seedling sent from a cherry tree along the Potomac River in Washington, DC last year in March. It is being raised by the Nihon Sakura Society who will make the presentation. Since the seedling is still small, a letter of intent will be presented instead and the sapling will be planted in this park later when it is large enough."

"A sapling to mark the centennial of the cherry tree gift to the US will hereby be presented. On this day April 22, 2012, from Nihon Sakura Society Chairman Takahiro Yokomichi."

Shigeru Yoshioka, Chairman of the Adachi Ward Council. The MC also read a message from Bob Taft, former Governor of Ohio and great-grandson of President Taft.

They introduced people or the descendants of people who worked to bring cherry blossoms to America and Adachi Ward. Tadao Shimizu. grandson of Kengo Shimizu who was the Kohoku Village mayor in 1886 when he proposed to line the Arakawa River with cherries.Tadao Shimizu. grandson of Kengo Shimizu who was the Kohoku Village mayor in 1886 when he proposed to line the Arakawa River with cherry blossoms. It eventually lined 6 km of over 3,000 cherry trees.

Setsu Funatsu, wife of Kanematsu Funatsu, a sakura researcher and grandson of Seisaku Funatsu a Kohoku Village native who studied and helped to cultivate hardy cherry trees after the initial trees to Washington, DC was found to be infested with insects.

Kit Pancoast Nagamura, the great-granddaughter of botanist David Fairchild who brought the cherry trees from Japan to Washington, DC.She also writes for The Japan Times.

Kijiro Kakuta (角田喜次郎), went to the US in Jan. 1981 to collect saplings from cherry trees which originally came from Adachi Ward. It was to mark Adachi Ward's 50th anniversary and the start of planting the "sato-kaeri" cherry trees

Jun'ichiro Chidani principal of Tokyo Metropolitan Engei High School, an agricultural high school. He helped to raise the dogwood sapling that will be planted today.

Sapling from the Reagan Sakura ready to be planted. Click here to see the Reagan Sakura photos.

Sapling from the Reagan Sakura ready to be planted.

Tree planting of a sapling from Reagan Sakura.

Tree planting of a sapling from Reagan Sakura bythe Adachi Ward Mayor and others.

A planting ceremony was held by the Adachi Ward woman mayor and other officials. This is a sapling from the Reagan Sakura tree.

Reagan Sakura sapling planted at Toshi Nogyo Koen Park in Adachi Ward, Tokyo.

Next they had dogwood tree planting. From a dogwood plant given by the US in return for the cherry blossoms in 1912.

A dogwood sapling was also planted by the mayor and descendants of people who worked to replant cherry trees in Adachi.

All done.

Dogwood tree sapling planted.Tokyo Adachi-ku Toshi Nogyo koen Park sakura cherry blossoms centennial flowers us-japan

Dogwood tree sapling planted.

Dogwood flower from a tree given by America as a return gift for the cherry trees in 1912. (ハナミズキ).

My video of the Japan-US Cherry Blossom Centennial ceremony in Adachi Ward, Tokyo.

Local taiko drummers also performed well after the ceremony. They were part of the Goshiki Sakura Festival.

These cherry trees are from America. The park has 29 species of cherry blossoms. Most of them, like these Kanzan trees, bloom later than the Somei Yoshino trees.

At this Koryu Kaikan hall in the park, they had an exhibition and slide show lectures.

At this Koryu-kan hall in the park, they had an exhibition and slide show lectures.

Slide show lecture about the US-Japan cherry blossoms.

A goodwill group from Adachi Ward visited Washington, DC for the Cherry Blossom Festival celebrating the centennial.

People who went to the slide show lectures received a small gift.

This is a small vase with soil and flower seeds.

"America" cherry trees (similar to Somei Yoshino) from America at the park. Already finished blooming.

About the cherry trees given to the US and the dogwood from the US as a return gift.

"America" cherry trees, from saplings taken from the cherry trees in Washington, DC which originally came from Adachi Ward.

"America" tree tag.

"America" Somei-Yoshino cherry trees from America at the park when in bloom. This was in late March.

"America" Somei-Yoshino cherry trees from America at the park when in bloom. They are planted for a few hundred meters along Shin-Shibakawa River behind the Visitors Center. This was in late March.

"America" Somei-Yoshino cherry trees from America at the park when in bloom. This was in late March.

ID tag for "America" Somei-Yoshino cherry tree from America at the park. It now has a QR code linking to a Japanese webpage explaining the species.

Tulips along the Arakawa River in Adachi Ward, Tokyo. The Adachi Ward logo is on the left with "80" below it to mark the ward's 80th anniversary.

On the right is a cherry blossom design with "100" below it for the centennial of Adachi's sakura gift to Washington, DC.

Tulips with cherry blossom design with "100" below it for the centennial of Adachi's sakura gift to Washington, DC.

Closeup of the tulips.

I love red and white flowers, Japanese symbol of felicitation.

I love red and white flowers.

Tokyo Sky Tree in sight from Adachi Ward along the Arakawa River.

The road leading to Toshi Nogyo Koen Park is lined with many cherry blossom trees.

In April, cherry blossoms of many varieties bloom for about 2 weeks during which they hold the annual Goshiki Sakura Matsuri cherry blossom festival.

Front gate to Toshi Nogyo Park. The Goshiki Cherry Blossoms Festival centers on the weekends while the flowers are in bloom. These photos were taken on April 22, 2012.

This area of Adachi Ward was originally Kohoku Village which was famous for colorful varieties of cherry blossoms. Literally called "goshiki" or five colors.

Map of the Kohoku area.

These cherry trees are from America. The park has 29 species of cherry blossoms. Most of them, like these Kanzan trees, bloom later than the Somei Yoshino trees.

These trees were planted here 30 years ago from American saplings taken from cherry trees which originally came from Adachi Ward in 1912. They are called "homecoming trees" (里帰りの桜).