Image search results - "ike" - JAPAN PHOTOS by Philbert Ono

Image search results - "ike"

Seibu Ikebukuro Line train station entrance at Ikebukuro, Tokyo. It takes about 90 min. from Ikebukuro to Yokoze Station via Tokkyu express train. Cheaper trains take 2 hours.

Weeping cherry and Senzoku-Ike Pond. Near Senzoku-Ike Station on the Tokyu Ikegami Line from Gotanda.

Senzoku-Ike Pond has a walking path which goes almost completely around. Only 1.2 km.

Senzoku-Ike Pond and cherry blossoms.

Map of pond

Bridge

Hachimangu Shrine torii

Hachimangu Shrine

Hachimangu Shrine. Do not climb on the horse.

Chichibu Station on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line 西武池袋線　秩父駅

"Senzoku" means "wash feet." One legend says that Nichiren washed his feet in the pond.

Mt. Mitake is one of Tokyo's easily accessible peaks via cable car. But it still requires a good deal of climbing up slopes and steps. You can also hike to adjacent Mt. Hinode-yama. Great daytrip getaway from Tokyo's concrete jungle.Getting off the train at Mitake Station on the JR Ome Line. I wasn't the only one who decided it was a good day to hike up Mitake. 御岳駅

Seibu Ikebukuro Line train at Chichibu Station

The area with the cherry trees is called Sakurayama.

Mitake Station on the JR Ome Line. 御岳駅

Chichibu Station platform on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line

Nakamise shopping arcade at Chichibu Station 仲見世

Bentenjima, a small peninsula connected by a bridge.

Mitake Station on the JR Ome Line. 御岳駅

Chichibu Station

The pond is also depicted in woodblock prints such as by Hiroshige.

Bus stop for cable car station.

Bus for cable car station.

Cable car station.

Welcome to Mt. Mitake

Bridge to Bentenjima.

Cable car for Mt. Mitake.

570 yen one way. There's also a lift for an extra 100 yen. No one rides the lift.

Sakurayama with hanami pinickers.

Cable car to Mt. Mitake

Mitake-san Station for cable car

Hanami at Senzoku-Ike

Lookout deck near cable car station

This is where the path around the lake ends.

View from lookout deck on Mt. Mitake, Tokyo

Senzoku-Ike Station on the Tokyo Ikegami Line. THe train line was built in 1928.

Senzoku-ike station platform

Mt. Hinode-yama which is next to Mt. Mitake.

Tokyu Ikegami Line train

Lift station in middle (very short distance) which no one rides.

Welcome Gate. Everyone goes through here instead and walk toward the top.

Back of welcome gate.

Torii ahead. Mt. Mitake is topped with a Shinto shrine.

Torii

Back of torii

Hailstones in Feb.

Hinode-yama, my target after Mt. Mitake.

Bird house

Mt. Mitake Visitors Center where you can get maps and hiking advice.

Inside Visitors Center

Old minka house on Mt. Mitake, Tokyo

Mitake-san Youth Hostel. The mountain has many lodges and inns.

Slope up

Thatched roof

Mt. Mitake, Tokyo

Veranda

Tree designated as a Natural Monument. Almost dead in Feb. though.

Souvenir shops and restaurants

Steps toward Musashi-Mitake Shrine

More steps

Lots of stone monuments (not gravestones)

More monuments

More steps (rest time)

More steps...

Oh my God, more steps...

Musashi-Mitake Shrine

Musashi-Mitake Shrine, Tokyo 武蔵御嶽神社

Musashi-Mitake Jinja 武蔵御嶽神社

The shrine buildings at rear.

View from the shrine, not much.

But there was one clear pocket of scenery.

Omikuji

Treasure House 宝物殿

Musashi-Mitake Shrine, Tokyo

Going down

Turn left for Mt. Hinode-yama

Cable car station peak.

The torii which we passed through.

Wooden cart wheels are a common sight.

Trail to Mt. Hinode-yama. Takes about 40 min. from Mt. Mitake.

Deep forest

Roots

Torii

Take a left here.

Hiking guide

Roots in stone

Steps

Boundary between Ome city (Mt. Mitake) and Hinode-machi town. Photos of Mt. Hinode-yama continue here.

Way to Aoike Blue Pond.

There's a narrow lookout deck along the Ao-Ike pond.

Sign says "Ao Ike" (青池) or Blue Pond, one of the 12 Juniko Lakes.

Ao Ike (青池) Blue Pond is perhaps the most famous of the twelve Juniko Lakes. Easily accessible.

Ao Ike (青池) Blue Pond, one of the 12 Juniko Lakes

Ao Ike is certainly a beautiful blue.

Oizumi ga Ike pond at Motsuji temple, in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture. World Heritage Site.

Motsuji's Hondo hall on the right as seen from across the pond.

Seibu Ikebukuro Line train for Hanno at Ikebukuro Station. By express train, it takes less than an hour to Hanno from Ikebukuro. Train fare is 450 yen.

Hanno Station on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line.

In front of Hanno Station on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line.

Ikegami Baien Garden was originally the estate of Kokura Makoto (小倉誠), an owner of a high-class restaurant. After he died, his family donated the estate to Tokyo which later transferred it to Ota Ward.

Entrance to Ikegami Baien plum tree garden which opened in Aug. 1978. Admission is only 100 yen. The garden is operated by Ota Ward.

Excellent sloping garden boasting over 360 plum blossom trees amid numerous azalea bushes. Near Nishi-Magome Station on the Toei Asakusa Line.

The garden is open from 9 am to 4:30 pm (enter by 4 pm). Closed on Mon. except in Feb. and March.

Most of the plum trees are on this hillside on the left. More trees if you walk further straight.

Ikegami Baien Garden in Ota Ward, Tokyo.

In front of Ikegami Station on the Tokyu Ikegami Line, follow this road for a short walk to Ikegami Honmonji temple.

Way to Ikegami Honmonji Temple. Belonging to the Nichiren Sect, this is one of Tokyo's major temples.

Ikegami Baien Garden, Ota Ward, Tokyo

Somon Gate, the first gate you pass through to enter the temple and one of the few structures which were not destroyed during World War II. 総門

Plum blossoms at Ikegami Baien Garden, Ota Ward, Tokyo

Stone steps to the temple amid cherry blossoms. 此経難持坂

Plum blossoms at Ikegami Baien Garden, Ota Ward, Tokyo

Statue of Nichiren 日蓮聖人像

There are steps to go up the slope of plum trees.

Map of temple grounds. There are both traditional and modern buildings.

Small lookout deck at the top of the hillside of plum trees.

Niomon Gate 仁王門（三門）

Soshido Main Hall, Ikegami Honmonji. The original Main Hall was burned during an bombing raid in April 1945. 大堂（祖師堂）

The hall was reconstructed in 1964 financed by donations from all over Japan. It is a ferro-concrete structure. 大堂（祖師堂）

Incense burner

The plum blossom is Ota Ward's official flower.

The varieties of plum blossoms at Ikegami Baien Garden.

Plum blossoms at Ikegami Baien, Tokyo

Ikegami Baien Garden plum blossoms in Ota, Tokyo.

Ikegami Baien Plum Garden in Tokyo.

Japanese tea ceremony house for rent. 聴雨庵

Walk further into the garden to see a few more plum trees.

About the Suikinkutsu, a water drop harp.

Called a Suikinkutsu, the water drops make a soothing sound like from a koto harp.

Japanese tea ceremony house and Japanese-style room for rent. 清月庵

Remains of a torii that collapsed during the March 11, 2011 earthquake.

大堂（祖師堂）

Inside Soshido Hall, view of left side. 大堂（祖師堂）

Inside Soshido Hall, view of right side. 大堂（祖師堂）

Soshido Hall altar 大堂（祖師堂）

Hanamatsuri, Buddha's birthday on April 8. A small statue of the baby Buddha is in a miniature temple called Hanami-do (花御堂). This is Ikegami Honmonji temple in Tokyo.

Hanamatsuri, Buddha's birthday. When the Buddha was born, he walked seven steps and said, "I am my own Lord through Heaven and Earth," and pointed one hand to Heaven and the other to Earth.

See the baby buddha's hands pointing to Heaven. Sweet tea is poured over a statue of a baby buddha. According to legend, sweet rain (or perfumed water) fell when the Buddha was born.