jeepneyjinggoy

CONVERSATION

The dog that made the world shed tears.
(he's the figure on the right, not the one on the left- that would be this writer/traveler)

A FEW hours of sleep was enough, though I would have loved to linger longer in bed and enjoy the comforts of my upgraded hotel room with a view. But there is a lot of exploring to do in so little time, and time was moving too fast for comfort on this first Tokyo visit.

Boosted after a shot of caffeine, I zoomed out of the room and head off to the next destination on the list - the Shibuya Ward.

Established as one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo in March 15, 1947, Shibuya is another of Tokyo's busiest commercial towns, and is a major destination for fashion and entertainment. It's pretty much like Shinjuku, but the ward is said to be a "newer" version.

So what is it to do in Shibuya?

Opening Tokyo's Handy Guide, the page headlines- "a fashionable area that continues to set the latest trends." Then flows-up with "Shibuya-Harajuku-Omotesando. This stimulating town continues to set the trends of the young generation at a fast rate."

A fashionista's destination! Though I may not be as young, I was excited to dive into this part of town and get there via the train, my first ride in Tokyo.

Tip: Be discreet in taking photos inside the train. You will look suspicious.

For example....

All heads suddenly turned the other way...(in the train heading to Shibuya)

The first order of the day was to visit the dog that made me cry (clearly why I avoid drama movies.) It's an unbelievable story of loyalty with a heart-wrenching end. The exit of the Shibuya JR Line train station was where Hachiko waited for his master's return.

Tip: If you can't find your exit, worry not, jut say the magic word- "Hachiko?" Any Japanese, English speaking or not, can show the way to Hachiko Square, now a famous meeting point in the area.

After giving the famous dog (the statue. The body is in the National Science Museum) a pat, it was time to see the rest of the ward.

Shibuya has its share of must-sees. Aside from its famous "scramble crossing" (an X shaped pedestrian crossing) across the Hachiko Square, there are the green areas-- the Yoyogi Park, once a training base for the Japanese Imperial Army, and a venue of the 1964 Summer Olympics; and, the Meiji Jingu, a 1920 Shinto shrine dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken built amidst a solemn 700,000 square-meter forest with a hundred thousand trees. Then there are the you-need-lots-of-green areas- the ward's fashion centers: Shibuya 109, Shibuya Center Town, Takeshita Dori, the apparel design district of Sendagaya, and the luxury shops at Omotesando.

If there is another facet of Shibuya that is as renowned as Hachiko globally, it is Harajuku's unique street fashion, a style that made the area a fashion capital of the world. It fact, the Harajuku street style, a mesh of many styles from the Gothic Lolita to cosplay, has become an inspiration to several prominent fashion houses and its influences have invaded the international catwalks.

Unfortunately, I didn't witness the animated scene at the Jingu Bridge. Sunday is when these characters show up and socialize all day. But I chanced upon a pictorial on street corner. The person in charge was trying to block the view of bystanders attempting to take photos. Possessive.

Oh well, I can use the pixels someplace else.

Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on July 14, 2011.

The Hachiko Square. Now a very popular meeting point.

Shibuya's famous "scramble crossing" fronting the JR Line train station.

Fashion finds are everywhere in the ward.

Gotcha! (Man on left frame about to block my shot).
Lolitas dressed up for a pictorial.

Photo by Guwashi999

Shibuya crossing when night falls.

CONVERSATION

skyscrapercity.com

CONSIDER your first glimpse of Japan from above a blessing, and the first lesson about the country's culture.

Japan's panoramic view through the plane's peephole is extraordinary-manicured patches of green, wide verdant pastures with seemingly orchestrated components, nothing is off. If a first-time visitor's thoughts bear any apprehensions, the calming view will erase them. I speak from experience.

Verdant & manicured, nothing is off. A bird's eye-view of Narita, Japan.

The reverence for nature is deeply rooted in the Japanese culture. This is the influence of Shintoism, an ancient spirituality primarily based on deeds rather than creeds. Kami-no-michi, or Shinto, places importance in nature, purity and tranquility, and one of its four affirmations is "Love of nature"-- nature is sacred, to be in contact with nature is to be in contact with the gods.

Knowing this, it was not surprising to me that even in the highly urbanized, modern day Japan where every square inch of land is precious, gardens share equal space with the skyscrapers. The natural green provides a stark but calming contrast to the man-made grey.

Amidst Shinjuku's trade and commerce is an oasis where the world-weary businessmen escape to - the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden.

Considered to be one of the most important gardens from the Meiji era, it blends the three distinct styles of the French formal garden, English landscape garden and Japanese traditional garden in a 58.3-hectare expanse. The property it sits on used to belong to a feudal lord, a daimyo of the Edo era, Lord Naito.

fotopedia.com

It was the imperial garden for the royalty in the early century. It took four years to implement before it was completed in 1906 and no less than the Emperor Meiji was present during the its opening.

Sadly, war destroyed the garden in 1945. Soon enough, the garden was rebuilt and reopened to the public on May 21, 1949 as "National Park Shinjuku Imperial Gardens." In January 2001, it came under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Environment, and "Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden" became its official name.

landingaway.blogspot.com

With horticultural work being conducted in the greenhouses since 1892, Shinjuku Gyoen's present greenhouse complex stocks more than 2,400 species of tropical and subtropical plants on permanent display. The towering Himalayan cedars, cypresses, tulip trees and other plane trees that were first planted in Japan in the Imperial Gardens are among the 20,000 trees that grow in Shinjuku Gyoen.

But clearly the most popular are the cherry trees and the famous Sakura, Japan's unofficial national flower. The garden has more than a thousand cherry tree varieties that bloom on separate, but continuous period, -- the Shidare or Weeping Cherry in late March, the Somei or Tokyo Cherry into April and the Kanzan Cherry towards late April. It is due to the "long" Sakura period, thanks to the early and late blooming trees, that Shinjuku Gyoen has become favorite and recommended spot for the hanami, the traditional cherry blossom viewing.

kmkrentz.blogspot.com

Shinjuku Gyoen is a favorite & recommended spot for the hanami, the traditional cherry blossom viewing.

Shinjuku Gyoen National Park provides solace to those who seek it. The soft hues of the cherry blossoms in spring, the viridescence of summer, the golden shades of autumn or the pristine white of winter, the rich colors of the park can be stimulating as well as relaxing. Perhaps most importantly, it is the Japanese reverence to nature that makes the Universe give back the energy that rejuvenates the citizens of this commerce driven metropolis, no matter the stature, no matter the season.