Bloom of lotus in Shinobazu pond in Ueno
1. Today's Walking Course
Today, I will go to Shinobazu pond in Ueno to enjoy the bloom of lotus. I will start at Ueno-HIROKOJI Station.
2. Today's Photographies
Now I am in Ueno-HIROKOJI street. The greenery area is Ueno park.
Before going to the pond, I will stop by Mihashi, a famous sweet shop. Mihashi was open in 1948 and Anmitu, Japanese traditonal sweet is very popular.
That is Anmitsu. Anmitsu literally means Azuki bean’s paste with brown sugar syrup. My Anmitsu also include matcha ice-cream, mandarin orange and agar. Japanese poeple often eat Anmitu in summer to keep out the heat.
After eating the sweet, I finally arrived at Shinobazu pond.
Wow, lotuses are bloom everywhere!
They are really beautiful.
I will go to that temple over there. The temple is called Bentendo and localed in the midlle of the pond.
I finally got the temple, it is bigger than I expected.
Next, I will go up to the Ueno park.
Here is Kiyomizu Kannon-do in the Ueno park.
There is a very unique pine tree here. I can see the temple in the pond in the circle of the branch!
3. History
Ueno used to be the site of big temple called Kaneiji which was established at the begining of the 17th century. Since there were a lot of beautiful architecture and nature in this place, many people visited mainly for sightseeing. Ueno-HIROKOJI street toward Ueno was one of the widest road in Edo era from the 17th century to the 19 century. The following picture is about the street. Many people with red umbrella are heading to Ueno in the picture as well.
As for Shinobazu pond, the small island with a temple called Bentendo where I visited this time was created when Ueno Kaneiji temple was established in the 17th century. The pond has been a famous spot for lotus flowers.
Kiyomizu Kannon-do where you can see the unique branch of pine tree was a part of buildings owned by Kaneiji temple. This unique pine tree was depicted in the picture in the 19th century as below.
After the Meiji Restoration in the 19 century, Ueno became the public park and many museums and zoo were established. Now, Ueno is still one of the most famous leisure spot in Japan.
4. Information
・Closest stations to Shinobazu pond are Ueno-Hirokoji Station, Ginza Line and Ueno Station, Keihin-tohoku line.
・The time of lotus flowering is the middle of July to the end of August. Lotus basically bloom only in the morning.
・ Mihashi, a sweet shop is open from 10:30am to 21:30pm (last order is 21:00). Anmitsu with matcha ice-cream that I ordered is 650 yen.
