Showa Kinen Park, Nishi Tachikawa (December 20th)

Illumination in Showa Kinen Park.

We went to see the Christmas illumination in Showa Kinen Park, Nishi Tachikawa.
There were lots of people and we saw some fireworks before we left there.


When I shook my camera, then the picture turned out to be like this. Interesting.

Ogouchi Dam, Okutama (December 7th)

Ogouchi Dam, aka Okutama-ko (lake) in Okutama.

We went to Okutama to see if any fall color could be seen still. When we got to the Ogouchi Dam, which is also known as Okutama-ko (lake), we found candle ice on the ground. It was really cold, but the sky was really clear and blue. However, most of the leaves of the trees in the mountains were already gone. After that, we went to the hot spring near the Okutama station.


Sunshine on the lake.


Candle ice... It is winter already...






Beautiful blue sky.

Sourousen-en Garden and Tonogayato Garden (December 6th)

Sourousen-en Garden in Koganei.

We went to Tonogayato Garden in Kokubunji by bicycle to see the fall color. On the way to there we found a garden called Sourousen-en. We have never been to or heard of the garden before, but the view from the entrance gate looked pretty nice and interesting, so we went in the garden. The garden had nice big maple trees and we saw the beautiful colors of the leaves brightened up by the morning sunshine. In Tonogayato Garden it was not as good as last year, but we could see some nice maple trees.


In the Sourousen-en Garden.


In the Sourousen-en Garden.


In the Sourousen-en Garden.


In the Sourousen-en Garden.


In the Sourousen-en Garden.


In the Sourousen-en Garden.


In the Sourousen-en Garden.


In the Sourousen-en Garden.
It has a pond, too.


In the Tonogayato Garden.


In the Tonogayato Garden.


In the Tonogayato Garden.


In the Tonogayato Garden.


In the Tonogayato Garden.


In the Tonogayato Garden.

Jindai Botanical Garden (November 30th)

Colorful maple leaves.

We went to Jindai Botanical Garden in Chofu city to see if the maple garden there turned into autumn colors. The leaves were beautiful in the morning sunshine. We had lunch at one of the Soba restaurants near the Jindaiji temple. Then we went back to the garden again and checked the maple garden in the sunshine from the different direction.











Miscanthus sinensis (Susuki)




Tibouchina urvilleana (Shikon Nobotan)

Sawai and Mitake (November 22nd)

Blue Sky and Red Maple

We went to the Sawai and Mitake area today. The first Okutama Holiday Special was filled with people and we had to keep standing up all the way, so we got a little tired, but as soon as we got off the train at the Sawai station, we felt nice and cool fresh air and really enjoyed it.
It was too early for the Sake tasting place to open, so we walked around the area first. Nice fall colors are here and there and we even found a flower of violet on the way back to the brewery. I had Amazake first and then taste a small cup of Sake. Then walked by the Tama river and enjoyed the beautiful maples and the Ginkgo tree.


View from the bridge near Ozawa brewery.


Viola grypoceras (Tachitsubo Sumire)


Looks like an old Japanese painting.








Shiny seeds of reeds.


The Ginkgo Tree at Mitake.


The Ginkgo Tree at Mitake.


The Ginkgo Tree at Mitake.

Mt. Mitake and Mt. Hinode (November 2nd)

Red maple at Mt. Hinode.

We went to Mt. Mitake and then to Mt. Hinode today. It was still a little too early for the fall colors, but we could find lots of Swertia japonica (Senburi) at Mt. Hinode and also practically all the way down to Tsurutsuru Onsen hot spring of Hinode town. This plant used to be used as a stomach medicine because it is really bitter. We also found quite a few Tripterospermum japonicum (Tsuru Rindou) and Gentiana scabra var. buergeri (Rindou).


Tripterospermum japonicum (Tsuru Rindou)


Tripterospermum japonicum (Tsuru Rindou)


Tripterospermum japonicum (Tsuru Rindou)
This plant has cute flowers and also lovely red fruits.


Gentiana scabra var. buergeri (Rindou)


Swertia japonica (Senburi)
It is in the same family with Rindou, but the size is much smaller.
Compare with the size of these ants.


Swertia japonica (Senburi)
Cute stary-shaped flowers.


Ainsliaea apiculata (Kikkou Haguma)
This one is also so tiny flower that almost all of the people wouldn't stop to see it. However, it has interesting flower shape.