This is an authorized translation in English of a post in French by @japon: Hama Rikyu, un parc exceptionnel au coeur de Tokyo
Remember that the person that speaks here is NOT me, Vincent Celier (@vcelier), but @japon, a French guy.
Hama Rikyu, an exceptional park in the heart of Tokyo
Continuation of the visit of South East of Tokyo with a large park: Hama Rikyu. When we think of Tokyo, we imagine a huge city with its skyscrapers. This is the case in some parts but it would be forgetting several large parks that allow to escape the tumult and urban unrest.
When I arrived in front of the park, I noticed automatic terminals. You have to buy a ticket: only 300 yen it's cheap to pay for the quality of what I'm going to see. I take my ticket and advance to the entrance. There are wide grids, but they are open. And nobody to verify that each visitor has bought a ticket. Another proof of the civility and honesty shown by the Japanese.
In front of me are wide tree-lined avenues and a few small traditional wooden houses (which unfortunately cannot be visited). But the most interesting part of the park is a little further. A large pond, surrounded by pines cut into plateaus, and in the middle the Tea House Nakajima.
You can access the tea house via a wooden bridge. At the entrance, a small Zen garden with its rocks, lantern and white gravel finely raked. A Japanese dressed in traditional kimono greets me and invites me to enter.
I remove my shoes and leave them at the entrance, in the storage provided for this purpose. Inside the tea house, a single large room covered with tatami mats. There are some people, Japanese and foreigners. Everyone is sitting on the floor. No chair or table. I am invited to settle in a corner.
This is the perfect opportunity, I order a matcha green tea. A leaflet (in Japanese and English) explains how to drink according to tradition. Take the bowl in both hands, rotate it a quarter of a turn, bring it to your lips, and put it down.
This tea has the reputation of being very bitter, and it is with a little apprehension that I swallow the first sip. Good surprise, it's very good. During its preparation, the matcha tea is whipped up to become almost a foam, I do not have the impression to drink a liquid.
I try to apply myself to drinking tea properly. The place is really nice (even if sitting on the floor is not very comfortable). In front of the house, a large terrace overlooks the lake. As I'm in socks, I'm offered a pair of sandals to go on this terrace.
My shoe size isr 43, I have the heels protruding from the back ;-)
The spectacle is amazing. I was in a traditional teahouse, and in the background, the skyscrapers offer a striking contrast to Japan. This landscape could sum up Japan all by itself: tradition and modernity. The two worlds do not clash but live in harmony. The Japanese have the ability to take the best of everything and integrate it into their culture.
Once out of the tea house, I finish the walk in the park. I notice a small hill, a bench is located at the top. I tell myself that this must allow to have a nice point of view. I climb the stairs and sit down for a few minutes. A woman arrives too and settles next to me.
I tell her then in Japanese that it is very beautiful. She looks at me, surprised to see a stranger speak her language. We begin the conversation about the park and what we see around. And then we stay for a moment just to admire the tea house, the lake, the park and the skyscrapers in the background. Hama Rikyu Park remains one of my most beautiful memories of Tokyo.
-- @japon
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Japan is a very beautiful country))
Outstanding photography dear sir @vcelier also place is beautiful i think japan is the most beautiful place in da world
Thanks for sharing with us ur lovely post
Am new to steemit Seeing all these gives me joy nice post as a matter of fact it just made my first posthttps://steemit.com/introduceyourself/@mikeok123/meet-the-versatile-man-new-to-steemit-programmer-singer-poet-nigerian-89691bb870d1c
I aspire to be like you soon
wow it sounds so beautiful I want to be traveling tokyo like you. thank you for your post and hopefully I can see your post always.
eye-catching and wonderful travel
Nice one sir
Super
@vcelier
the scenery and the building structure is very nice, I really want to be able to visit there.
Re-Steemd
Japan is really nice place.. it is in the top of my bucket list :D
TY for translating to makes us readers understand his story :D
your post are perfect
A very beautiful and truly rewarding experience, and it looks like a japanese garden garden is fantastic, a great and accurate shot, There is no other word than cool.
Now I know about japanese tradition, by reading your article my insights become increasing. Thank you...
So beautiful
very nice pic
Wow nice my friends @vcelier
regards Steemit i am a newcomer in this platform. hopefully we can make the best for others
Great post, I'll have to put this place on my bucket list.
very beautiful
Very nice
Thank you for translating that awesome post! It definitely shows a diffrent side of Tokyo than what I am used to see in the media.
Yes, when you travel, you always experience new, wonderful impressions. Nice that you share this here with us.
Beautiful scenery with skyscrapers in the background. Japan is on my bucket list of countries to visit.
I am soo jealous of you right now. Its my dream to one day visit Japan. thanks for sharing your experiences via this platform. I can't wait to follow more of stuff!
It was my dream during a long time. And one day I decided to go. It's up to you to make your dream come true. I'm glad to see that you like my travel diary ;-)
Wow. those pictures are amazing! i want to visit japan! i love japan since years..... i hope i will be there in the future.
I think it should be consider as of the best country to tour
Nice post
A place to visit if one finds oneself in Japan. I thought such beautiful places can no longer be found in hi rising cities. Thanks for sharing.
I do not like old architecture, especially old town houses, but I really like modern buildings combined with areas full of beautiful nature.
This looks exactly like place I would like to visit :)
It's not close though. The distance between the Czech Republic and Japan is 9000 kilometers.
No Doubt Japan its a great traditional country thanks to share your experience
I think it was a good experience. The picture is beautiful. I will follow you!
what a beautiful scenery. Really awesome.
I love the city Tokyo,Japan is a very beautiful country.the surrounding and everything is so beautiful,not to talk about their buildings,so nice and beautiful.i wish i will be there to witness it with my naked eye.
Fantastic shots @vcelier. Thank you for sharing. I will make it to Japan one of these days and I wish to also share photos of my adventures there.
One goal in my life is to have an old japanese style house where I can relax my tired mind after work. (And a big tiddy goth gf because why not _(:3」∠) )
resteemed! yokoso japan! :D
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