Superb Sakura 🌸 & Shrine Walk on "Left Bank" of Sumida River- Eat, Drink, Play!

YES!
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Cherry blossoms are blooming, but why struggle with thousands of other people seeking Sakura on Sunday in over-crowded Tokyo parks?
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Bring your friends & join us for a relaxing cherry blossom walking tour of many beautiful places, including lovely shrines, temples & gardens on the quiet side of the Sumida River!
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Before the 20th century & up until the war years, the area North and East of the Sumida river, (including Mukojima & the infamous Yoshiwara area) was a popular playground for people of old Edo & Tokyo to relax, lay on the grass, go fishing, enjoy picnics, sit in a cafe', visit a Geisha house & so forth!
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Although wartime firebombing severely damaged these neighborhoods, many beautiful & remarkable things have survived & flourished!
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There are many wonderful antique homes, parks, temples & shrines & even Geisha houses to be seen in this area which help us to understand the deeper history and culture of this great city!
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We enjoyed a tour on the East side of the Sumida River last year, discovering many marvelous places, including the old-fashioned shop which invented delicious "Sakura Mochi!"
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This is a walking tour featuring visits to a number of very special places in the Eastern Sumida-gawa / Mukojima area, across the river from world-famous Asakusa, at a pleasant distance from the densely populated, rather touristy areas on the West side...
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We will walk along the old main road during the Edo period & reflect how it was back in the day. I learned about this area through history walking tour (A paid tour charges over 7000 yen per person- very popular among Japanese nationals!) to get further knowledge, I studied further.
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The route we are planning to walk is:
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Meeting Point: Tobu Skytree Line Kanegafuchi station
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Umewakazuka Mokuboji Sumidagawa shrine.
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Shirahige Shinto shrine.
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Beautiful "Mukojima-Hyakkaen Gardens" flower park.
"Mukōjima-Hyakkaen Garden is an urban garden located in Sumida, Tokyo. The garden was created by a wealthy merchant, and is different from daimyō gardens, and therefore it not a "traditional Japanese garden" in the proper sense of the term. It is the only surviving flower garden from the Edo period." - Wikipedia (Small admission fee)
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Maybe we'll stop and eat soba for lunch!
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(We'll also visit a few AMAZING traditional sweet-shops by the riverside!)
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=> Chomeiji Kofukuji Temple
=> Mimeguri-jinja Shinto Shrine.
=> Ushijima-jinja Shinto Shrine!
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This ancient shrine, established in the year 860 features a rare "Miwa-Torii" entry arch which combines three into one & enshrines the Kami (Shinto god) Susanoo no Mikoto. Today there are three principal deities enshrined in the shrine. It is believed that if you are sick, rubbing the same spot on the Nade-ushi (rubbing cow or ox) statue on the shrine's grounds as the affected part of your body will cure your illness!
=> Mito Tokugawa house trail
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Towards the end, we'll come near to Asakusa, close to several train lines.
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We’ll walk a lot, so please wear comfortable shoes, etc! PLEASE bring snacks, obento or a light lunch, and something to drink, but no drunkenness, please!
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Should you have any questions, please contact us!
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I'll be posting more information later, but for now, please save the date for this very enjoyable event!
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NOTE: We work hard to plan interesting events and to guide you to the very best places, so please give generously! (There's no set Meetup fee, but your donations of from￥2000 -￥5000 are much appreciated!)
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KIDS are WELCOME & free to join with a parent!
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We look forward to seeing you & hope you will invite your friends to join this unique experience of traditional Japanese culture!
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IT WILL BE FUN, SO WHY DON'T WE ALL GO?
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~ KERRY D. 🙏🏻😎🌸