Tokyo Art, Temple, Shrine, Museum & Garden Lovers

Join us during Golden Week on KODOMO NO HI, or Children's Day, for a wonderful afternoon of both festival-going, and flower appreciation as we visit Kameido Katori Shrine's Annual "Kachiya Victory Arrow" Parade, and Kameido Tenjin Shrine's wonderful Wisteria Festival!
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This annual event commemorates Fujiwara no Hidesato's victory over Heian-era rebel, Taira No Masakado, whose ferocious, Chiba-based rebellion against Kyoto's imperial rule contributed to many supernatural legends about him!
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"Kameido" itself is a famously ancient place, where many centuries ago, an "ido", (fresh- water well) was discovered on a turtle (kame) shaped island surrounded by swamps. Over time, the flowing Kame-ido became an important refuge for travelers, and the town of KAMEIDO was born!
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Today, the "Kame-ido" well is enshrined at Katori-jinja, and we'll visit that legendary place!
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Kameido Katori-jinja has its origins in the year 665, during the reign of Emperor Tenji, when a samurai, Fujiwara no Kamatari, delivered his fighting sword in a ceremony to transfer the tutelary deity from ancient Katori-Jingu, the main Katori Shrine in Chiba!
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During the Tengyo era (938-947), when Taira no Masakado revolted, Heian court emissary Fujiwara no Hidesato prayed here for victory before suppressing Taira.
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Dedicating his bow and arrow in gratitude, Hidesato’s victory formed the origin of the Kachiya (“bow-and-arrow”) Festival, which has been held continuously for 1,000 years.
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Honored by famous shogun such as Minamoto no Yoritomo and Tokugawa Ieyasu, the ancestral spirits of Katori Taisha have been worshipped by people training in martial arts. Now honored as the “god of sports promotion”, the shrine gathers many athletes and related people who come to pray for victory.
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After the Samurai Parade, we'll take a walk to nearby Kameido Tenjin Shrine, famed for it's elegant shrine buildings, beautiful arched vermillion bridges, ponds filled with koi (carp) and kame (turtles) where lovely plum trees bloom in February, and fragrant Wisteria and bright Azaleas bloom in May and June, it's considered the best place in Tokyo to view the fragrant purple, white & even rare, yellow wisteria, as immortalized by Hiroshige in his famous "100 views of Mount Fuji"!
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Dedicated to Tenjin-no-Kami, the patron deity of students and scholars, Kameido Shrine is one of the great historic scenic places of Edo, immortalized in poems and many great artworks!
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This is also a popular place to ask Tenjin-no-kami's blessing for the best grades, or for students to be accepted by their preferred schools!
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We'll Meet at Sumiyoshi Station, and walk from there, passing through lovely Sarue Park, as well as visiting Kamede-Jinja, where the Victory parade will start. We'll also stop by the Edo Kiriko Showroom, a kind of museum of beautiful traditional cut-glass ware, where interesting souvenirs of the area can also be found.
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After the shrine visit, we can take an easy walk towards Tokyo Skytree to visit Tokyo's iconic "Tobacco and Salt Museum" for an exhibition of gorgeous Edo-period Men's accessories such as "Sagemono" (Things which hang from the kimono obi, or sash), such as Netsuke, Inro, Tobako-ire, Tonkatsu, & Kiseru, all elegant, but essential items for an Edo-era man's smoking enjoyment!
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We'll also stop by the amazing "Morihachi-Honpo" wagashi (Japanese sweets) shop, which is housed in a building which was copied from one of the turrets of old Edo-Castle! This traditional sweetshop specializes in Kuri monaka, a type of molded biscuit filled with chestnut cream, and other delicious flavors!
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NOTE: The festival is FREE, but we work hard to plan interesting events & guide you to interesting places, so please give generously! (Suggested: Students, Seniors or Disabled: ￥500-2000, others, pay: ￥2000-5000, please!
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KIDS ARE WELCOME & free to join with a parent!
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This is a non-smoking meetup. If you must, please do so only in proper smoking areas.
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PLEASE BRING: Comfortable shoes, a hat, a drink, snacks & a SMILE!
Have an early lunch, bring food, or buy festival treats from the vendors along the way or at the shrine!
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Engage in language and culture exchange, experience the essence of Japanese festivals & create lasting memories at this dynamic event while mingling with friendly people in a welcoming atmosphere!
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Thanks!
Your Meetup organizer ~ Kerry D. 🌞
PLEASE NOTE: We'd enjoy having your friends come along, so PLEASE ask them to JOIN our Meetup group!

SEE: 10,000 gorgeous Hydrangeas and many Irises at 本土寺 Hondoji, or "Ajisai-dera" Temple in historic Matsudo!
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"Even in summer's tedium, my heart is moved; The moon mirrored in the dewdrops on four hydrangea petals." ~ Fujiwara no Shunzei (1114-1204 )
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Want to see Ajisai, (Hydrangeas) purple, white & gold Shobu (Irises), plus wonderful antique temples, shrines & elegant monuments in a beautiful, natural setting?
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You don't need to visit Kamakura to enjoy the most remarkable flowers blooming this time of year! (In fact, Matsudo's 13th Century Hondo-ji Temple is nicer in many ways than tourist-choked Hasedera in Kamakura!)
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"One of the best hydrangea gardens anywhere is hidden in a small town near Matsudo City in Chiba Prefecture. Within walking distance from JR Kita-kogane station (JR 北小金駅), Hondoji Temple (本土寺) come to life on June each year with its superb view of hydrangea forest, a suitably mysterious moss garden & a five-tier pagoda, that is said to house one of only a few pieces of Buddha's bone in Japan!"
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"Enjoy the flowers & smaller shrines in the complex. The complex has other places of interest, including a Jizō shrine, an Inari shrine & a Benzaiten temple, but its crowning glory is still the hydrangea forest & the iris pond. In June, they cover almost all the precincts of the temple, creating a really awesome sight." ~ Trip Advisor
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We'll visit the beautiful, highly photogenic temple and gardens, and possibly several ancient Shinto shrines in a lovely forested area which preserves the remains of Kogane castle, all part of this wonderful historic area of Chiba!
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We'll also tell you of the legend of Kishibojin, an ancient demon-queen whose heart was transformed, and she became the Goddess who protects children! (This Goddess is honored at every Nichiren-sect temple)
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https://www.matsudo-kankou.jp/oyaguchirekishikouen/
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This historic temple has many charms, besides the gardens, such as a superb 5 story pagoda, magnificent temple buildings, monuments, statues, stones & ponds which would make any true Japanese culture & art lover, or photographer swoon!
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Admission to temple and gardens is￥500. Less for disabled / over 65.
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NOTE: We work hard to create nice Meetups & make everyone feel welcome, so your contributions of anything from: ￥1000 to ￥5000 are much appreciated!
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(Tours from AirBnB, Viator & others cost from ￥7,000 to ￥14,000 per person, so this is actually a GREAT deal!)
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A comfortable walk along the sacred road leading from the station brings us past many wonderful open-air shops selling an amazing variety of traditional sweets, pickles, crackers, rare & unique flowers, plus handcrafted items of many kinds.
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There's a inexpensive, open-air soba shop along the temple road where we've had delicious lunches on past visits, so perfect for a Meetup meal, or you may bring your own bento lunch & eat there too!
(Yes, there is a convenience store by the station)
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It's an easy ride from central Tokyo or anyplace on the Chiyoda or Joban Lines. Just 30 minutes on the Joban Line from JR Ueno station & 50 minutes from Kasumigaseki by Metro Chiyoda Line, these trains all go directly to Kita-Kogane station where we'll meet!
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(People coming from Chiba can travel by any train or bus going to Matsudo Station & there, easily transfer!)
It's a wonderful place to experience, so why don't we all go?
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👉🏻 Being late, or a "no-show" hurts your fellow members & organizers, so please be considerate. Walking shoes (no high heels, please) a hat, umbrella & insect repellent are sometimes very helpful!
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YES, KIDS ARE WELCOME & COME FOR FREE WITH A PARENT!
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Your comments & suggestions for meetups are always welcome!
Thanks!
Your organizer, Kerry D. 👦🏻
P.S. LET'S KEEP OUR GROUP GROWING by INVITING YOUR FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS & FAMILY MEMBERS TO JOIN THIS MEETUP GROUP!
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