Chuo-ku Tourism Association correspondent blog

Hello, my name is Saru.

On the 15th, after completing an errand at Kyobashi and walking along the back street, I saw people with red and white pamphlets. When I look around again, the red flag and the poster were everywhere. It says "Sukiyoro, the city of art Tokyo Art Antique". Kyobashi / Nihonbashi is an art city known to those who know it, and I remembered that the Tokyo Art Antique is held once a year as a local event where you can easily experience art. I was hesitant for a moment, with almost no connection with painting or antique, but as a correspondent, I went to an antique shop called "Yarai deka". There were old Jomon pottery and Sue pottery as vases, and I was surprised that there was such a way to use it. After that, about 10 stores saw exhibitions of cat paintings, ancient Orient art, Kitaoji Rosanjin exhibition, ceramics and pottery. Of course, there are items for sale, and there are special sales only during this period. Last but not least, "Maison Don Cat" featured paintings, old Dutch tiles, Kutani porcelain, etc. on the theme of living things, and gave me a polite explanation. Rieko Kawabata, the creator of Kutani porcelain's work and painter, came to hear the story. Kawabata's work is a wonderful composition with delicate lines and points, vivid colors and harmonious. It seems to draw on the basic form painted with glaze and baked, but I am surprised to draw such fine lines one by one with a brush. He seems to burn each color, and even small ones will spend a considerable amount of time to complete. On this day, I was able to go only a few of the nearly 90 participating stores, but I had a good time. I think there are many people who find it a little difficult to enter a gallery or an antique shop. As with me, I look around this time and think that the threshold has become much lower. (The photo is a work with Rieko Kawabata)

Hello, my name is Saru.

Do you know that the entrance to the sea of Tokyo is in Chuo-ku? That's the Harumi Passenger Terminal I'd like to introduce this time. Large passenger ships entering the port of Tokyo are berthing here. In addition, foreign sailing ships and warships enter the port and open to the public, and the news of Antarctic observation ships depart from here to the South Pole. If you like a ship, it would be nice to check the information on entering the port on the Tokyo Port website.

The 69th Tokyo Minato matsuri will be held at Harumi Passenger Ship Terminal on May 27 and 28 next month. The port of Tokyo opened as an international port on May 20, 1941. Originally, the area around Harumi was the deepest part of Tokyo Bay, and since it was at the mouth of the Sumida River, it was shallow and could not enter large ships. I heard that the Tokyo Port was constructed because the Great Kanto Earthquake did not allow ships loaded with relief supplies to enter. Minato matsuri is held every year at this time to commemorate the opening of Tokyo Port. It seems that the contents have not been announced yet in addition to the "Firefighting Pageant of Water" by the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, but in the past year, stalls, product exhibitions in the Izu Islands and various places, concerts, release of training boats and fire boats, flea markets, etc. You can enjoy all day. In addition, free trial boarding such as a restaurant boat and a Tokyo Port Viewpoint tour by bus are also planned, and we are looking for applicants. (Application deadline: effective postmark on April 17, the 69th Tokyo Minato matsuri website for details.)

It's such a Harumi cruise ship terminal, but it may disappear in another few years. This is because the number of cruise ships around the world is getting bigger and bigger, making it impossible to pass under the Rainbow Bridge, and in recent years the shores of luxury cruise ships have decreased significantly. In addition, an athlete village was created in Harumi at the upcoming Tokyo Olympics, and it seems that it is related to the subsequent use of the site.

By all means, why don't you go to the Harumi Passenger Terminal, where the spacious "space" still remains? The photo shows the Minato matsuri in 2013.

My name is Saru, who has been a correspondent since April. Thank you very much.

By the way, the first article of the seasonal pattern introduces beautiful places with cherry blossoms. The location is Shinkawa Park, located on the Sumida River terrace to Chuo-ohashi Bridge, downstream of the Eitai Bridge on the Sumida River. Cherry trees are lined up along the terrace. You can also see many cherry blossoms blooming at Ishikawajima and Tsukudajima Park on the opposite bank, and the world of Rentaro Taki's song "Flower" begins in "Spring Urara no Sumida River" spreads. This area is the mouth of the Sumida River, the old Edo Minato, and the Sumida River is the largest place. It is a place that is often used for TV locations, probably because you can enjoy the openness of the waterside. Recently, the stage of "March Lion", which has been made into manga, anime, and movies, is modeled around here.　

By the way, cherry blossoms in the daytime are good, but the photo I posted is Shinkawa Park at night. At night, look at the illuminated Eitai Bridge and Chuo-ohashi Bridge to the left and right, and you can enjoy the cherry blossoms at night as houseboats travel along the river surface against the backdrop of high-rise apartments in River City on Tsukuda Island. You can also see the sky tree in the upper reaches. At this time, the members of the company and children's association seemed to be excited by cherry blossom viewing.

It's a little far from the main road, so it's quiet. It is safe because temporary toilets are also installed during the cherry blossom viewing season. This year was a little blessed with the weather and it was a weekend that was not a sunny day for cherry blossom viewing, so why not take a short stop after work? As we began to scatter, cherry blossom petals were floating on the river surface. Perhaps because of the cold days, the cherry blossoms still seem to have a little more, and it seems that you can expect to be surrounded by a blizzard.