Around this time last year I was greatly fortunate to spend nine days in Tokyo, acting as curatorial courier for some unique mid 19th Century calotype photographs, which Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution was lending to Tokyo Photographic Art Museum. I had long hoped for an opportunity to visit Japan, and as it happens the trip coincided with my 15th anniversary of employment at the BRLSI Collections and it felt like a nice reward for my service.
Tokyo is an incredible city and it was fascinating to immerse myself in Japanese culture (and food!) for a while. Of course, one can find green spaces and nature in every city and as I had a few free days during exhibition set up, I was able to visit some of the fine historical sites and world class bonsai gardens. I stayed in luxury that I would never normally afford, my hosts were very generous. Here a few of my impressions:
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| The evening view from my hotel room, I was put up at the International House of Japan, an institution created for cultural exchange and built with an extensive (for Tokyo) garden designed by the seventh-generation famous Kyoto landscape artist Ogawa Jihei (also known as Ueji), after the style of the Momoyama Period (late 16th century) or early Edo Period (early 17th century). Each day I enjoyed traditional Japanese breakfast looking out at these gardens. |
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Across Tokyo the Prunus mume was flowering and this was a focal point in the garden.
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| Glimpses of the San'en-zan Zōjō-ji. |
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| A few late Camelia blossoms could still be found |
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| An impressive bronze bell at San'en-zan Zōjō-ji |
Tiles seemingly intended for fern growth, beauty is everywhere in Tokyo
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| Hama-rikyū gardens 1 of 5 |
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| Hama-rikyū gardens 2 of 5 |
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| Hama-rikyū gardens 3 of 5 |
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| Hama-rikyū gardens 4 of 5 |
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| Hama-rikyū gardens 5 of 5 |
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| The wonderful Omiya Bonsai Art Museum. |
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| The peak of deciduous bonsai refinement, an astounding Acer palmatum 'shishi-gahsira' Omiya Bonsai Art Museum |
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| Stewartia pseudocamellia at Omiya Bonsai Art Museum |
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| Cryptomeria japonica at Omiya Bonsai Art Museum |
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| This Prunus mume at Omiya Bonsai Art Museum was so beautiful that it brought me to tears and plunged me into deep reverie, the very dark fissured bark and deep umber deadwood contrasting with the delicate white blossoms was profoundly moving |
One of the working bonsai nurseries at Omiya Village
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| Glimpses of beauty at the Emperors Palace 1 of 5 |
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| Glimpses of beauty at the Emperors Palace 2 of 5 |
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| Glimpses of beauty at the Emperors Palace 3 of 5 |
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| Glimpses of beauty at the Emperors Palace 4 of 5 |
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| Glimpses of beauty at the Emperors Palace 5 of 5 |
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| Dai-Roku Daiba or "No. 6 Battery", one of the original Edo-era gun emplacement islands. |
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| Shunkaen Bonsai Museum, a wonderful collection and working nursery in the middle of a residential district of Tokyo 1 of 8 |
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| Shunkaen Bonsai Museum, a wonderful collection and working nursery in the middle of a residential district of Tokyo 2 of 8 |
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| Shunkaen Bonsai Museum, a wonderful collection and working nursery in the middle of a residential district of Tokyo 3 of 8 |
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| Shunkaen Bonsai Museum, a wonderful collection and working nursery in the middle of a residential district of Tokyo 4 of 8 |
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| Shunkaen Bonsai Museum, a wonderful collection and working nursery in the middle of a residential district of Tokyo 5 of 8 |
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| Shunkaen Bonsai Museum, a wonderful collection and working nursery in the middle of a residential district of Tokyo 6 of 8 |
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| Shunkaen Bonsai Museum, a wonderful collection and working nursery in the middle of a residential district of Tokyo 7 of 8 |
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| Shunkaen Bonsai Museum, a wonderful collection and working nursery in the middle of a residential district of Tokyo 8 of 8 |
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