Although the rainy season has officially arrived, the 30 individuals participating in the Walking Tour were blessed with fine and almost hot weather.
This year’s plan included having lunch in a restaurant on the Tokyo University campus before setting out on the walk, and most people were able to join us. We hope that conversations during lunch become the base for forming deeper friendships.
The former Western-style home of Prince Maeda, surrounded by luscious greenery on the Komaba Park grounds, is a dignified structure from the early days of the Showa era. It has been designated as a tangible cultural property in the Tokyo Metropolitan area. Furthermore, the Japanese style garden viewed from the open corridor of the adjacent traditional Japanese residence has a calming effect.
The Japan Folk Crafts Museum, a close walk from Komaba Park, was founded by Yanagi Soetsu (Muneyoshi) in 1936. Not only are the traditional crafts which have been collected and their displays unique, but as the curator explained that the museum itself is the 3rd or 4th pioneer in Tokyo, the special Pictorial Banners (Nobori) exhibition is admirable. The interior of Yanagi Soetsu’s former home is open for viewing four times a month, and we were able to leisurely tour that as well.