Mountains and Flowers

After a thick blanket of snow in Tokyo yesterday, the air is really chilly. Chilly to the bones, even though it is a sunny day. The Japanese wasn't joking when they said that February is the coldest month in Japan.

Braving the cold, I went to a relatively unknown park, Azumayama Park (吾妻山公園) in Kanagawa prefecture. 

The first flight of stairs

What's special with this park? The view of rapeseed flowers against the panoramic background of the Mt Fuji. But today, Mt Fuji was hidden from the sight as it was cloudy at the other end. Else, it should be quite an impressive view.

The advertisement for the rapeseed flowers and you can see the Mt Fuji in the background in this ad.

To get to the park, it is a short 7mins walk. From the entrance, then, it is another 10-15mins walk (depending on your stamina) up four flights of stairs.

Maybe the second flight of stairs? Third flight of stairs?

Seem relatively quiet - Yea!  ^^

One good thing about today is that there were fewer people and you can really feel the wide space at the park, which is situated on top of the Azumayama (Mt Azuma). 
 

We are finally here!

This is the view that greets you at the top of Azumayama. 

Then, you will see a beautiful yellow carpet of rapeseed flowers. As usual, I can't get enough of taking pictures of the flowers. Tried to capture their beauty at every angle.

Remember to bring your lunch to this park as you may be tempted to hang around a bit longer and there is no shop on top of Azumayama.

I couldn't resist not relaxing on the grass at the park is overlooking the sea. It is one of the most relaxing parks that I have been to in Japan. Maybe it is because of the lack of park patrons, but nonetheless, the most relaxing one for me.

To get there by train, you have to stop at the Ninomiya station (二宮駅). As my trip was kind of unplanned, I took the easy route. 

I boarded the Shonan-Shinjuku Line from Ikebukuro station on a rapid train service connecting to the Tokaido Line which stops at Ninomiya station (二ノ宮駅). I just have to make one change of trains at the Hiratsuka station (平塚駅). The whole journey takes about 70mins and the train ride from Ikebukuro to Ninomiya costs about ¥1,450 per way.

I enjoyed my day at this park. Do you think you will visit this park too?

Japan Photo Blog: Snowiest snow we ever had

Today is the day when winter decided to grant my wish and dump it all on Tokyo - the snow!!! Finally, we are getting the snow. Lots and lots and lots of snow!!!

It felt like the Tohoku winter. The wind was strong and almost like a blizzard.

Umbrellas were useless in it. I saw some broke right in front of my eyes. 

What do I do on this lovely day? Sit in the coffee shop, sipping hot coco and watch people's umbrella fly off ;) Okay, it is not too funny when your umbrella flies off on you but as a witness to that incident, yes, it looked pretty funny.

I saw lots of snowmen in the parks and took lots of photos and videos of the blizzard.

The streets were quite empty and so was the Starbucks near where I stay (usually it is impossible to get a seat). Today, a lovely seat in front of a window to look out onto the empty walkway in the snow. 

It snowed all day and perhaps all the way into the night too! 

Bundle up, Tokyoites!