5 ways to enjoy Tokyo on a rainy day

What do you do when it rains in your city on the weekend? Do you do the same thing as me - stay at home and watch tv?

For me, I almost always unhappy to see dark skies hanging over the horizon, threatening to pour on us, poor humans. So there are days that I didn't want to leave my apartment because the skies looked slightly dark... During the rainy season, sometimes, the only time that I would agree to come out is to make an appointment that I cannot miss. Or else, I am determined to stay indoors for days until it clears up.

But of course, I know I can't hide in my apartment whenever it rains, so I decided to take a proactive approach - to go out anyway. But not without some preparations.

To encourage myself to go out on a rainy day, I bought a new (cute ^^) rain boots, flowery (think Cath Kidston) raincoat and an orange polka dot umbrella! All the happiest colours I can find in the rain gear section to tackle the rainy day! If you see a lady decked-in colourful, flowery raincoat with an orange polka dot umbrella, that might be me ^^.

But I also hate to walk in the rain, so where is good to go on a rainy day, I asked myself. So then, I came up with this list - 5 ways to enjoy Tokyo on a rainy day.

1. Visit a hydrangea garden
The best time to photograph the hydrangea is when it is raining. They looked so right with the raindrops on them. I find that photographing hydrangea in the rain is a perfect motivation for me on a rainy day.

2. Visit an aquarium
After one experience trying to avoid the typhoon in Tokyo, I decided that visiting an aquarium is probably one of the best ways to stay out of the rain and enjoy yourself at the same time.

3. Bring your favourite book and go to the coffee shop at the Tokyo Tower
The view may not be so much from the top of the Tokyo Tower during the rainy days, but at least, it keeps you dry and you can enjoy a cup of coffee while reading your book.

4. Visit museums or learn about beer-making at the Ebisu Beer Museum in Ebisu station
I decided that the beer museum is good for rainy days when I got bored and just wanted to be outside of my apartment, but didn't want to get wet. In the beer museum, you can join their tour or buy beer and snacks to enjoy. I can assure you that you will feel so much better about the rain after a drink or two!

5. Visit an onsen (This is a suggestion from my friend, an onsen-lover)
I have not personally tried this one, but I hope to do so soon before the weather gets too hot and no, I don't want to dip in a hot spring in summer. My friend, K, told me that the best time to go to a popular onsen like the Oedo Onsen Monogatari is on a rainy day! She claims that after soaking in the hot spring, she felt so energized that no wet day is going to dampen her spirit! I am quite convinced actually. So, I am going to try it one of these days.
You can check out the website for Oedo Onsen Monogatari, which is available in English here.

What about you? What do you do to on a rainy day?

Japan Photo Blog: An ode to the rain

I, probably like many others, would avoid the rain.

Whenever the little drops start to fall, I like everyone else starts to run for cover, taking shelter at the nearest place that can provide me dry cover.

Well, it's the rainy season.

Although, I don't like the rain very much, but I am trying to find beauty in it. I believe every natural thing has its own beauty. And I found out that I like to hear the sound of rain when I sleep. It calms me down.

This morning, it started sprinkling again. I made myself a drink and watch it fall from my balcony. It is quite beautiful actually. With every drop.

I am writing this before the rain gives way to the sun. The beginning of summer.

Beautiful Rain

When June comes around, we in Japan, equipped ourselves with umbrellas, raincoats and perhaps even consider buying a pair of rain boots. Why? Because June is the start of the rainy season known as tsuyu (梅雨) in Japan and it is a one and half month of rainy days that is the reason why we prepare all our rain gear. But we also associate this rainy season with a flower that looks absolutely beautiful when wet. It is the hydrangea or also is called Ajisai, 紫陽花, in Japanese which happen to bloom around the same time.

I believe you already know that the colours of the petals can be manipulated by a change in the chemical make-up of the soil (Anyone inspiring to be a chemist + botanist?) and the colour of the flowers grows more vibrant as they get more rain water that falls on them through this rainy season. Although Ajisai is thought to symbolize heartfelt feelings, however, in Japanese art and poetry, Ajisai was chosen to represent fickleness and changing heart due to their ability to change colours.

One of the commonest plants in Japan, the Ajisai can be found anywhere as you look around in Tokyo. During this time too, the famous Ajisai temples such as the Meigetsu Temple, Hasedera and many others in Kamakura becomes unusually busy and crowded. You may have to wait in line and take a number to get in. Yes, it is THAT crowded. You can read it here.

But today, I am going to introduce to you a relatively secluded Ajisai garden in the mountains. If you go at the right time, you can even capture the flowers enshrouded in mist as featured. I was hoping to capture this mood, but I didn’t have that luck so far (yes, this is the only time I wished it would rain!).

Flowers in the misty Minami-zawa Ajisai Yama.
From http://www.earth-garden.jp/community/12457/

Ajisai enshrouded in the mist.  (I am sorry I cannot find the source for this photo).

The secluded Ajisai garden in the mountains is known as the Minami-zawa Ajisai Yama (南沢あじさい山) and it is located in the Arukino city (あきる野市), Tokyo.

Empty walkways

Completely surrounded by flowers

Minami-zawa Ajisai Yama is a 30-years labourized private garden by Mr Minami-zawa. He tended the garden and planted 10,000 Ajisai plant on this piece of land in the mountains.

A small donation of 300yen

You are able to find two different types of this flower at the Minami-zawa Ajisai Yama. The first and most common type, the mop head Ajisai has large round flower heads resembling a pom-pom or the head of a mop. I like this type the most as they reminded me of the make-up powder puffs. The other is called a lace cap and has round, flat flower heads with a centre core of young flowers surrounded by outer rings of individual bloomed flowers.

Love the little creatures on the flower

I so envy you, little fella. Can I stay with you?

To get to Minami-zawa Ajisai Yama by train, you have to take the JR Itsukaichi Line  (ＪＲ五日市線) to Musashi Itsukaichi station (武蔵五日市駅). My trip starts from Shinjuku station. I took the JR Chuo Line on a rapid train service with two changes of trains. One is at the Tachikawa station (立川駅) to the local train on the JR Ome Line (JR青梅線) heading towards the Musashi Itsukaichi station (武蔵五日市駅). The next train change is at Hajima station (拝島駅) for the JR Itsukaichi Line (JR五日市線). Musashi Itsukaichi station (武蔵五日市駅) is the last stop for JR Itsukaichi Line (JR五日市線). The whole journey takes about 70mins and the train ride from Shinjuku to Itsukaichi station costs about ¥800 per way.

From the Musashi Itsukaichi station, the walk is about 40mins and it is well marked with a cute man signpost. Please note that there is no service bus to get there.

The cute man signpost

As I could't get my map to work, I am going to refer you to this map by a blog maintained by the Itsukaichi city which I also put it up in this post.

From http://itsukaichi.seesaa.net/article/4591138.html

The best time to go to this garden is between mid-June till mid-July.  When I was there on 27^th June 2014, the flowers have blossomed into vibrant and plump rounded bunches of different colours as white, pink, purple and blue. I believe you are still able to view these beautiful blooms within this week.

One word of caution: Do not attempt to wear your nice shoes (read: heels) when you visit this place. Wear proper boots as it can be pretty muddy, especially after a shower of rain!

Ajisai by the river

Ajisai swaying in the mountain breeze

Cold and wet

Typhoon is around the corner... which is strange for Japan as it is already the end of October.

Sorry for the blurry photos. Shaky hands from the cold and old phone camera.

Indoor attraction for rainy days

I finally made it to the Sunshine City Aquarium! I have been talking for years to visit this aquarium, but I never make myself here until today and this is to avoid the typhoon that has been whipping up Tokyo right now.

Back to Sunshine City Aquarium, no doubt, it has some pretty cool display, but it is also small and crowded during the school holidays. I can't help but to feel bullied by parents with babies who acted that their babies have the birthright to get the best view, regardless if they rolled their prams on you or poke you with their big baby bag or shove you with their elbow with babies on their hips. As a result, I stayed on the sides of the aquarium where it is less crowded. But the pictures are so worth it!

I think it is best to avoid the Japanese school holidays as it will be so crowded with families. The ticket lines are long and the walking space in the aquarium is very narrow. It is hardly a time to enjoy this place (I should have heed the warning sign of long queue outside the ticket booth). But I think at other times, it should be pleasant to visit.

Pretty cool display

It is like another world out there

Minus the crowd factor, some of the displays in the aquarium were pretty cool and I love to visit the Sunshine City Aquarium again in a less crowded opportunity. 

Visiting this place also made me want to visit Singapore's South East Asia Aquarium again. It has been years since my last visit and I heard that it is better now with a petting tank.

How did you spend your rainy day today?