Zoshigaya Cemetery

March 28th and my thoughts were about having Indian curry for lunch. I headed through a mostly empty Ikebukuro Station. This was highly unusual for what is normally one of the busiest train stations in the world. 

 It was the start of Tokyo's stay home policy in trying to protect people from the virus. So many shops were shuttered.

Since I did need to eat and my room did not have anything to cook with, I took the Yurakucho Line to where I had hoped I could get lunch. Once again, lots of room and social distancing on the train.

Unfortunately the restaurant was closed. So I decided to take a walk through a place I had thought about visiting before. 雑司ヶ谷霊園, Zoshigaya Cemetery. 

Established in 1874, the Tokyo Metropolitan government opened Zoshigaya Cemetery as a public cemetery.  

Something notable of the cemetery is the number of Japanese writers, artists and people of historical importance that have been laid to rest here. 

For many walking through a cemetery isn't their idea of a place to go, but during this pandemic time, it was a way to be outside in a spacious area with interesting things to see.

While many of the grave markers are Japanese, there are western style touches here.

 The cemetery is also a place with beautiful flowers.

Including gorgeous sakura flowers. 

Which remind one of the impermanence of life. 

Like Aoyama Cemetery, there are a few western style graves here. 

One noted site is for Catholic nuns of the Society of Sacred Heart in Japan. The graves are for nuns who passed away, during the time from 1916 to 1953.

There was one grave I was interested in seeing. 小泉 八雲,Koizumi Yakumo. Better known to westerners as Lafcadio Hearn, a writer who opened up a lot of Japan to people unable to travel there back in the late 19th century.

I will finish my post with a few photos of the beautiful flowers in and near by the Zoshigaya Cemetery.  

And of course the gorgeous sakura trees. 

Looking for Calm

March 22nd in Ikebukuro and things were changing rapidly in the world. Airlines were cancelling flights because of the virus and travel warnings from various governments. I found myself checking JAL's website and Twitter feed regularly because it was difficult to find information about my return flight. One good thing was I had a Moomin Bakery Hattinfattener chocolate eclair for breakfast. 

Outside it was a beautiful day.

Heading out there were still a number of people on the streets of Ikebukuro. 

 But it really was less people than normal. I walked through Ikebukuro's Chinatown towards Ikebukuro Train Station. Except I wasn't going to go through the crowded station. As for Chinatown, it is called this because of the number of Chinese restaurants around the station.

 My plan was to walk around the north side of the station. There are a couple tunnels under the tracks there. I went to the furthest north tunnel, which leads to overpasses over the rest of the train tracks.

Heading over the the east side of the station and tracks. This is a prime location for train fans. While it was a longer distance to the east side, there were less people. 

And there were also sakura trees. 

Which was my plan for the day. To enjoy their beauty. 

I continued walking through the residential area and arrived at a small playground with the most beautiful sakura tree. 

While there were some children playing there, the real draw for locals was this beautiful tree in full bloom. 

I continued to walk through this residential area and arrived at a neighborhood park, Kami Ikebukuro Sakura Park, 豊島区立上池袋さくら公園.

There were various landscaped sections, picnic spaces and areas for children to play. There were a number of people there, but I have to think it would have been more crowded if it wasn't for the virus outbreak.

Because there were many sakura trees in bloom. 

 In the middle of the long park was this statue of an adorable girl and her bird. I haven't been able to find information as to the name of it or the artist. It fit in really well with the atmosphere of this neighborhood park.

Meanwhile, I was enjoying the beautiful sakura. 

I read there are twenty five or more various sakura trees in this narrow park. 

 Along with other types of trees like this magnolia.

A number of people were enjoying hanami picnics under the trees, but they did seem to try to make space in between the groups. Most were wearing masks. The feeling I had that they were mostly families who lived in the neighborhoods. 

 It was nice to find these little uncrowded places to enjoy sakura viewing. It may have involved a long walk, but it was worth it.