Checking out the Tokyo International Forum

Time for something different than temples and shrines. I did visit other places on my trip in March. And I wanted to do something interesting for March 19th. So I headed to Tokyo Station.

Tokyo Station is located in the Marunouchi business district in Tokyo, so there is a lot of money that has been put into architecture there, spanning many eras.

Tokyo Station was originally built in 1914 but has had sections rebuilt at various times over the years. The original architect, Kingo Tatsuno, was influenced by Victorian architecture while he studied in London, and the look of the station reflects that.

Tokyo Station isn't the only building in the area with this appearance. And I will mention another place in my next blog post. But this post is about another famous building in the area.

As I got closer to my destination, I couldn't help but notice certain things that seemed to be connected to my little adventure. Not intentionally of course. Such as Pub Cardinal Marunouchi.

And the colorful bats on the Tokia Tokyo Building. Which were right by where I was going. In fact, I could see it in the glass.

Across the street was the Tokyo International Forum.

So why go here? Besides it being a place to view amazing architectural design and take photos, they hold concerts and events here. But I was here because I had seen it mentioned as an interesting place to check out.

And because MALICE MIZER chose the location for a photo shoot.

Walking in is a rather awe inspiring event. Totally open inside up to 11 stories, quickly you notice the building is shaped like a ship.

Instead of stairs, there are ramps going up to each level.

And there are these cat walks that jut out, crossing to the other Tokyo International Forum building. So was I brave enough to walk on those?

Interestingly they come together like a five pointed star.

Part of the architectural design looks like it could actually be a turning point for parts of the building, like an axle. Or maybe a ship's main mast.

I made it up to the long walkway that runs along the glass window side of the building. There are about 3,600 pieces of glass in this building.

And at one of the cat walks. 

Which I bravely walked out onto. At that point I didn't have a problem with the height.

It was remarkable to get a closer look at the ceiling. The height is 57 meters. 

The building is 207 meters long. 

It is 32 meters wide.

A closer look at the trusses under the roof. 

The feeling of being suspended up in the air with nothing underneath me did keep me from walking more on the cat walks. Along with the thought of earthquakes. But I did walk out on the one.

Back down the ramp and on to my next location.

Shoshuniji and Taichoji Temples in Yoyogi

Remember my post about eating curry at Potohar again? Of course I took a walk afterwards. Through the same area I walked a year prior. The Bunka Fashion College which is right by Potohar. 

 Just an aside, since I saw a cloud like this recently. Turns out this formation is rare. It's called a cirrus vertebratus because it looks like a spine. So now I've seen one in Oregon and one in Yoyogi, Japan.

Under those clouds, I walked the greenway again. Sadly the sakura were not blooming yet. 

But that did allow some nice glimpses of the temples nearby. 

Which I visited again. This is Shoshuniji Buddhist Temple. 

 Where a few ume, plum, blossoms were still blooming.

This time I decided to take a better look at the hondo at Shohuniji.  

My telephoto lens on my camera gave me nice shots of the komainu on the roof. 

Along with a carved bird at the center of the roof lintel. I will assume it is probably a hou-ou, a phoenix.

Also on the grounds of Shoshuniji was this delightful pair of stone fish. 

More ume on this tree in a rather bare part of the grounds. Perhaps it is an attempt to distract from the not so attractive Metropolitan Expressway. 

Over to the other temple here, there was sakura blooming with this little kawazu-zakura. I want one of these little trees.

More ume showing off. I'm glad I was able to see some during my visit. 

And the hondo for Taichoji Buddhist Temple. 

Gorgeous tree growing so big it's run out of space. 

And the entrance mon or gate. Still closed. This is a view from the inside, to contrast with the surrounding buildings. 

The modern structures really overwhelm in this area. Like the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. 

And the NTT Docomo Yoyogi Building. 

I will say the good thing about these skyscrapers is they help in knowing what direction you are headed if you are walking in the area. And that clock is helpful too.

My previous post from the year before about these temples is here in case you want to know a little more about them: http://blukats.blogspot.com/2018/08/temples-and-shrines-in-yoyogi-shibuya.html

Ikou Inari Shinto Shrine in Ikebukuro

This area of Ikebukuro is known for cats. So seeing this pillar made me stop and look around. 

And to the left of it was a sign at the entrance to a shrine. Ikou Inari Shinto Shrine. 

The entrance led to a long walkway of vermilion torii and lanterns.  

Where did this lead to? Only one way to find out. Under the gates and past the twin trees they carefully paved around. 

To find foxes and an Inari shrine.  With white lanterns.

Really cute kitsune, this one with a baby kit. 

Fresh paint on the lanterns. And a traditional Japanese kusari doi, rain chain. I think they look really nice. 

But that wasn't the end of the torii. So down the stairs I went. 

To find more kitsune. 

Another Inari shrine, this time really small. 

 Along with this kitsune below and a torii in need of some care.

But wait, there were more torii and more kitsune. 

And more Inari shrines. I don't know what each one is for. If I go again I will get better photos of the kanji to figure that out. 

It seemed the further I went, the older the kitsune were. 

Some seemed to befallen a sad fate. 

Usually the doors are closed, so it's possible the kami enshrined here is not home? 

And another shrine. I wonder if some of these belong to families or local businesses.

And an even sadder kitsune. 

Walking back out the way I came in. There is an exit that leads to a street in the back, but I wanted to visit more temples and that walkway was enticing. 

And a cat. There were a few there, but this set of shrines clearly belongs to the foxes.