This is an article about a walk I took when I heard that the dogwoods were in full bloom in the front yard of the National Diet, although it is off peak for seasonal flower photos since it is about two weeks back on the calendar. For this photo walk, I used a Pentax K-3III and two lenses, HD DA20-40mm limited and HD DA55-300mm.
Do you know that there is a garden of a considerable size next to the National Diet Building in Kasumigaseki? Although I have lived in Tokyo so long, ashamed to say that this is the first time I have come across such a garden. If you think about it, there should be a garden or a green space, and it is probably better for security than a poorly constructed building.
The nearest station is Nagatacho on the Yurakucho subway line, and the first building you see when you exit from Exit 2 is this one.
Diet Library. Many of you have probably been there for research purposes.
Across the street from the library is the imposing National Diet Building. It was a long time ago, but when I first came to Tokyo and saw this building for the first time, my impression was “It’s bigger than I thought it would be”. Even now, when I see it, I honestly think, “It’s huge.”
Kasumigaseki is almost deserted on holidays, with only a few cars passing by. It is a quiet town, and the fresh greenery by the side of the road is pleasing to the eye.
After walking about two blocks, we arrived at the Constitutional Memorial Hall.
Adjacent to this building is the Died north yard.
The clock tower stands out prominently in the north garden.
I originally came here for the dogwood trees, but at this time, the azaleas, which were just beginning to bloom, were also beautiful, and the double-flowered cherry trees were still in good health.
Finally, we reached the dogwood tree to look for.
The dogwood, a spring flower found throughout Japan, was originally a non-native species, and the dogwood tree in the front yard of the National Diet is a historic one, officially donated by the United States as an international goodwill gift.
With the clock tower in the background, the volume of flowers is rich and pleasing.
The unsympathetic leafless branch behind the flower is disturbing. …This branch will haunt me, but I’ll get to that next time.
Mainly translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
