Looking back, it was a long time ago that I moved to Tokyo from Kansai, and I have been living in Tokyo for quite a long time. However, when I visited Tabata and Yotsuya last year on business for an acquaintance, I realized that there are still many places in Tokyo that are not in my usual sphere of daily life or work.
In 2023, I would like to actively walk around “Personal unknown Tokyo”. In the meantime, I would like to improve my photography skills a little by using my single focal length lens, which is a waste of space in my dry box.
So, from Shitaya, Taito Ward, I passed the Ueno Station area and came to Shinobazu Pond. I have been to Ueno Park and the Ueno Zoo many times, but for some reason I had never been to Shinobazu Pond.
The sun was shining but the wind was strong and cold as you can see from the blowing streamers. There is a line of stalls in front of Benten-do, but all the customers and shopkeepers seem to be cold.
Shinobazu Pond in winter. I heard that in summer the entire pond is covered with lotus flowers and leaves, but now is the season of rest.
Daikokuten Hall. It would make a good subject for the flower season, but right now is off-season by all accounts. I thought it might be interesting to see it in such a withered state.
Incense burner in front of Benzaiten.
The woman’s expression was blurred out in post-processing, but it didn’t turn out so well. The first framing is the key.
Looking back at Benten-do while crossing the middle of the pond. There are many dead lotuses and dead branches, but thanks to the bright sunny day, it looks a bit like “waiting for spring”.
Many people boating on Shinobazuno Pond in this cold weather. I borrowed some of the Yurikamome for the background, but unfortunately the bird was little bit out-focus.
As soon as you get to the edge of the pond and enter the path by Totenko restaurant, you will see this reddish-brown fence.
This is the brick wall of the former Iwasaki Residence Garden. I had heard about this place for a long time, but had never been here. Iwasaki is a name of former Mitsubishi zaibatsu owner family family.
This is my first visit to the former Iwasaki residence.
Too bad photography is not allowed inside the mansion.
We took off our shoes and walked on the cold carpeted floor to visit. The house is gorgeous. Even though I have no knowledge of the architecture, interior decoration, or furnishings of the house, I was able to appreciate the house with a series of sighs. I had heard about the zaibatsu (especially before World War II), but don’t underestimate them. I am truly sorry for underestimating richness of Mitsubishi zaibatsu.
After the tour of the mansion, we went outside and were allowed to take pictures of the exterior.
A general view from the back of the yard. The bright balcony on the total second floor, which is on the far left in the photo, is quite extravagant.
The one-story building with the complicated roof shape on the right is said to be the “cue ball room”. Is that it? Is it a social activity for upper class gentlemen to play billiards while enjoying a cigar?
This billiard room is connected to the Western-style building on the left by a basement.
The ball room is built in the style of a mountain hut, but when you look closely, you will see that it is not a hut at all, but a very elaborate structure made of tightly chamfered wood. The design of the pillars is also elaborate.
No really, the old Iwasaki residence is amazing. I want to come back one or two more times to take my time and see it.
This time I used 15mm, 31mm, and 77mm. I still have a problem with the 15mm ultra wide-angle lens, but I found it to be a “pretty useful guy” for snapshots taken on the street.
I left the garden at this point and headed for Yushima Tenjin shrine. To be continued next time.
