JAPANIZERS! Join us on Sunday, February 12th for a special, SECRETS of UENO PARK tour, featuring an introduction to sprawling “Ueno Onshi-koen”, Japan’s first National Park, which was founded on the hill in 1888!
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Ueno has many great museums, temple, shrines, monuments, statues, a wonderful island temple area in the middle of Shinobazu Pond, huge, beautiful trees & various artifacts & structures from great Kan’ei-ji Temple which once occupied much of the plateau until being destroyed during the Battle of Ueno (ไธ้ๆฆไบ, Ueno Sensล a battle of the Boshin War), on July 4, 1868, which was fought between the Shogitai (loyal samurai/ supporters of Shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu) & the Imperial Meiji Army.
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At this time of the year, gorgeous Peonies, or “Botan” are blooming in the beautiful Ueno Toshogu Shrine gardens. Viewing this lovely garden, filled with great mossy stones & many early blooming trees such as Ume (Plum) & Robai (Wintersweet) will be among the highlights of our tour!
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Ueno Toshogu Peony Garden was opened in 1980 (Showa 55) to commemorate the friendship between Japan & China. Currently, more than 500 peony strains, including Chinese, American & French varieties, are preserved there. (Garden admission is just ๏ฟฅ700 for adult & free for elementary school students and younger)
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We’ll also enjoy touring beautiful, ornate Toshogu Shinto Shrine dedicated in 1636 to the spirit of the great Shogun, Ieyasu Tokugawa. We’ll also explore amazing Ryo-Daishi temple, Ueno Kiyomizu Temple, Ueno Inari-Jinja, the Tenjin Shrine, plus the former site of the great Buddha of Ueno, & other fascinating places!
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The gorgeous & flamboyant peony, or botan flower is said to be a symbol of “wealth” and is called “Takasaka”, or “King of a hundred flowers”. http://www.uenotoshogu.com/botan/
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After the tour, we can enjoy eating, drinking & chatting together!
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If you love flowers, colors, gardens, art, architecture, history or anything to do with Japanese culture, please don’t miss this tour!
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Before & after we attend the Toshogu shrine Botan/Peony exhibition, I will give my “Secrets of Ueno” tour which has been a favorite of Meetup- goers for the past 5 years.
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Finally, we’ll visit the great Tokyo National Museum of History & Art for a general tour (Adult admissions, ๏ฟฅ๏ผ๏ผ๏ผ๏ผ, Students ๏ฟฅ500, persons under 18 or over 70 are FREE. The Museum’s rear gardens will also be open for our strolling pleasure, so it should be a marvelous day in the park!
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Food & drink may be purchased near the shrine, along the pond bridge and inside the Museum gates.
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SO, WHY DON’T WE ALL GO?
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๐๐ป Your guide is a craftsman, teacher & historian with degrees in Art, Communications, Architectural History, Japanese History & Culture.
Comfortable shoes are recommended. A hat, or folding umbrella are often handy! Please bring drinks & snacks as needed.
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NOTE: We work hard to plan interesting events and to guide you to the very best places, so please give generously! There’s no set Meetup fee, but your donations of between ๏ฟฅ2000 -๏ฟฅ5000 per-person are much appreciated! (Tours of this type from AirBnB and other tour companies typically cost from ๏ฟฅ7000-๏ฟฅ15000 per person!)
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We’re Family Friendly, so KIDS are WELCOME & free to join with a parent!
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We look forward to seeing you & hope you will invite your friends to join in this unique experience of traditional Japanese culture!
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Thanks!
Your Fun Loving Meetup guide & organizer, Kerry D. ๐
Ueno Station
7 Chome-1 Ueno, Taito City
Tokyo, JP, 110-0005