Spending the Sunday afternoon at Tokyo was a delightful experience. Since it was Mother’s Day and being far, far a way from my family and home and own garden, I decided to refresh my mind with visiting some gardens. The first stop was a garden shop, where I found traditional Japanese garden scissors, something special, yet beautiful and practical. I continued to Teien Art Musem and Garden - with one visit, you can enjoy Art Deco Palace, Japanese porcelain exhibition, museum cafeteria, modern sculptures in the garden, Japanese garden and European garden.
In the European garden I saw the most amazing size and amount of delightful roses that I have ever seen. Usually roses are not my favorites, but these just took your breath away. I spent hours walking across the garden, taking pictures and just enjoying flowers, old trees, wonderful views over the ponds.
On my way back to the hotel – I found yet an other garden. The Garden grocery store reminded me of the Whole Foods stores in US. However, the Garden - Jiyugaoka – had been established already in the 1956. All was so well organized, variety of wide, displays beautiful. Instead of going for dinner by myself – I decided to treat my self with fresh salad, sushi and strawberries.
Wonderful and refreshing garden day – yet it would have been even better if I could have shared it with family and friends. Being away from home is valuable, you realize better what you miss, and learn more about your own values.
Yes, international business travel tends to wreak havoc with holiday schedules. I tend to make the major holidays (e.g. Christmas), but Canada / U.S. schedules are permanently out of sync. Canadian Thanksgiving is in October, American Thanksgiving is in November. Victoria Day in Canada is officially May 24 but observed on a Monday — normally a week ahead of Memorial Day in the U.S., but really confusing for crossing the border in rare years where the two coincide.
Japanese grocery stores are interesting. There’s so many convenience stores, but foreigners all seem to eventually crave more vegetables and fruit. I don’t know what the Japanese think of us photographing vegetables in supermarkets, but your snapshots prove that the basic practicalities of diet rise in importance, the longer we’re away from home.