No.3 Parks(1)

Shiba Park -Urban Valley and Tokyo Tower-

–Walk along Hibiya Street to Shiba Park–
Hibiya-dori Street runs almost straight north and south from Mita Station on the Toei Subway up to the Imperial Palace. The place where Hibiya Street comes across the National Route 15 is the southern end of Hibiya Street. The subway Toei Mita Line runs directly below Hibiya Street. It is said that the line along which Hibiya Street runs was a coastline before the Edo period. The Shiba Park is located near Subway Station Shiba-Koen on Hibiya-dori.

Tokyo is said to be a green city. And this area is more deep green than any other part of Tokyo. And urban forests are the perfect place to heal eyes and heads, and minds, tired from work. In particular, Shiba Park is rich in plants and you can enjoy watching flowers all year round. In addition to forest trees, there are plenty of moss and short weeds, so it is an irresistible place for plant lovers. In the spring, cherry blossoms, flower peaches, Japanese quince, and paper bush, and in the summer, Japanese stuartia, tulip tree, and evergreen magnolia bloom. In the fall, zelkova, maple, and fragrant olive are colored, and in winter, Japanese allspice, plum, sasanqua, narcissus, etc. can be seen.

Here you will find some botanically interesting plants. However, there are plenty of seasonal plants here just for general enjoyment. I, not a botanist, used to stand here and enjoy the time flowing through the plants.

Walk a little further along Hibiya Street from the south corner of Shiba Park a forest in the city, and you will find a square facing the road before reaching the gate of Zojoji Temple. The plaza has a very good perspective because it is just wide and there are no large buildings in it. So here you can see the two big historic buildings nearby, Tokyo Tower and Zojoji Temple at the same time. Tokyo Tower looks great from any location, 360 degrees around it, but this location may be the best position for a panoramic view from top to bottom. It might be also a bird’s-eye view of Tokyo’s history.

Momiji-dani (Maple Valley)
Behind Zojoji Temple, at the foot of Tokyo Tower, there is an artificial valley called Momijidani between the temple grounds and Tokyo Tower. There is a rocky area that combines large and small natural stones, and is surrounded by forests. It is reminiscent of a deep mountain valley, and the waterfall that falls from a 10-meter-high rocky place is spectacular. Maples are planted in the area of this valley, and in autumn, the scenery becomes more attractive.

Speaking of a park, you may remember a flat place, but here is a reflection of Tokyo’s old form of forests, mountains and valleys and the hearts of people living in Tokyo.

Google Map (Shiba Park) https://goo.gl/maps/nwnLpJkbB1uG5Q83A
Google Map (Momiji Dani) https://goo.gl/maps/EW3AjjxTQ7Xx6sBC7

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