It is always an existential miasma of wonderment, pleasantry and calm that puts one beside himself, to experience a walk in any Japanese neighborhood–especially so much more delightful than one can experience in the downtown areas of Tokyo, which do have their charms, but which tend to create a hyper, in-your-face, capitalist nightmare and squeezed-in, noisy feel.
The park in Koganae is enormously large, with the entrance to which we took starting with a seemingly miles-long stroll along a road nestled between a sprawling, nature-filled golf course on one side and towering redwood-like trees forming a wall on the other, which climbed surrealistically into the sky. The park, itself, seemed endless, and was filled, sparsely due its enormity, with exercisers, families, and people like us, taking pictures.
The Open Air Architectural area, a good walk from the general park area just described, is a collection of buildings, including the visitor’s center, featuring structures from across Japan’s architectural history, including an 18th century western ambassador’s mansion, a turn-of-the-century, deco photography building and home, various traditional Japanese abodes from the Eso period, including one of a former government official, and farm houses. Visitors can walk inside and view the rooms and around the properties. There is also a vintage bus, a railroad car and a mini village, featuring full-scale shops from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. There is even an old bathhouse.
I took many photos, which need to be edited, after which, I will include the best ones here and on Instagram.
Thanks for reading and taking a look.
Carl Atteniese
Tokyo
Link: https://www.tatemonoen.jp/english/
