ohanami | Connect Japan and the world through Japanese spirituality｜ Japan Cross Bridge

2022-03-032022-03-19

Shihomi Homma ZEN SAKURA Exhibition is coming soon

“Shihomi Homma ZEN•Sakura Exhibition” is at “rusu” near Meguro river on March 27-April 2.
Admission free.

Gallery “rusu”
9 mins walk from JR Meguro Station
3-4-9 Shimomeguro, Meguro ku, Tokyo
March 27(Sun) – April 2(Sat)
12:00-19:00

桜の季節に禅桜展を開催。

目黒駅の目黒川からほど近い昔懐かしい民家のrusuにて、個展を開催させていただく運びとなりました。
日本の桜、禅をテーマにした水墨画掛け軸などのアートを展示いたします。
これまでJapanCrossBridge(日本と海外の架け橋)として、日本の美や象徴をモチーフとしたアート作品を海外へ発信して参りました。
コロナ渦の中、日本国内でも日本の桜をテーマとした作品を桜の時期に一人でも多くの方にご覧いただければ幸いです。
お花見へ目黒川お越しの際は是非お立ち寄りください。

ギャラリー”rusu” JR目黒駅より徒歩９分 東京都目黒区下目黒3-4-9
3/27(日)〜4/2(土) 12:00-19:00
入場無料

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/japan_cross_bridge/

個展情報掲載サイト Exhibition information site

http://artmeguri.com/zensakura/

https://www.share-art.jp/event/views/292794

https://tokyoartnavi.jp/exhibition/16122/

https://koten-navi.com/node/142211

2021-03-282021-03-28

Cherry blossoms viewing cycling spots in Tokyo – Part 2

Cherry blossoms viewing cycling spots in Tokyo, Part 2.

We would like to give you some more ideas for Cherry blossoms viewing cycling spots.

First Tamagawa river.

Tamagawa river is a wide river, runs between Tokyo and Kanagawa.

Alongside this river, there are nice jogging & cycling roads both sides all the way.

You can enjoy cycling as well as walking.

Second, Aoyama cemetery in Minato-ku.

Aoyama cemetery is located between Aoyama and Roppongi.

Very sacred area with lots of cherry trees.

Thrid, Sakura-Zaka street, near Tamagawa river.

This is not long, but gorgeous cherry blossoms, like the name shows.

Fourth, Rinshi-no-mori park, in Shinagawa ku.

This park is quite big, has lots of nature, not just cherry trees.

You can enjoy cycling or walking inside this park.

We will show you more Sakura viewing cycling spots in Part 3, next time!

2021-03-272021-03-27

The reason why cherry trees were planted

Japanese painting art Sakura cherry blossoms

The reason why cherry trees were planted.

Have you ever thought about the reason why cherry trees were planted?

In Japan, we can see so many cherry trees in everywhere.

Many of them are really old, few hundred years old.

An interesting point is, many cherry trees are planted by rivers.

This has a reasonable reason.

Ancient Japanese people planted cherry trees by rivers, so that many people would come and see the beautiful cherry blossoms.

They knew that many people visiting and walking there, would help make the soil harden, and help make the solid river bank.

So cherry trees were planted as a flood control measures.

Another interesting point is, that many cherry trees are in shrines and temples as well.

Shrines are Shintoism, and originally have deep relations with pine trees, but not with cherry trees.

However, people thought cherry blossoms’ gracefulness symbolizes the samurai spirit, and many shrines preferred to plant cherry trees as well.

Temples are Buddhism which has the deep relations with flowers.

They admired cherry blossoms as well as plum blossoms.

We cannot talk about Japanese history without the relations with temples.

Muromachi era, Sengoku era, around 13C to 16C, many temples already had cherry trees.

Famous Samurai and shogun enjoyed Sakura viewing “Ohanami” since then.

In Japan, people enjoy Sakura viewing “Ohanami” since ancient time, and this is a Japanese culture.

Many famous Sakura spots in Kyoto and Nara are in temples and shrines.

In Tokyo too, many famous Sakura spots are in temples and shrines, as well as by rivers, or near the water.

Ueno park, where many people visit for Sakura viewing, was once a temple.

Imperial palace is surrounded with moat.

Meguro river, Kanda river, Sumida river, Tamagawa river, Arakawa river, are all famous Sakura spots.

Our Japanese painting art Sakura cherry blossoms series

Our Sakura cherry blossoms jewelry series

2021-03-252021-03-28

Cherry blossoms viewing cycling spots in Tokyo Part 1

Tokyo cherry blossoms spots for cycling Part 1

It’s a cherry blossoms season!

The popular Sakura, “Somei-Yoshino” cherry blossoms are almost in full bloom in Tokyo.

There are many well known spots such as, Ueno park or Imperial palace, but we would like to give you some good spots for cycling as well.

The cherry blossom cycling spots we recommend are all close to the central Tokyo area, such as Shinjuku, Shibuya, Shinagawa. If you are in the central Tokyo area, please check out!

First, Meguro river.

Meguro river is getting really famous for cherry blossoms recently.

Meguro river runs all the way from Tokyo bay area Tennozu-Isle to Nakameguro and even further.

Many cherry trees are on both sides of this Meguro river.

You can enjoy cycling all the way alongside the river.

Second is Yoyogi park.

Yoyogi park is located just behind JR Harajuku station and is well known, yet very big with lots of nature.

There are cycling roads in this park, and you can enjoy cycling as well.

Third is Kamuro zaka Dori street.

This is near Fudo-mae station, Tokyo Meguro line.

From the bottom of this street, you can enjoy the tunnel of cherry blossoms as you go up the street.

After passing Somei Yoshino Sakura trees, dark pink Sakura “Kawazu Zakura” cherry blossoms appear.

Fourth is “Tachiaigawa Green Way” in Nishi- Koyama area.

Tachiaigawa Greenway street cherry blossoms

This street is not far from Kamuro Zaka Dori street.

It’s located near Nishi Koyama station, Tokyu Meguro line.

We will share more cherry blossoms cycling spots in the next blog, Part 2!

2021-03-042021-03-28

Tokyo Sakura – hidden cherry blossom spots

Tokyo Sakura cherry blossom travel guide

Cherry blossom season has come!

It’s a little early for popular kind Sakura “Somei Yoshino”(It’s March 4^thtoday), but different kind of Sakura called “Kawazu Zakura” is already blooming in Tokyo.

There are lots of famous spots for Sakura viewing in Tokyo, but we would like to share some not-so-noticed Sakura spots in Tokyo.

These spots are in central Tokyo, so if you are living in Tokyo, or if you are staying in Tokyo, they must be easy places to visit.

Cycling to these places are fun day trips as well!

Today, we would like to share some places where you can enjoy early kind Sakura “Kawazu Zakura”.

Best time to visit for this Sakura is in February, from mid-February to late February.

First place is famous park in Shibuya, Tokyo, called “Yoyogi Park”.

This park is well known as popular “Somei Yoshino” Sakura, but there are some “Kawazu Sakura” too. If you visit there in February, you can enjoy these early Sakura.

Second Sakura spot is “Ebara shrine”, which is located beside Meguro river, near “Shimbamba station” (Keikyu line).

Tokyo Sakura cherry blossom spot travel guide Ebara shrine

Sakura here is another different kind called “Kanzakura”, and is the earliest Sakura in Tokyo.

You can see this Sakura starts blooming in early February!

Third spot is “Rinshi-no-mori park” in Shinagawa ward.

Tokyo Sakura cherry blossom spot travel guide Rinshi-no-mori park

This is a huge park, and just walking/cycling inside this park is also fun.

“Kawazu Zakura” trees in this park are big and very gorgeous!

You can enjoy having picnic under the cherry blossoms.

Next Sakura spot is “Happo-en” in Minato ward.

“Happo-en” is a luxury event hall for weddings and parties.

Tokyo Sakura cherry blossom spot travel guide Happo-en

This has a big and gorgeous Japanese garden.

You can go inside to see this garden for free.

This Japanese garden is worth visiting, having a big Koi pond and many precious Bonzai(Bonsai) trees.

There are so many “Nishiki goi” Koi fish swimming in the koi pond!

You can enjoy this garden in any season.

Lastly, we would like to tell you about “Todoroki Keikoku” in Setagaya ward.

Tokyo Sakura cherry blossom place travel guide Todoroki keikoku

This “Todoroki Keikoku” park is about 30 minutes bicycle ride from central Tokyo (Meguro).

Or you can go there by train using “Oimachi line” to “Todoroki station”.

In there, you can enjoy nature here, with walking beside the river.

“Keikoku” means valley, and this is a unique small valley that you can experience in Tokyo.

This place has a temple and a Japanese garden area.

In the Japanese garden, there are some bamboo trees, plum blossoms and cherry blossoms.

We hope you will add these spots to your “Tokyo explore list”, if you are planning to come visit Tokyo sometime in the future.

We will share not-so-noticed spots for “Somei Yoshino” Sakura in Tokyo soon!

Photos below are our Sakura jewelry.

You can enjoy your own cherry blossom in accessories.

Please visit our shop on Etsy, JapanCrossBridge!

Sakura cherry blossom jewelry on Etsy shop

Sakura cherry blossom ornament Etsy shop

2020-10-072021-03-28

Sakura cherry blossom – Japanese beauty and sensitivity

Sakura cherry blossoms painting art Kimono silk kakejiku

Japanese painting calligraphy art hanging scroll Kakejiku wall decor landscape Sakura cherry tree

I am obsessed with Sakura cherry blossoms.

Sakura is Japanese symbol.

We admire Sakura cherry blossoms in many ways.

Sakura is connected to our Japanese culture deeply.

Since ancient time, Japanese people enjoyed watching Sakura, called “Ohanami” (meaning “watch flowers”)

Spring time, under Sakura trees were full of people, sitting and having picnic.

This “Ohanami” habit is still very popular in Japan.

We see “Sakura forecast” (when cherry blossom start to bloom) on the TV news.

When Sakura starts to bloom, people start going out to have picnic under the Sakura trees.

This is our major Spring event.

We also eat Sakura flowers and leaves.

Pickled Sakura flowers and leaves are used for sweets or tea.

Tea leaf container or other tools are made using Sakura trees.

We have music about Sakura, called “SAKURA”, and all Japanese should know this song.

We have color called “SAKURA color”, which is light sensitive pink.

Sakura is used as Japanese symbol in many situations.

Sakura is very familiar flower for Japanese people.

Sakura cherry blossom time is very short, about one week.

When it starts blooming, it goes very quick to be full bloom, and as soon as it becomes full bloom, leaves start to come out and flowers start falling.

So the short period in full bloom and the beauty of Sakura flowers are often likened to the fragility of human life.

That is why cherry blossoms are symbol of beauty and transience.

I love Sakura, and cherry blossom time makes me excited.

Painting Sakura makes me happy and this is a good meditation for me.

That is why I keep painting Sakura.