For my friends who are gardeners

Within walking distance of our hotel, across the Sumida River and a block beyond that on the other side, are two parks, Kiyosumi Park and Kiyosumi Garden. The latter has a 150 yen entrance fee because it is famous: "famous rocks from all over Japan were brought in to embellish the garden," completed in the Meiji period. There used to be a stately home here too but that was destroyed in the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923.

Black pines and willow trees hang over the pond. There are parts of the garden where even at this time of year flowers are blooming. Birds (including some blue backed, long blue tailed ones with black heads, and many sorts of duck) and fish are everywhere, and one of the famous rocks has a haiku carved into it:

Furu-ike ya, kawazu tobikomu mizu no oto

meaning: The sound of a frog, jumping into an old pond.

I'll let my photos speak for themselves. I wandered round the garden for over an hour in a blissful trance. It was warm enough to sit on the benches and gaze. This must be the loveliest garden I have ever visited.