Seishin and Tenjin

After my dad left for Finland, we spent time doing the things I've mentioned in the last two posts of Yurigahara koen (work and plan). 

We had a heat wave pass through, which was amazing and horrible at the same time (lol). 

The lilacs and wisteria began to fade, the dandelions were puffballs and everywhere was covered in willow.

Beautiful to watch it fall from the trees like snow. Hard to capture though!

Seishin riverside park has really grown in and become so lush!

 

After Seishin, we decided to eat lunch at Tenjin-yama koen. Another favorite park. 

The red maple and the orange and red rhododendrons are so intense it's hard to even describe. Or take photos of!

Elisabeth entertained us as we ate. :)

 

...and then she fell asleep and we meandered around the park looking for quiet spots to shit and chat and give her a chance to snooze in peace... harder said than done!

We went and explored a quiet shrine tucked away in a corner of Tenjin-yama. 

The road was lined with blooming lily of valley. 

 

Also, this little variety of iris. 

 

I love how she was sleeping...

The little prayers at the shrine.

 

We sure ended up missing that weather! (it was followed by about 10days of rain!) ick.

Walk to Makomanai

On Tuesday, we decided to take advantage of the spectacular sunny weather and walk to Makomanai along the Toyohira river.

Here we are already pretty close to our destination. In total, it's about 5-6 km I believe to Makomanai from where we live. 

 

There are lots of bridges to pass. 

 

Mt Moiwa looks so small and unimposing from this angle and distance. To think we were so high up the day before! 

 

Some people have super cool yards.

 

Sunny signs of summer:

 

All the spruces are making new growth.

The first wisteria we've seen in bloom.

 

Ah this bridge. Tucked away. :)

 

We picked up some lunch (sushi of course) from a grocery store deli and went in search of an appropriate lunch spot. On our way, we found a blooming little apple tree with some friends who also found lunch. 

Ick.

 

*giggles*

 

 We sat at the end of a playground with views of this park.

Apparently, it was made in honor of the Sapporo winter olympics in 1972. 

I believe.

After dinner, we let Elisabeth go down the slide a few dozen times. 

 

 Then we went to investigate the mock ancient Greek ruins. ;)

Oooh a cherry tree!

 

While taking the pictures, Elisabeth played with my sunglasses, took off her socks (her shoes were long gone at this point), and was generally having a good time.

 The bike parking lot by the Makomanai station. 

The subway parked at the station waiting to leave. 

 

It was pretty empty so I dared to take a quickie snapshot so you can see where we spend our time travelling (when we aren't walking)! 

 

It was another fun day! :)