Meiji Mura

Meiji Mura is an “open air museum” that takes you on a trip into the past. It includes buildings from the Meiji period (1867) through the Showa period (1989). The architecture from these periods is characterized by a strong influence of western ideas and techniques. The fusion of Japanese style with Greek columns, ranch style houses, gothic churches and more led to some very interesting structures.
Probably the most famous building is the entrance and lobby for the Tokyo Imperial Hotel, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and originally completed in 1923. It was created in a Mayan Style that is really interesting. The bricks are all different shapes and while they are art by themselves, they blend together to create a really interesting structure.

Meiji Mura Post Office

The post office is still working. You can sit in the center, write a note and actually mail it there. It’s really an interesting building, the main section is round and it includes a history of postal services around the world. Now...the Japanese was lost on us but the pictures of different boxes were cool. Actually, all of the different buildings had explanations in Japanese, English and Korean so it was easy to learn about each building.

Meiji Mura again

Here are some more of the interesting buildings at Meiji Mura. The first one is the entrance porch to a girls’ religious college. The 2nd picture is that of a ‘foreigners’ home in Kobe. They even had a completely separate building in the back, connected by a covered walk on the 2nd floor, for servants.

Meiji Mura Train

The train at Meiji Mura is a coal powered steam train. It runs on a single track from the top of the hill down to the midpoint of the museum. At either end, the conductors turn the engine around on a “hand powered” turn table. They put on quite a show for the kids…big and little…with lots of steam, many whistles and lots of waves.

Hanami 2

Another picture of hanami (read the article below for more information). The hillsides are just spectacular!

Hanami: Cherry Blossom Viewing

Hanami, or “cherry blossom viewing’ is taken very seriously here. There are websites available that track the blossoming of the famous sakura blossoms, letting you know when you might expect the ultimate viewing experience. The local trades people, not to miss out on an opportunity for a festival, set up their stalls ahead of time so that they’ll be ready for the matsuri (festival) the minute the blossoms come out in force.
The week before is a tease. You can see the promise…the tiny buds, the slight pink shade to the trees, the mountainside taking on a pink hue. A few bold blossoms poke out but the rest are still slumbering. And then…the moment arrives. ALL of the blossoms seem to unveil simultaneously. We went to work in the morning, noting the pink, the handful of blooms peeking out and the brave trees in full bloom but nothing spectacular. On our way home, the same day mind you,....oh my gosh it was like a switch had been turned on and EVERY tree had bloomed that very afternoon. Gorgeous!!!
Needless to say, the vendors went into high gear, the blue tarps were laid out under the trees, the sake (or beer) was purchased and people began VIEWING with a passion. We went to Tsuramai park on Saturday, a horribly windy day with a strange sun (thanks to pollution from China cascading into the region). It was cold, it was threatening to rain, it was gritty, but the people were everywhere. Some people had placed their blue tarp out with a note giving the group name and what time they’d be arriving AND, lo and behold, people respect that and the tarp will be waiting for you when you arrive after work (only in Japan….).