Hinomaru Driving School

There's an unique building with a big ball on the wall beside JR Yamanote Line.
This is Hinomaru Driving School.　There're courses for driving practice in front of this building.

Hinomaru means Japan's flag, rising sun.
I don't know what's inside the ball.

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<The Nearest Station>

JR Ebisu station /JR Meguro station on Yamanote Line

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Otori Shrine

Otori Shrine was established in 806 when the spirit of Yamato Takeru no Mikoto came down here as a white swan. He's a prince of the Keiko Emperor and he came to Eastern part of Japan to conquer natives.

This shrine is on the oldest map of Edo (Tokyo) as Bird Shrine.
Only nine shrines are on this map.

Now we have 1500 shrines in Tokyo.

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<The Nearest Station>

JR Meguro station on Yamanote Line
Meguro station on Mita Line (I01/Toei Subway) /
Namboku Line (N01/Tokyo Metro)

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Ikedayama Park

Ikedayama Park is a Japanese garden on the hill with a pond at the bottom.
This place used to be the house of a feudal load Ikeda family.

View from the top of the hill is beautiful.

There're Koi (Carp) in the pond.

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<The Nearest Station>

JR Meguro station / JR Gotanda station on Yamanote Line
Meguro station on Mita Line (I01/Toei Subway) /
Namboku Line (N01/Tokyo Metro)
Gotanda station on Asakusa Line (A05/Toei Subway)

<Admission>

Free of Charge
7:30 - 17:00  Closed from Dec.29th through Jan.3rd

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Meguro Parasitological Museum

Meguro Parasitological Museum is a research facility established by the private funds of a medical doctor, Satoru Kamegai in 1953.

It was rebuilt to the current six-story building in 1992 and the parasite exhibition space was fully renewed in 1993.

"Diversity of parasites" exhibition is on the 1st floor and "Human and zoonotic parasites" exhibition is on the 2nd floor.

8.8 m long tapeworm exhibition is impressive.

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<The Nearest Station>

JR Meguro station on Yamanote Line
Meguro station on Mita Line (I01/Toei Subway) /
Namboku Line (N01/Tokyo Metro)

<Admission>

Free of Charge

10:00 - 17:00 Closed on Mondays and Fridays,
                   Year End and New Years Holidays

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(S09) Maniac Museums and Temples in Megro

Megro has unique museums and temples which may not be known well.
But they are worth visiting because of their uniqueness.

Megro Gajyoen has "Hyakudan Kaidan" or 100 steps stairs and decorated restrooms.
Museum pf Contemporary Sculpture is an open air museum in a temple.
Parasite Museum has a lot of parasite specimens, so it may be better to visit after lunch.
500 Rakan Temple has over real size 300 Rakan wooden statues.
Megro Fudoson has over 1100 years history.

Route and Links are as follows.

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JR Meguro station on Yamanote Line
Meguro station on Miata Line (I01/Toei Subway) /
Namboku Line (N01/Tokyo Metro)

1. Meguro Gajyoen

2. Museum of Contemporary Sculpture

3. Lunch

4. Parasite Museum

5. 500 Rakan Temple

6. Meguro Fudoson Temple

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Meguro Fudoson Temple

Meguro Fudoson Temple was developed in early 9th century.
This temple has been popular and this was one of three lottery places in Edo.
(The others are Yushima Temmangu Shrine and Yanaka Kannoji Temple.)

The name of the place "Megro" comes from this Meguro Fudoson Temple.

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<The Nearest Station>

JR Meguro station on Yamanote Line
Megro station on Mita Line (I01/Toei Subway) /
Namboku Line (N01/Tokyo Metro)

<Admission>

Free of Charge

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Five Hundred Rakan Temple

Five Hundred Rakans are 500 Disciples of Buddha.
A priest Shoun made more than 500 wooden statue of Rakan in Edo era.
We have many stone statues of 500 Rakan, but wooden statues are very unique.

This temple used to be located in Honjo and popular among people in Edo.
But it fell after Meiji Restoration and moved twice, then settled in current location.

Currently, 305 statues still remain.
Real size statues are sitting together and each one has its own character.
Photographs in 500 Rakan Hall are prohibited but spending quiet time with many Rakans is an interesting experience.

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<The Nearest Station>

JR Meguro station on Yamanote Line
Megro station on Mita Line (I01/Toei Subway) /
Namboku Line (N01/Tokyo Metro)

<Admission>

300 yen

9:00 - 17:00

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Rest rooms in Gajoen

A Happy New Year !!

Somehow, new year starts with an article about rest rooms.
Public rest rooms in Japan have good repetition because of their cleanliness.

Rest rooms in Gajoen are gorgeous.
You may not notice if you don't have rest room signs in front of the entrance.

There's a bridge inside and pictures on the ceilings.

There're make up booths in Ladies' rest room.

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<The Nearest Station>

JR Meguro station on Yamanote Line
Megro station on Mita Line (I01/Toei Subway) /
Namboku Line (N01/Tokyo Metro)

<Admission>

Free of Charge

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