To get there I had to pass through the rose garden in Yamashita park where I saw this little girl appreciating the flowers. She was so photogenic I felt compelled to take her picture.
From there I took the cross over short cut that overlooks the Ginkgoes that line Yamashita Koen Dori. They [the leaves] turn a beautiful gold color in the fall.
Once on the Bluff the first thing I one comes to is the entrance to the Foreign General Cemetery.
It's a historical sight filed with marvelous head stones and markers of the foreigners that passed away in years gone by. I've been inside but I feel it's somewhat insensitive to take pictures of where loved ones have been laid to rest so I'm just showing the entrance.
This is a small garden restaurant across the street from the cemetery. It was closed on this day but it does look like a nice place to take tea and relax.
Walking through the Bluff one can see all the old houses once inhabited by Westerners and Europeans and now owned and maintained by local citizens.
A number of the houses have been turned into coffee shops and historical museums.
It's a nice quiet neighborhood that is a real pleasure to walk around and soak up the peaceful atmosphere.
This is the site of a house that was completely demolished by the great earthquake of 1923.
This is one of the houses that has been converted into a coffee shop.
The sidewalks on the Bluff are made of real stones.
This is the entrance to a privet residence; I was impressed with the art deco style.
School girls heading for the school bus.
The sign in front of this house said "British Consular".
The Bluff is filled with charming things from the past.
The Harbor View Park where one can view...
The Harbor. When the park was originally established the water of the harbor came up to the base of the Bluff. Times of Changed.
The harbor is filled with wharfs, buildings, ships and of course the Bay Bridge.
After I left the Bluff I strolled through Motomachi; it's an upscale shopping area.
This guy looks like he's heading home, and so am I.
Thanks for stopping by!
Mike
How charming. I had no idea this place existed. Ever visited any of the house-turned-coffee shops you mentioned? Seems like a great spot to spend an afternoon. Thank you for the post!
ReplyDeleteHi Alisha,
ReplyDeleteI was by myself last Monday when I visited the Bluff and wasn't inclined to sit in a coffee shop by myself. I hope to return this weekend with my wife and visit a couple of them. BTW, I checked out your blog and was quit impressed.
Regards,
Mike
Nice view.. It was rather historical, other than those common modernized places to see.. Are this places preserved or considered like a place for tourist to visit? Or are these places still functioning until right now, and just that the design of the structures were really like that? xD
ReplyDeleteHi Paulo, the Bluff has a lot of historical significance; its part of the original foreign settlement established after Commodore Perry opened Japan to the western world. Many of the houses are quite old and are private residences while some of the others have been rebuilt and are now coffee shops.
DeleteThat's great! Though, wasn't the houses some kind of scary because it is old? Is it good enough to endure Earthquakes to some extent?
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