Tokyo

The final weekend of Jennifer's parents' visit took an urban twist when we hit the streets of Tokyo. After an enjoyable evening at the New Sanno (Department of Defense hotel in Tokyo, also site of the 2015 Seabee Ball), we headed for the Koishikawa Korakuen Garden. Designed in 1629 and Tokyo's oldest garden still in existence, these grounds offer a beautiful respite from the city with a Central Park feel (considering the buildings still in view from within its tranquility). It was a special treat to see a thriving garden of Irises, which bloom in the summer but are less common to see randomly around town.

Next we headed to the Imperial Palace, which as it turns out, is no longer really a palace at all. The complex's moat, gates and bridges still exist but the rest of the area is gardens and public space. Despite the lack of historic royal residence, the grounds proved to be quite beautiful and definitely worth a stroll. Rain and evening came at about the same time, thus bringing our final outing with Jennifer's parents to a close.

It was sad to bid farewell to our family visitors, now "Grandma and Grandpa", but we are infinitely grateful for the memories made and time spent together!

Iris garden!

JohnPaul and Grandma enjoying the flowers :-).

 

Does anyone else see NYC here?

Grandpa handling the stroller on some less than ramp-like terrain.

Lily pads!

Imperial Palace moat!

Hydrangea - One of Jennifer's favorite flowers to bloom everywhere in Japan!

Tackling the palace grounds!

Rain on a lily pond with another Iris garden in the background...are we in a painting?

Under the same umbrella :-).