Kita-in Temple (喜多院) | Kawagoe (川越市), Japan

Kita-in Temple (喜多院) in Kawagoe

entrance to the temple

traditional dance

hanami

Kawagoe (川越市), Japan

Kawagoe (川越市) is a town just north of Tokyo where many buildings from the Edo period are still preserved today.
Getting there takes about 30 minutes on the Tobu Tojo Line express train from Ikebukero Station in Tokyo and costs 450 yen each way. However, a discounted round-trip ticket is available for only 700 yen. It's intended only for foreigners, though they didn't check passports when we purchased it.

Bell of Time (時の鐘 Toki no kane), built 350 years ago and still rings four times a day

Kawagoe Castle

interior hallway

Kawagoe Castle garden

Meguro River (目黒川) | Tokyo, Japan

Meguro River (目黒川) hascherry blossoms located right outside Nakameguro Station, which extend for almost a kilometer north. There are many restaurants and street vendors along the sides, though not much space for sitting.

lanterns illuminate the cherry blossoms in the evening