Nishi-Takashimadaira
Nishi-Takashimadaira
Station lies
on the Toei Mita Line in the Takashimadaira
district of Itabashi Ward of Tokyo.
This metro station, which lies on
the northwestern end of Tokyo, is
a terminus for all trains that run
past the Takashimadaira Sidings
on the Mita Line. Nishi-Takashimadaira
Station consists of two side platforms,
both heading in the same direction.
Takashimadaira
is a nature-filled and culturally
rich area of Itabashi, with several
places of interest. Among the attractions
in Nishi (or ‘West') Takashimadaira,
close to Nishi-Takashimadaira Station
are the Itabashi Art Museum and
the Itabashi Historical Museum,
both located in Akatsuka Tameike
Park.
Akatsuka
Tameike Park
Akatsuka
Tameike Park, located a 15 minute
walk from Nishi-Takashimadaira Station,
is a beautiful large park with lots
of trees and greenery. The beauty
of the park attracts a large number
of visitors, who like to come here
to spend their leisure time. Akatsuka
Tameike Park attracts the largest
number of people during the Plum
Blossom (Ume) Festival.
The
Plum Blossom Festival
is held in the beginning of March
every year at Akatsuka Tameike Park
when the plum blossoms are in full
bloom. There are over 213 plum trees
in and around the park and their
red and white flowers are a delight
to watch when they are in full bloom
in early spring. People from around
the city come here to enjoy the
beautiful sight during the festival.
Giving further entertainment to
the visitors are live music and
dance shows and the many food stalls
that are put up in and around the
park.
A
quiet and calm pond, called Tameike,
also stands in the park. At one
end of the pond stands the Itabashi
Art Museum.
Itabashi
Art Museum
Itabashi
Art Museum, founded in 1979, is
the first ward museum of Tokyo.
Its collection ranges from the paintings
and drawings of the Edo (1600-1868)
and Taisho (1912-1926) periods to
the contemporary art of Japan. The
museum also organizes special exhibitions
and various educational and informative
programs for all age groups. The
museum is open from 9:30 a.m. to
5 p.m. every day except Mondays.
Itabashi
Historical Museum
Itabashi
Historical Museum is located on
the opposite side of Tameike Pond.
Opened in 1972, the museum displays
more than 100,000 archeological
artifacts and items – including
fossils, pottery, and folklore materials
- from the Edo and Meiji periods.
A traditional folk village house
is also on display besides several
historical documents. The museum
is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
every day except Mondays.
Akatsuka
Castle
The
ruins of Akatsuka Castle stand not
far from the Itabashi Art and Historical
Museums. Akatsuka Castle was the power
base of the Yuritane Chiba, who held
sway over the northern area of the
region during the Muromachi period
in the mid-fifteenth century. In 1590,
at the end of the Hojo reign, the
castle was demolished… the ruins stand
till today.
