Hey Chiba-Tokyo ACES, this Sunday, let's get together and visit Inohana-jo (Chiba Castle) & see a special exhibition: "All About Roses", at the Chiba Natural History Museum located in beautiful Aobanomori Park!
"The queen of flowers, the rose! We will show you roses from various perspectives such as botany, horticulture, and art history. Rare European books such as Resich's "Rose Colored Chart" & Ludute's "Rose Chart", Art Nouveau glass crafts, Japanese ukiyo-e, Japanese books, rose-patterned meisen kimonos & modern paintings displaying roses are on view.
"Materials will be gathered at the Chiba Prefectural Nature Museum on an unprecedented scale, so don't miss it!"
It's a very fine museum with displays including gorgeous crystals & creatures of all kinds, including birds, fish, mammals, dinosaurs, whales, mastodons (prehistoric elephants) & much more!
Museum Website: http://www2.chiba-muse.or.jp/www/NATURAL/index.html
[Admission fee] General 800 yen, high school / university student 400 yen
Forested Aobanomori Park is quite large & we will enjoy beautiful fall colored scenery!
BUT WAIT!
BEFORE we attend the Rose exhibit and explore this amazing museum and spacious park, let's visit nearby Chiba Castle, high on the hill overlooking the surrounding area!
Chiba-san, a local daimyo once ruled the area, This beautifully reconstructed castle, (also known as Inohana-jo) is the local folk-history museum, set in a lovely green park.
The Castle-museum will also be holding an exhibition honoring the 100th anniversary of the establishment of Chiba City!
"Chiba Tsuneshige built a large-scale castle around this site in the 1100's. His descendants ruled over the area from this castle until the late 1400's.
Chiba Castle website: https://www.city.chiba.jp/kyodo/
CASTLE ADMISSION IS FREE!
We'll meet just outside the Central ticket gate of JR Chiba Station at 11am, leave there at 11:15, then take a short bus ride to Chiba Castle. The Natural History Museum is just a short walk from the castle.
(From Tokyo station, it takes just 29-38 minutes by the Blue Sobu Rapid, or LTD. EXP SHIOSAI 3 train to reach JR Chiba, depending on when you leave!)
Please remember to bring your lunch or snacks & drink, or buy what you need at New Days so we can eat together in the park.
If the weather is nice, we may walk back to Chiba station, visiting gorgeous Chiba-jinja on the way. A beautiful shrine, dedicated to the God of the North Star! (Polaris) It's an easy walk on city streets, but please wear comfortable shoes!
SO, WHY DON'T WE ALL GO?
KERRY D.