Thank you for joining our tour visiting the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace on January 12th. We welcomed 19 people from Australia (16), U.S.A.(1), Canada (1), Japan (1). This time we have a lot of Australian guests, who I hope enjoy Japan’s winter particularly skiing.
According to weather forecast it is bad weather, but we are not caught in the rain. Usually plum blossoms start to bloom in February and they are a symbol of coming the spring. Some of the plum trees in the Imperial Palace East Gardens are starting to bloom.
In Japan, the second Monday of January (this year it is 14th) is Coming-of-Age Day. On this day, youths who have reached the age of 20 are cerebrated. Municipal governments hold grand ceremonies. So you may see the young men and women dressed in formal wear such as kimono. They can legally drink alcohol and smoke.
(posted by N)