Dec. 30--Tamagawa Ramble

Today I did a loop with Eugene and his son Alex. The standard loop is to roughly follow the Tamajyosui (a long canal that branches off from the Tama river and goes in to Shinjuku) and ramble about. Alex is studying architecture in college so we cruised through some neighborhoods near Inokashira Park and then went to the circular kindergarten near Tachikawa. It has a grassy center and a ring of classrooms, all with large glass doors that can be opened in good weather. Each room then has a ladder to the roof that is one huge circular wooden deck for playing on. In the back corner there is also an area for the ducks and goat and benches and a chalkboard for outdoor class. Makes you wish you could be a student there. Even Monocle thinks it is cool: http://www.monocle.com/sections/design/Web-Articles/Fuji-Kindergarten/

Eventually we headed to the brewery restaurant near Haiijima and the river. It is an old sake brewery with gorgeous buildings and a beautiful courtyard. They also brew (delicious) beer these days and the restaurant has great food. A gem of a place that is thronged with cyclists on the weekend who come up from the cycling course along the river. http://www.tamajiman.com/english/
Back along the river was uneventful. Fewer ballgames and picnickers this time of year so easier to sail along. Then we returned following the Odakyu line. We cut through the really nice green path between Setagayadaita and Shimokitazawa. There was a new building advertising large apartments.... Might have to check it out.