![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig374v0q68aYGm1qFsCciaWpyUIEUpjkdyVc5rScAorWu59aIizo83gSq5Kcc0AWqumlkAdg5UfV5BGsww7eY8ws-tBYJS9UtN7i3-McHjPj2sq-qesopz19sAiPL1HJikyfAVbQgCd6k/s320/tori+kanji.jpg) |
"Tori" or "Bird." From giant Port of Tokyo Wild Bird Park sign. |
It was around 3 pm and I was in Kanda. If I moved quickly I could grab a train, transfer to the Haneda monorail, get off at Ryutsu Center Station, and walk swiftly to the
Port of Tokyo Wild Bird Park before it stopped admitting people at 4:30. I would still have half an hour before closing to look around.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOUUmWPI70q_QSwV4qQL-ClyyeQoI-rI2FM2J1hpB6ore_SXp-I__txhJH9REBLBlGymoFndzuXePp1xCJyXO6dJ0HSCRi9A5dCJupSLGMmhf90sQb1Ljy44fuIL6O2BQtzW8Lq_ubAKQ/s320/Bird+park+half+km.jpg) |
0.5 Km to the Wild Bird Park |
Signs along the way counted down the distance I still had to travel.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzXJJWBuZd0whfFswo7E35EpQr7i42ynWM195O1Is6EQLpgHGKv0ewgN7zvIILL6QmJIbWJS-Jq6TJsMAcHMXrjSRtIR9uZZ0jvyUezc4eWcyJ58VJ6SevDLGNtApT7DtnVXEQxwwZvAM/s320/tokyo+port+bird+park+traffic+sign.jpg) |
Traffic sign directing cars to the Bird Park |
Apparently it was important enough to the area to have its own traffic signs.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSj0rSNZomMHVnGDUeOsi6knzJfuddUbeYlH-uqHffst86ZhrHWVHNwkFCGjISr79fN0fpCanwHqB78bgIm8eDcbgoDEpOHTGZWWpaCdVc4NbFxHDLeNnm013VOh7XSLXTmJeHtLXKpUA/s320/bird+park+300+m.jpg) |
Only 300 meters to the entrance! |
Finally, I reached the corner of the fenced-in park, only 300 meters to the main gate.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRCOeyrj60EYt9a3ae2fNThMRqKWUPQcUtzEkE6i2KYoTRqi1_vjx3i5ViJc4CkheFlDSPBtjyvppHmJpSaUM2zqoWEJe4hA-ttYhsDe_8qTxHtz_y_HcYn4tbaH6W3pdkwzNtg0-kyrM/s320/bird+park+closed.jpg) |
New Year's closure 12/29 to 1/3 |
It was still before 4:30 when I arrived, only to find... that the park was closed for the holiday. I thought I had checked this online but... Oh well, I wasn't going to have time to bird anyway. And it was nice to have a context for the park's location even if I couldn't get inside.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF-UMtg9MbDKFS1RGVwINOw3o5DEzFE-ZbskpIizwekBMzJ0XzMZ3IwZ-uj69xSbKNx_DCCyryJvZ-VaObSme0z-GfVvLhWeLzeUUAgNZQCLaDfXMjuuaz87FDWplJzSWFr3ezzyJKLwE/s400/yurikamome+question.jpeg) |
What's this bird? |
On the way back I discovered a series of bird information monuments featuring common birds that locals should know. This gull with the black head is what?
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt1DrmSG-M58C33lMX6ptqY1P4MRPrRK4J_kUPvr5EgVPRR3eB_zVYmr2_2mzNjxTum6u1KjeKYBwzwkJrwOarAg8u4NvVhf3B606WF_4PZGpy2JX7kv200cnk2Z9dt79Fac4Hzh0pyCY/s400/yurikamome+answer.jpeg) |
Yurikamome (Black-headed gull) |
Yes, the black-headed gull. The local name is "Yurikamome." (The name of a new Odaiba-based train line). During the winter they settle at city parks and take handouts.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEPtMUCJ4aVgxJ6RxPZMXx7G0hQB087aRYWlko9U7lrBYSAUSFUl386ilR7am41NJR90XCYzdWtItmaKSz0EOHNKT5yXkUD5b1VLMM8xNrTnOQs7NUAfrg2zEkZL-L69XVOsuM5TYzL9g/s400/yurikamome+feeding.jpg) |
Yurikamome (Black-headed gull) outside Tokyo station. |
If you find yourself at Tokyo Station in the winter with time to spare, it is worth leaving from the main entrance and walking towards the Imperial Palace grounds.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRzD70g_HOG7fgRMl27HsR8J4L4pFenHmX5b3IvIeVVIalaM4dnZl64vjSnIvKGK5fFp29lfJailmz7b9TYT8O8fJsgTkpuhxKNeTF9ShGiKN3ZSyOgzfGUPziwerKTnM4daUdHuiO3Xk/s400/yurikamome+individual.jpg) |
Yurikamome, outer moat of Imperial Palace Grounds. |
The outer moats are filled with urban-adapted water birds, such as tufted ducks, coots, cormorants, little grebes, and lots of yurikamome.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiokP9GqMC2bzUlyUahDi0_vV8eIx3cUp8KNGZFGEDYIn0ELv7lzk4tOlTE_jTRvEVv4bX3oCE6IE0P0OzeaERYRSW3TwcFpp9zru4U18MdN3huVdBJSmyYy057O8sHGMKfPCsox8KpULM/s400/Tokyo+station+yurikamome.jpg) |
Yurikamome, near Tokyo Station. |
Next post: Kyoto.
2 comments:
I went to the Tokyo Wild Bird Park a few years back and quite enjoyed it. Shame you didn't get in this time. I ran into a similar situation when I tried to visit the Kobe Oji Zoo (unforeseen overlap with a holiday).
I'm going to have to try again (after the Olympics etc!)
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