Tenshin-ji Temple

Allusion to Alice in Wonderland

Olga Jun 01, 2015 - 1 min read

Here comes the Queen. It seems that she will start screaming "Off with their heads!"

This here ought to have been a red rose tree here (OK, camellia), but the white one with red veins has grown instead...

Apparently, gardeners painted only half of the roses and dumped the ladder

The King and the Queen of Hearts are guarding the temple building's entrance

Of course, there is a Japanese lantern and a bowl of water

Do you remember Carrol's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland?

"A large rose-tree stood near the entrance of the garden: the roses growing on it were white, but there were three gardeners at it, busily painting them red. Alice thought this a very curious thing, and she went nearer to watch them..."

I thought it was curious too, and came along to Tenshin-ji. Indeed, there were Japanese tsubaki Camellias of two colors – red and white – on the same tree. And nearby stood the Queen and the King of Hearts. If you doubt it, stop by the Buddhist temple Tenshin-ji as you travel from Azabu to Hiroo.

Olga @olga.kaneda

Living and freelancing in Japan since 2013. A big dog lover. Adores Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot, Argentine tango, Spanish language, good coffee and Scottish shortbread.