Roller Coaster

I have seen Hanayashiki translated as "public flower garden" and "flower mansion."  Since opening about 170 years ago, a lot has happened in this little park.  In addition to the gardens, the park was home to many animals in its early days.  The park's zoo celebrated tiger quintuplets in 1923.  The first lion born in Japan occurred here in 1931.  The first rides were added in the late 1800s, but the whole park was destroyed in the Great Kanto earthquake in 1923.  Measuring approximately 8.0 on the Richter scale, the quake caused widespread fires and destruction in the Tokyo area.  After the Second World War, the park reopened in 1947.  Even today, the park continues to evolve as evidenced by the activity in this picture.

©2020 Joel A. Rogers.