As a young child, school picnics were always a special treat, offering time away from the classroom and a chance to cut loose in the countryside, or at least the park. The sense of occasion added to by a bag filled with a fancier than usual lunch tucked into a variety of different coloured dishes — all of them trusty Tupperware.
And judging by the picture below, Japanese kids enjoy similar days trips just as much.
The only perceivable difference being that in the north of England our teachers took us to eat in places that had plants and ponds, whereas their counterparts in Tokyo clearly don’t.
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Looks to me like they’re under a railway bridge, sheltering from the sun.
Given the horribly hot weather we’ve been having recently, I reckon they’re being eminently sensible.
Plants and ponds are great, but they get HOT!!!
True. But with trees, shade and grass rather than gravel only 5 minutes away, it’s an odd choice for a spot of lunch.
yeah, looks pretty uncomfortable
Great picture, and write up!
Look closely at the picture. There’s at least a river there (just infront of residential area in the distance).
This is not as horrible as it may look. In Japan, the nearest river is a classic spot for a picnic, and this looks like Tamagawa river in Tokyo. (Could be anywhere though..) As another commenter wrote, under the bridge in the shade is a good spot to sit. By Tamagawa (if that is where the photo is from) there are big green lawns where people play games, also the river is divided up and flows on both sides of where these people sit.
This looks pretty sad, but if I had to be outside in Japan (or Asia in general) I would definitely seek the best shade available as well.