Chiba-koen

I have mentioned before in one of my posts that Chiba-koen is my favorite hanami (flower viewing) spot in Japan. Not much have been written about this park since most locals and tourists prefer Tokyo area during spring, but I and my friends usually visit this place every year.

pink cherry blossoms 

falling faster than my hair 

i am growing old 

~ totomai 

Bodypaint

Today, I am a year older and there’s no stopping it. Most of you are aware of my yearly birthday tradition - photo shoot in birthday suit. I was running out of idea and then I met Ai-san, a body painter in Yokohama, in one of photography meet-ups.

Wisteria

Named as one of the dream destinations by CNN, the Ashikaga Flower Park in Tochigi Japan is home to two of the oldest wisteria trees in the world. The wisteria blooms few weeks after the cherry blossoms and always coincides with the celebration of the Golden Week.

Tulips

Spring in Japan continues with or without the cherry blossoms. Most of the times, people assumed that spring is over once the sakura blooms fall. But there are still lots of flowers all over Japan this season. Just like the tulips which are currently taking the centerstage in Kanagawa prefecture.

Chidorigafuchi

Chidorigafuchi is one of the popular spots for cherry blossoms (sakura) viewing. It is just a couple of stations away from our office. Seven springs had already passed since joining our company but I never had the chance to do a hanami there. Maybe because I try to avoid the crowd.

Momo

Spring is finally here. Everyone is busy preparing and/or updating his/her itineraries so as not to miss the arrival of sakura aka cherry blossoms. Sakura may be the most popular bloom in Japan during spring, but there are other flowers that are equally beautiful too. One of them is the momo hana or peach blooms.

Surreal

Between summer and autumn, there is a must-see place in Japan that everyone must see. The Hitachi Seaside Park is often listed as one of the most surreal places to visit. Though seasonal flowers are being showcased throughout the year, mid-April to mid-May and end of September to mid-October are considered perfect time to visit. Nemophila or baby-blue eyes turns the park into a blue mountain in April / May and kochia bushes turn it to a blushing hill in October. It must be noted that Kochia or fire bushes are quite selfish as they turn green just after two weeks of being red.

Kinchakuda

If you want to experience spring once again in these late summer-early autumn days, then go to Ikebukuro station and take the Seibu Ikebukuro Line to Koma station. In less than an hour, you will find yourself in Kinchakuda-Manjushage Park.

Kinchakuda-Manjushage Park extends along a pouch-shaped rice field embraced by the Koma River. It is just spectacular to see over a million red spider lilies blossoming out together in Kinchakuda along the river. The best time to view the blossom is from the middle of September to the middle of October. more here

 

Bloomsville

It’s a wrap! Springtime’s over. And if you think that Japan only showcases cherry blossoms or popularly known as sakura during spring, think again. Japan is blessed with various flower species, which in one way or another, have the same charm and appeal as that of cherry blossoms. It’s about time to know some of them. It may be a year early but here are some of the places you should visit next spring in Bloomsville aka Japan. Again, I am not including the cherry blossoms spots.

Petals

The sakura exhibition is finally over. Its petals, drizzling in the city, were the confetti. Mother Earth knows how to put up a show, a seasoned conductor. For the past two weeks, pink canopies covered the city to the delight of tourists and locals. Their arrival was earlier than what was forecasted but the audience did not mind at all.

 

spring curtain closes 

pink canopies and carpets 

a seasoned artist 

Spellbind

The spring season casts its spell a little early causing a major shake-up to everyone's schedule. Thousands troop to parks for the seasonal hanami or cherry blossoms viewing. Ah, spring, why so early this year? 

   

 spellbinding moment 

showering of pink petals 

tomorrow's autumn 

Over

Winter's officially over. Though the breeze may still get cold from time to time, there's no denying that winter already bade adieu. Blooms and buds slowly carpet the city, signaling it's spring. 

Spring used to be my favorite season but when I had kafunsho or pollen allergy (yes, I'm turning Japanese), having itchy eyes, constant sneezing, I sometimes wish summer would come immediately after spring. But no matter what, allergy would not stop me from going outside, with mask of course, to take photos and appreciate the season.

 

Hanami

Finally, it's spring. The most anticipated season in Japan has finally arrived. It also means that will the streets and parks will be covered with pink canopies, aka cherry blossoms (sakura), for a limited couple of weeks. It's mother nature's treat, or to an extent a bribe, for giving us a cold embrace for the past few months.

 

Budtime

SPRINGTIME IN JAPAN. I always associate hope and new beginnings to spring. And Japan needs strength to rebuild and move on. It's been more than a month since the March 11 earthquake and Japan, unfortunately, continues to experience countless aftershocks. Hopefully, everything will be still soon.

once a shackled earth

broken and rocked forever

be still Dear Japan

Despite of getting a pollen allergy during this time, I still look forward to it. Along the streets, you can see buds growing and trying to carpet the sidewalks. It would be concrete paradise anytime soon, in my prefecture of course.

Also, it is about time to abuse my webbed macro lens. Shooting blooms with macro lens it's a time travel of sort. It brings you to another dimension, showing off details that can't easily be noticed by our eyes.

Sometimes, you have to appreciate the small things around you. You may miss an golden opportunity if you only look forward to big and easily found items. Ah, spring. Thank you for painting the town in pastel.

During spring, sakura (cherry blossoms) in Japan is very popular, both to locals and foreigners. There are lots of sakura varieties but, yeah, shame on me, I can't really name one kind. I took an emergency leave to the Philippines for a week and when I returned to Japan I was surprised that sakura was already in full bloom. Considering that sakura only shows-off for a week (or two), I decided to go around the neighborhood one Sunday afternoon and these are all what I got.

It was good to see lots of Japanese in the park, enjoying the spring season. Most of them are with their family and friends, having BBQ, picnic. It was a picture of normal Japan. For a short time, no trace of tragedy on their faces.

Japan is on its way to recovery. Sooner than everyone thinks.

For the days, months, or years to come. I can only hope BE STILL JAPAN.

Help Japan, if you can.

Gambare Nihon!

/totomai
04/17/11

Spring

With workloads and deadlines increasing, I find it difficult to monitor the changing seasons, but I think its spring already. The blooms and buds are slowly dominating the once-bared branches. Almost everyone is anticipating this season, especially those who hate winter. I am one of them.

I am not sure if this is my third or fourth time to experience spring. The past springs were problem-free but this particular time I am having a bit of allergic reactions to pollen. My eyes are very itchy, my head hurts and I sneeze like there's no tomorrow. My Japanese officemates say its kafunsho.

Kafunshō (花粉症) is a type of hay fever that has specific causes and effects in Japan. Shortly after World War II, reforestation policies resulted in large forests of only sugi trees. These trees become competitive with each other and produce large amounts of pollen. This pollen is a major source of this allergy for people in Japan. Some people in Japan get medical laser therapy to stop the parts of their nose that are sensitive to pollen.

The famous sakura (cherry blossoms) symbolizes spring and spring symbolizes hope. My ex-Japanese girlfriend told me about a story related cherry blossoms. Her older sister, aged 10 then, got sick and wasn't able to complete school. Just before the school closes, she died. Their mother planted a blossom in front of the school so as to honor her memory.

Then, there's a famous song Sakura being played over and over again in Japan. Since its such a hopeful song, it is often used as a graduation song here in Japan. Well, I do like this song too. Haha!

I have lots of spring memories too. Hope the poem below can summarize those events.

Spring

The boulevard’s pink,
skies and streams too. The wind whispers
someone’s watching you.

The Sputnik Sweetheart,
covers, hides your pinkish face.
As I route to you.

Hi! Konnichiwa!
we say the words together;
pink petals falling.

Trees are bare and bold,
sometimes white and cold, waiting
for me to come back.

The boulevard’s pink.
skies and streams too. The wind whispers
let's start things anew.

/totomai

Right now, the weather is very erratic. Sometimes, its too cold that you might think winter has returned. Or too hot that its summer already. Nevertheless, I am eagerly waiting for spring to be in full blast. Where the streets and the fields are naturally carpeted. And the air is filled with floral and undistilled scents.

Spring being spring.

/totomai
03/22/09