Category Archives: Flower

Flowers in Spring, Summer and Autumn

Flower, Sightseeing

JP 2019 May Uminonakamichi Seaside Park

Gallery 3 Comments

Visited this public park for roses in a peninsula opposite to the bay from central Fukuoka.

It was quite a hot day close to 30C when we arrived at the train station, after 40 min by JR commuter train from Hakata with 1 change.

It took about 20 min on foot to reach one of the entrances to the huge park, and another 20 min to reach the rose gardens.

 

Spring flowers composing a colourful palette

 

As it was pretty hot, we stayed for about an hour+ and returned to Hakata.

 

It rained on the next day and thus it was cooler when we visited the Fukuoka Art Museum. Apart from the permanent exhibitions, there was a special exhibition – Flower Power by Yinka Shonibare CBE.

Photography is allowed in the public areas.

 

On the next day, we left Fukuoka and headed home with fond memories of Kyushu in Spring.

 

~~~~~~~~       T  H  E          E  N  D       ~~~~~~~~~

 

 

Flower, Sightseeing

JP 2019 May Kuju Kogen

Gallery Leave a comment

Before leaving Mt Aso after staying for 2 nights, visited Sensuikyo for Miyama-Kirishima (mountain azalea).

 

Sensuikyo (仙酔峡)

Luckily, the road leading up to Sensuikyo has re-opened from April (after being closed since the last earthquake in 2016).  The pink Miyama-Kirishima was almost in full bloom on the slopes. We left less than an hour later, when more cars were waiting to be allowed into the parking lot.

 

Kuju Flower Park

Arrived at the flower park around noon. Had casual lunch then visited various colourful flower fields.  There were live music performances close to the entrance on that Sunday which attracted many visitors.

The park was huge and we spent roughly 2 hours there. By the time we left rain clouds started rolling in. Though it was quite crowded (as expected), the park was beautiful with spring flowers and the Kuju mountain range as backdrop.

 

Last glimpses of Mt Aso before heading to Kurokawa onsen

 

 

 

===>   Kurokawa onsen  ====>

 

 

Flower

JP 2018 July Hokkaido (Part 4)

Gallery 1 Comment

Tomita Farm

visited Tomita farm in the morning to avoid excessive crowds and for easier parking. The lavender and flower fields composed into a colourful palette, as on posters 🙂

This was the most beautiful farm and not to be missed in peak lavender season.

 

Shikisai-no-oka

Not much lavender but colourful fields in stripes.

 

Hinode-koen (Sunrise park)

The lavender was grown along the slopes of a small mount in Naka (middle) Furano. It’s a popular spot for wedding photos.

 

Lunch in Biei forest

a small hut inside the Biei forest serving Swiss style cuisine.

 

===>  Part 5   ===>

 

Flower

JP 2018 July Hokkaido (Part 3)

Gallery Leave a comment

Minami (southern) Furano

After checking out from Shikotsu-ko hotel, headed to Minami-Furano in about 2 hours.

First lavender field in this visit, with view of Kanayama-ko.

 

Lavender East

Arrived at Furano after lunch.  Headed to Lavender East, operated by Tomita farm. 

 

 

Saika-no-sato

Drove slightly uphill to visit this farm again.

 

===>  Part 4   ===>

 

Flower

JP 2018 May Yokohama (Part 1)

Gallery 1 Comment

Stayed in Yokohama for last 2 nights before returning home.

Minatonomieruoka Park (港の見える丘公園)

Though its name is long, literally it means a park on mount where harbour can be seen.  We last visited in late Oct 2010 when autumn roses were blooming.  It was more brilliant this time with about 1600 bushes and other spring flowers in full bloom.

 

 

Yamashita Park (山下公園)

after lunch we visited this park on the harbourside, with 1900 bushes in full bloom.

 

===>   Yokohama (Part 2)  ===>

 

Flower

JP 2018 April Kanto (Part 2)

Gallery Leave a comment

Ashikaga Flower Park

On the next day we visited the Ashikaga Flower Park for Fuji (wisteria), also in full bloom, manifested by the fact that the entrance fee was raised to JPY1,800 right on the day we visited.

Took Tohoku Shinkansen to Oyama and changed JR Ryomo local train to Ashikaga Flower Park station, which was newly opened in April.  Though it was a Friday, we had to stand on the local train on both ways for 30min each due to huge crowds. 

Fuji flowers can be in purple, pink, white and yellow. The last two varieties are late bloomers.  While the purple and pink ones were in full bloom, the white Fuji were starting to bloom when we visited.

In the featuring photo is the big Fuji tree of 150 years old with a large span. Apart from small flower petals it also emitted a pleasant scent which attracted bees.

 

Sea of Azaleas and others

Apart from Fuji the sea of Tsutsuji (Azaleas) were blooming at the same time.  As these were in red, pink and white it formed a colourful palette with the purple and pink Fuji.

 

During the weekend we visited the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum. It happened that the masterpieces of French landscape paintings from the Pushkin Museum in Moscow were on special exhibition till July.

We also dropped by the new Tokyo Midtown Hibiya, which attracted huge crowds to line up.  It’s smaller than its sister Midtown premise in Roppongi. We did not stay long and headed off to Omotesando for cake and coffee.

 

On Monday morning, we headed off to northern Tohoku for sakura.

===>   JP 2018 April Sakura Kitakami  ===>

 

Flower

JP 2018 April Kanto (Part 1)

Gallery Leave a comment

Visited Japan for 25 days in April for Spring flowers in Kanto region, followed by sakura in northern Tohoku and Hakodate. Returned to Tokyo during the second half of golden week for a break. Visited western Izu, the Open-Air Museum in Hakone and Fuji Shibazakura Park before leaving Japan.

 

Hitachi Seaside Park

In our original plan we had intended to visit in early May. But in this year temperatures have been warmer since late March so sakura and other spring flowers have reached full bloom 7 to 10 days earlier than average.  Based on the blooming status, we made last minute changes in early April to stay in Tokyo for few days.  This has turned out to be a right call.

While based in Tokyo, we visited this park for blue nemophila in full bloom.  Though it was on a weekday, it was quite crowded.   The park was huge and the 4.5 million nemophila were grown in Miharashi-no-oka (a small hill) of 35,000 sqm.  Though we have seen the same in other Tokyo parks, nothing compares to its scale and density.

 

Next we headed to the tulip fields which were gorgeous as well.  Luckily we visited in mid-April otherwise they would have pelted in late April.

 

 

===>  Part 2  ===>

 

Flower

JP 2006 May Hokkaido (Part 2)

Gallery Leave a comment

Shichiku garden (紫竹ガーデン)

visited Shichiku garden when tulip was blossoming on a sunny day.

official website

Biei+Furano

Drove by beautiful Tokachi plain and onward to Furano. Visited Tomita Farm for the first time in early June.

 

Takikawa

visited rapeseed farms outside Takikawa.

 

Sapporo

returned to Sapporo and stayed in hotel on top of station.

 

Flower

JP 2006 May Hokkaido (Part 1)

Gallery Leave a comment

My first time driving in Japan.

After landing in New Chitose airport, took train to Obihiro and stayed overnight. Picked up rental car on next morning then drove to Akan-ko. Stayed in Tsuruga onsen ryokan for the first time. 

Akan-ko 

It was a rainy and cold day, around 11C if my memory was correct even in end May.

Higashi-Mokoto Shibazakura Park (東藻琴芝桜公園)

It was a rainy day with drizzles at times, but the scenery was awesome with the scale of Shibazakura on the hill slope.

official website

 

Kussharo-ko

visited this lake for the first time and immediately fell in love with it. It was serene with almost perfect reflections from the hotel garden and from room.

 

 

Tokachigawa onsen

stayed in this onsen for the first time and would return another 5 times.

 

==> Part 2 ==>