Ajisai, or what is known in the West as Hydrangea, are a traditional symbol of Summer in Japan. Many species of ajisai are native to Japan and they come in many shapes and colors, from pure white to vibrant pinks and purples. Though hydrangea are known to blossom from early Spring to late Autumn in…
Tag: colorful
Chichibu Shibazakura
Every year for about six weeks, a mountainside park about 90 minutes outside of Tokyo turns into a controlled explosion of pink, white and lavender flowers. They are shibazakura 芝桜 , known as phlox in English, and they grow like a carpet of flowers against the mountain backdrop of Saitama. Chichibu is a town in…
紅葉 Autumn Leaves
Like the blossoming of the cherry trees in the Spring, the turning of the leaves from green to brilliant shades of yellow, orange and red in the Autumn are an event that enthralls the entire country of Japan. There are entire websites and magazines dedicated to predicting the best times to view the fall foliage…
鯉 Koi
These ornamental colored fish are a staple in Japanese gardens. A symbol of love and friendship (koi is a homophone for “love” in Japanese), these beloved fish are oooh’d and aaah’d over as they swim through serene garden ponds. They are also a symbol used on Children’s Day (May 5th). This photo, taken at Heirinji,…
365 JAPAN 