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: floral
Ikebana 生け花
Ikebana, like tea ceremony, is more than art, but an integral part of Japanese culture. It is a discipline, taking years to master, yet practiced by millions who would attempt it. Unlike the more Western styles of floral design which focus more on color, ikebana focuses more on arrangement. Arrangements range from extremely minimal to…
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…
365 JAPAN 