Japanese culture · 10. June 2021

Living along with seasonal flowers

I think the Japanese love for cherry blossoms is famous all over the world, but the hydrangea that blooms during the rainy season is also loved. Hydrangea blooms from June to July. And that is just the rainy season in Japan. The seasons change from winter to spring, and the cherry blossoms are in bloom. When you think it's the perfect season, soon the rainy season bigins. And beautiful hydrangea flowers help in such a gloomy season. There are many famous hydrangea sights in Tokyo. People go out to meet hydrangeas. Even if it's raining, they say, the hydrangea looks good on the rain so that people are willing to go out.

You can see the hydrangeas that bloom on the side of the road, and they also bloom in many parks. But the hydrangeas that bloom in temples and shrines are exceptional. Originally, shrines and temples are located surrounded by nature.

Above pictures of hydrangea is in Takahata Fudo temple. This temple is located in a low moutain. While hiking you can enjoy beautiful hydrangeas.

And below photos are from Hakusan shrine. They say there are about 3, 000 different hydrangeas. Hydrangea festival is held here every year. Many concerts performed by students, many food stands, green tea offering, etc. If you come to Japan at this time of the year, you can enjoy this kind of festivals here and there.

And not only the hydrangea festival, but also the iris festival at this time.

Come to think of it, the plum festival in March, the cherry blossom festival in April, the azalea festival in May, the hydrangea in June, the iris in July, the sunflower in summer, the chrysanthemum in autumn, the daffodils or peony festival in winter. Those festivals continue all year round. The Japanese really love flowers and festivals. We live along with seasonal flowers.