Category: Japan

Sakura 2018: Inokashira Park

Visit Date: 03/25/2018 (Best Time: early April)

Inokashira Park (井の頭恩賜公園) is a 43-hectares park located on the western side of Tokyo, which sits on both Mitaka and Musashino cities. It is easily accessible via the lively Kichijoji neighborhood. The park’s large pond is one of the favorite sakura spot in Tokyo with its 250 cherry trees lining up its banks.

The warmer weather over the past few days lead to the blossoming of sakura buds. The trees around the pond were 50-70% in bloom and looked very pretty.

Lovely cherry blossoms dangling over the pond.

Continue reading Sakura 2018: Inokashira Park

Kiyose Sunflower Festival 2017

20% of Kiyose City’s land area remains agricultural which makes it a great producer of crops such as wheat, cucumber, eggplant, spinach, carrots, and more. But every year, about 100,000 sunflowers are planted on a 2.4 hectares land which creates a  brilliant yellow field under the dazzling summer sun.

Continue reading Kiyose Sunflower Festival 2017

花火 Hanabi 2017 – Summer Fireworks Festival

Firework Festivals or Hanabi Matsuri are held all over Japan during the summer season. The festivals are participated by both local and foreign visitors because of the lively atmosphere and beautiful color display on the night sky. It is best enjoyed by enthusiast by wearing a traditional yukata, summer kimono or jinbei.

Below is a list of some of the 2017 Hanabi schedule:

Continue reading 花火 Hanabi 2017 – Summer Fireworks Festival

Water Parks around Tokyo 2017

Summer is here and what could be the best way to cool off the summer heat than to go swimming and enjoy the water. Fortunately, Tokyo offers abundant water parks where family and friends can go for a refreshingly cool getaways. Here are some of the water parks accessible from central Tokyo:

Continue reading Water Parks around Tokyo 2017

Hakone Gora Park

Gora Park (強羅公園) is Japan’s first French style garden opened in the 3rd year of the Taisho era (1914). It features a large fountain at the center with various seasonal flowers such as roses, azaleas, hydrangeas, wisteria, bougainvillea, peony, as well as cherry blossoms scattered around the garden. The garden is surrounded by wide sky and mountains which makes it a very relaxing place.

05/14/2017: The azalea flowers around the park are past peak with most of the flowers fallen on the ground. Those that were left however are still very pretty.

Continue reading Hakone Gora Park