Taken on March 25, 2014. This is the love water at Kawagoe Kumano Shrine.🌸

【Fluffy Hydrangea Wreath】 Wednesday, April 15th The first dry flower workshop of the year was held🪷 Nishiokoppe Village is also being wrapped in the warmth of spring. Surrounded by many flowers, some participants began to feel a sense of excitement as gardening and fieldwork are finally starting. This time, we made wreaths using dried hydrangeas as the base, decorating them with other flowers and fruits. The process of creating parts and attaching them is common in such floral arrangements. Regular attendees quickly formed hydrangea rings, decorated them skillfully, and chatted lively while working. While I struggled to create the hydrangea base, a reliable and experienced neighbor helped me with the parts, making the workshop enjoyable, including those interactions. Thanks to the combinations of hydrangeas and the materials chosen for decoration, each piece was filled with individual touches! I am immensely grateful to Yuka Sato, the instructor, for providing such opportunities. #Lesson #Dried Flowers #Arrangement #Wreath Making

Behind Kōgen Shrine, located along the Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Route's Nakahechi course, you can see a large camphor tree with a trunk circumference of over 6 meters, as well as a cluster of ebine orchids. Take your time to enjoy the Kumano Kodo while reflecting on the ancient people.

Today I love to recommend a place in Tokyo which is Yushima Tenjin Shrine. Spring in Japan isn't just about enjoying the cherry blossoms, spring begins with the beautiful fragrance of plum blossoms, and you can witness the ume matsuri, or plum festival at Yushima Tenjin Shrine. It is near the Ueno park area and this festival usually held in 1st week of March every year. Ume lasts much longer than sakura, so its beauty can be enjoyed for a long time. Around 300 plum blossom trees are spread over the temple premises which are visited by many visitors every day. Besides, during this festival, various cultural events are held on the temple ground during the holidays.

Taken on April 22, 26. This is le bilboquet near Akasaka Station. This week's lunch features pork belly and green peas with butter rice.

This is the illumination of the Neodani Usuzumi Zakura located in Gifu Prefecture. I felt the strength of this ancient tree, said to be over 1,500 years old.

Title: Fading Light Location: Niwaki Dam Lake, Takeo City, Saga Prefecture The particles of light and petals overlap, bringing the end of the season to the surface of the water. This is a photograph capturing the quiet afterglow of spring.

The weeping cherry blossoms in Kamihocchimachi, Numata City, Gunma Prefecture. They are located on a mound, with a Jizo statue at the base, and in the background, you can see the remaining snow on Joshu Hotaka Mountain. This is one of my favorite photography spots. The weeping cherry blossom, known as Hatsuchi no Jizo Zakura, is in full bloom. On a clear day, the Jizo statue served as a model for my photos. The parking area is small, making it a landscape in the satoyama that I wish to cherish.

I took photos at Ashikaga Flower Park in Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture, which is famous for its wisteria flowers and illuminations. Ashikaga Flower Park offers various flowers throughout the seasons, including roses, water lilies, and tulips, all of which bloom beautifully on a grand scale. Although it had rained until the morning, the weather cleared up, allowing me to see droplets on the early-blooming tulips, truly capturing the essence of spring.

I took this photo at the Akagi Kogen Service Area on the Kan-etsu Expressway. I happened to stop by and was able to see the beautiful Joshu Hotakayama and Komagatake with their remaining snow. I included the cherry blossoms that were blooming at the service area in the shot. It turned out to be a photo that captures the feeling of "the arrival of spring."

Taken on April 22, 2014. This is the wisteria trellis in front of Sanno Saryo at Hie Shrine.

A Yoshi burning event heralding spring took place in Oramachi, Tatebayashi City, Gunma Prefecture. The Yoshi burning at Tatara Swamp is impressive as it can be viewed up close. We felt the heat of the flames while capturing photos, covered in soot. Tatara Swamp is also famous as a stopover for swans, but this year, perhaps due to the warm weather, there were hardly any swans present. However, egrets, ducks, and weasels were seen scurrying around.

In the garden at dusk, small cherry blossoms bloom softly against the backdrop of the three-storied pagoda, adding a gentle touch to the scenery of Chinzan-so.

Taken on April 22, 2014. I visited Hie Shrine. The azaleas were very beautiful.🌺

Title: Spring Unfolding on the Water The cherry blossom tree-lined path at Niwaki Dam Lake in Takeo City, Saga Prefecture, takes us from the present tranquility back to spring ten years ago. In this windless moment, I sensed spring unfolding upon the water's surface.

Photographed on April 22, 2014. This is the cherry blossom tying at Akasaka Hikawa Shrine.🍒 To convey their wishes, the shrine maiden ties a red thread to the cherry blossom. At that time, a wedding ceremony was taking place in the main hall.

Taken on April 22, 2022, in the 26th year of the Heisei era. This is a flower water offering (a traditional Japanese practice) at Akasaka Hikawa Shrine.

Rengebatake and local line Rengebatake was a common sight during my childhood, but now it has become a rare landscape. I captured a nostalgic atmosphere with the local line (Hokusei Line). Ageki Town, Inabe City, Mie Prefecture April 24, 2026

Basking in the spring light... I found a little happiness during my walk🌼 The vibrant yellow gave me energy✨️

Event Announcement📣 On Saturday, April 25th, the "Ikeda Town Tourism Opening Ceremony" will be held in front of Ikeda Station! During the ceremony, a wine glass fountain will be flowing, and the Ikeda High School Brass Band will perform🎵 Additionally, there will be plenty of family-friendly activities, including food booths featuring local gourmet, a children's festival, a wine pouring experience into the fountain, and a display of police vehicles🤗 📍Date and Time: Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM *Event will be canceled in case of rain 📍Location: JR Ikeda Station (Higashi 1-jo, Ikeda Town, Nakagawa District) https://kankou-ikeda.com//

The cherry blossoms at Ariakesan Shrine in Azumino have started to fall🌸 The carvings on the shrine's mountain gate, Yumeimon, are impressive❗️ It is said to be modeled after the Yōmeimon of Nikkō Tōshō-gū.

🌸 The Ezo Yamazakura cherry blossoms in front of Tomakomai Station have started to bloom. 🌸 Today, the expected high temperature is 11°C, making it a bit chilly, and the sunlight is weak, so I couldn't take very good photos. However, I believe you'll be able to see pictures of the cherry blossoms in full bloom soon. The white figure in the background of the second photo? It's actually a bus stop. It is shaped like Tomakomai City's official character, Tomachoppu. If you visit Tomakomai, be sure to check it out in person! 🚢

Taken on April 22, 2014. I visited Akasaka Hikawa Shrine. I was having a pre-shoot.

Photographed on April 22, 2014. Near the chozuya at Tokyo Daijingu Shrine, azaleas were in bloom. Upon closer inspection, a bee was coming to sip nectar.

Life blooming on a green branch. A slender green life stretches from the tip of a broken branch. The roots may leave the earth, and the trunk may lie flat, but the cherry blossoms simply bloom. Quietly, strongly. They give their all to bloom in the 'last spring'.

Today I love to recommend a place in Tokyo which is Yushima Tenjin Shrine. Spring in Japan isn't just about enjoying the cherry blossoms, spring begins with the beautiful fragrance of plum blossoms, and you can witness the ume matsuri, or plum festival at Yushima Tenjin Shrine. It is near the Ueno park area and this festival usually held in 1st week of March. Ume lasts much longer than sakura, so its beauty can be enjoyed for a long time. Around 300 plum blossom trees are spread over the temple premises which are visited by many visitors every day. Besides, during this festival, various cultural events are held on the temple ground during the holidays.

Even on days when spring feels downcast, a fleeting view can be vibrant, lifting my spirits just a little.

On a morning after the rain, the cherry blossoms scattered on the transparent roof of the parking lot appeared to overlap like a multiple exposure, creating a stunning view. Even when the flowers fall, they remain beautiful.

"Shiokaze Garden" on Kasado Island in Kudamatsu City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, has been trending on social media. I encountered this vibrant spring scene while capturing cherry blossoms for the first time with my new camera. I spotted a single boat coming toward me from the calm waters of the Hiuchi Nada sea, feeling as if it was celebrating the start of a new season and the beginning of my camera journey.

Photographed on March 7, 2014. This is the flower water offering at the omikuji (fortune-telling paper strips) distribution area of Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.