Last additions - JAPAN PHOTOS by Philbert Ono

Last additions

Apr 13, 2006

Another tree with photogenic blossomsApr 13, 2006

Marker commemorating a "Plum Summit" held in Ome by representatives of cities well-known for plum blossom gardens, such as Mito, Ibaraki; Atami, Kanagawa; and Annaka, Gunma.Apr 13, 2006

Apr 13, 2006

The reds and whites contrast well with the dark greens...Apr 13, 2006

Closeup of "sakura-bai." Very beautiful. 桜梅Apr 13, 2006

Apr 13, 2006

Spectacular viewpointApr 13, 2006

I think the white ones smell the sweetest...Apr 13, 2006

This one is nicknamed "Married couple" blossom because it looks like two flowers have fused as one.Apr 13, 2006

Minabe in Wakayama Pref. is the only place where I saw more plum blossoms than this.Apr 13, 2006

Notice the plum blossom "waterfall" on the left.Apr 13, 2006

Wish the sweet fragrance could come through your computer screen...Apr 13, 2006

Apr 13, 2006

A "waterfall" of weeping plum blossoms しだれ梅の滝Apr 13, 2006

Apr 13, 2006

The park is 35,000 sq. meters.Apr 13, 2006

A "waterfall" of weeping plum blossoms (Shidare ume no taki) しだれ梅の滝Apr 13, 2006

Path going further up the hillApr 13, 2006

Weeping plum trees part of the "waterfall"Apr 13, 2006

Yoshino Baigo plum treesApr 13, 2006

View from topApr 13, 2006

Weeping plum blossoms at the top of the plum tree "waterfall."Apr 13, 2006

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Rest house at top of the hillApr 13, 2006

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Spectacular viewApr 13, 2006

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Needless to say, the entire place was filled with sweet fragrance.Apr 13, 2006

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Path going further up the hillApr 13, 2006

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View from one observation rest houseApr 13, 2006

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These red ones also smell very nice. Different from the white ones.Apr 13, 2006

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Photogenic pink plum treeApr 13, 2006

Apr 13, 2006

The fragrance is also different. I smelled most of them, and well on my way to becoming a connoisseur of plum blossom fragrances.Apr 13, 2006

Rare plum tree with both pink and white blossoms. It has one branch with pink flowers. Never saw that before.Apr 13, 2006

Apr 13, 2006

Photogenic pink plum treeApr 13, 2006

Perhaps the most common species of plum blossom.Apr 13, 2006

The park has about 120 varieties of plum blossoms. You can see how different they look.Apr 13, 2006

Path on hillside of plum treesApr 13, 2006

White plum blossomsApr 13, 2006

Hillside plum treesApr 13, 2006

Work of art by natureApr 13, 2006

Apr 13, 2006

Path in plum parkApr 13, 2006

With about 1,300 plum trees, this park is probably Tokyo's largest plum tree grove.Apr 13, 2006

Pink weeping plum blossomsApr 13, 2006

White weeping plum blossomsApr 13, 2006

Pink and white weeping plum blossomsApr 13, 2006

White weeping plum blossomsApr 13, 2006

Red weeping plum blossomsApr 13, 2006

About 120 varieties of plum blossoms are planted, attracting 60,000 to 100,000 visitors during the flowering season.Apr 13, 2006

Red weeping plum blossomsApr 13, 2006

Red weeping plum blossoms at park entranceApr 13, 2006

200 yen admission charged during March only. But I went on April 1 so it was free (and full bloom).Apr 13, 2006

Ume no Koen (Plum Park) is a public park open from 9 am to 5 pm.Apr 13, 2006

Apr 13, 2006

Entrance to a temple with a viewApr 13, 2006

Near the entrance to Ume no Koen plum blossom park that opened in March 1972.Apr 13, 2006

View from temple. The plum pox virus was discovered in 2009. Since then, they have cut down the infected and surrounding trees.Apr 13, 2006

Great view from temple (no admission charge). Sadly, this is no more...Apr 13, 2006

Tamagawa River as seen from the bridge.Apr 13, 2006

Ume no Koen park straight ahead, you can see the hill covered with white.Apr 13, 2006

Yoshino Baigo's main attraction is the Ume no Koen plum park. This is an entrance leading to the park.Apr 13, 2006

Plum trees line the streetsApr 13, 2006

Road to Yoshino Baigo. Almost the entire town is lined with plum trees.Apr 13, 2006

Yoshino Baigo was a valley and hillside covered with ume plum trees. It boasted a wide variety of different plum blossoms. During full bloom as you can see here, the scenery was spectacular. One of the largest plum groves in Japan.Platform of Hinata-Wada Station with welcome banner 日向和田駅. Banner says, "Yokoso, Ume no Sato Yoshino Baigo." Yokoso means "welcome," and Ume no Sato means "plum town."
To get to Hinata-Wada, you have to change trains at Ome Station on the JR Chuo Line.
Apr 13, 2006

Closest train station is Hinata-Wada Station. To get to Hinata-Wada, you have to change trains at Ome Station on the JR Chuo Line. 日向和田駅Sadly, spring 2014 was the last time we could see these trees. The plum trees were infected by the plum pox virus and the city cut down all the trees in 2014 to wipe it out. These photos were taken in 2006 when the plums were still fully glorious. Good news is that they have been replanting since 2016.Apr 13, 2006

Although still small, the replanted plum trees have been flowering. and the groves have reopened to the public. Yoshino Baigo poster. Yoshino Baigo is a small town in Ome city near Hinata-Wada Station.Apr 13, 2006

Train back to Mito.Apr 12, 2006

Fresh oystersApr 12, 2006

Ika squidApr 12, 2006

Baby scallopsApr 12, 2006

Dried fishApr 12, 2006

Seafood restaurantsApr 12, 2006

The beachApr 12, 2006

Seafood restaurantsApr 12, 2006

Anko seafood soup (miso-based)Apr 12, 2006

Wave breakersApr 12, 2006

Resort hotelApr 12, 2006

Sign saying Oarai is famous for noren curtains.Apr 12, 2006

Apr 12, 2006

Higashi Mito Station (on the way to Oarai)Apr 12, 2006

Oarai StationShort ride from Mito Station.Apr 12, 2006

Observation tower at the beach and a symbol of OaraiApr 12, 2006

Ferry port (service to Otaru, Hokkaido)Apr 12, 2006

Path from shrineApr 12, 2006

Boat museum within the shrine groundsApr 12, 2006

ShrineApr 12, 2006

Giant votive tablet (2006 is the year of the dog)Apr 12, 2006

Isosaki ShrineApr 12, 2006

Koma-inu lion dog and lanternsApr 12, 2006

Isosaki Shrine toriiApr 12, 2006

Isosaki Shrine torii as seen from the beachApr 12, 2006

Isosaki Shrine's second giant toriiApr 12, 2006

Isosaki Shrine toriiApr 12, 2006

Torii at seaApr 12, 2006

Oarai Isosaki Shrine torii at seaApr 12, 2006

ShorelineApr 12, 2006

Oarai Isosaki Shrine torii at seaApr 12, 2006

Oarai Isosaki Shrine's giant toriiApr 12, 2006

Oarai townApr 12, 2006

Oarai Isosaki Shrine's giant toriiApr 12, 2006

Oarai Isosaki Shrine torii at seaApr 12, 2006

Cherry blossoms are beautifully lit up at night in Chidorigafuchi.Apr 12, 2006

The crowd admire the night blossoms called yo-zakura.Apr 12, 2006

Blossoms and boat at nightApr 12, 2006

People stream below a tunnel of cherry blossoms at night.Apr 12, 2006

Long line to enter the cherry blossom path...I did not stand in this line.Apr 12, 2006

Chidorigafuchi cherry blossoms are also lit up at night.Apr 12, 2006

Horrendous line of people from Kudanshita Station inching their way to the cherry blossoms.Tip: You don't need to stand in this line. Just walk on the right toward the blossoms and keep walking on the side street parallel to the blossoms. You will soon find a way to enter the park.Apr 12, 2006

I slipped in and joined the crowd.Apr 12, 2006

Chidorigafuchi lit up at night.Apr 12, 2006

Nihon University college band was part of the parade. 昔の築地本願寺の花まつりApr 10, 2006

昔の築地本願寺の花まつりApr 10, 2006

Look at all those Cub Scouts. They don't participate today. 昔の築地本願寺の花まつりApr 10, 2006

Buddhist flag. 昔の築地本願寺の花まつりApr 10, 2006

The chigo parade of bygone days was much longer with a lot more kids. 昔の築地本願寺の花まつり: かなり長い行列でした。Apr 10, 2006

A very long hanamatsuri parade leaves the temple. 昔の築地本願寺の花まつり: 集合は別院内、これは出発。Apr 10, 2006

昔の築地本願寺の花まつりApr 10, 2006

Chigo children. 昔の築地本願寺の花まつりApr 10, 2006

昔の築地本願寺の花まつり: 日大のバトン部かApr 10, 2006

Hanamatsuri in the old days (lot more children and people). 昔の築地本願寺の花まつり: 子供の数が大多かった。Apr 10, 2006

Chigo children. They have two black dots on the forehead and a white stripe on the nose. They don't paint the white stripe today. 昔の築地本願寺の花まつり: 鼻に白い線が塗っている。今は、塗らない。Apr 10, 2006

Chigo children. 昔の築地本願寺の花まつりApr 10, 2006

Many little kids held a long rope to pull the white elephant. 昔の築地本願寺の花まつりApr 10, 2006

Oedo Sukeroku Taiko troupe. They were all girls and super good!大江戸助六太鼓Apr 10, 2006

Beating backward: Oedo Sukeroku Taiko drummers大江戸助六太鼓Apr 10, 2006

Oedo Sukeroku Taiko troupeApr 10, 2006

Oedo Sukeroku Taiko troupe大江戸助六太鼓Apr 10, 2006

The white elephantApr 10, 2006

Taiko drum performance by Oedo Sukeroku Taiko troupe. 大江戸助六太鼓Their Web site: http://www.oedosukerokutaiko.com/

大江戸助六太鼓Apr 10, 2006

Apr 10, 2006

Temple hall exteriorApr 10, 2006

Playroom for kidsApr 10, 2006

Apr 10, 2006

Statue of St. Shinran (1173-1263), founder of the Jodo Shinshu (Pure Land) Buddhist Sect.Apr 10, 2006

Cherry blossoms and the templeApr 10, 2006

Pipe organsApr 10, 2006

Outdoor food courtApr 10, 2006

Statue of St. Shinran, founder of Jodo Shinshu sect.Apr 10, 2006

Praying to the Hanamatsuri altarApr 10, 2006

Chigo kids enter the templeApr 10, 2006

Hanamatsuri service inside the templeNotice the Hanamatsuri altar at the center.Apr 10, 2006

Hanami-do housing a statue of the baby Buddha on which sweet tea is poured. When the Buddha was born in Lumbini Garden, flowers bloomed.Apr 10, 2006

The elephant follows the band.Apr 10, 2006

Hanamatsuri service inside the Tsukiji Hongwanji templeApr 10, 2006

The parade was over after 30 min. (11:30 - 12 pm).Apr 10, 2006

Entering the temple gateApr 10, 2006

Final performanceApr 10, 2006

Baton-twirling club, Tsukiji Hongwanji, Tokyo 千代田女学院バトン部千代田女学院Apr 10, 2006

On the road in front of the templeApr 10, 2006

Band from the Chiyoda Jogakuin Girls Junior/Senior High SchoolNo problem photographing them.Apr 10, 2006

Female schoolmates of the baton twirlers block the cameras of unrelated photographers when the baton twirlers passed. カメラ小僧を妨害するバトン部の先輩たち。This was the first time for me in Japan to see people blocking photographers from taking pictures at a festival. They did it to me as well. If they don't want to be photographed, why do they appear in this public festival??

妨害しても無駄だと思いますが。撮られるのがいやでしたら、まつりに出ない方がいいですよ。Apr 10, 2006

Start of the Hanamatsuri parade which also promotes traffic safety.The starting point was a nearby park.Apr 10, 2006

Parade starts...Apr 10, 2006

Chigo childrenApr 10, 2006

Baton-twirling club from the Chiyoda Jogakuin Junior/Senior High School followed by the elephant千代田女学院Apr 10, 2006

White elephant to anchor the parade. Notice the Buddha altar riding on the top. Before she gave birth to the Buddha, Queen Maya dreamed of a white elephant.Apr 10, 2006

Children dressed for the chigo parade, Tsukiji Hongwanji, TokyoIt took a long time before they could get all the kids to settle down for the picture and to get all the mothers out of the picture.Apr 10, 2006

Children dressed for the chigo parade (photo session), Tsukiji Hongwanji, TokyoApr 10, 2006

Going to the chigo parade's starting pointApr 10, 2006

Pouring sweet tea over the BuddhaWhen the Buddha was born in Lumbini Garden in Nepal, sweet rain is said to have fallen. Thus, sweet tea is poured over the baby Buddha statue in the Hanamatsuri altar.Apr 10, 2006

Hanamatsuri altarApr 10, 2006

Baby Buddha statueLadles are provided for pouring the sweet tea over the Buddha. Sweet tea is also provided to worshippers. It symbolizes the sweet rain that fell when the Buddha was born.Apr 10, 2006

Hanamatsuri celebrates the Buddha's birthday on April 8. This is Tsukiji Honganji in Tokyo.The flowers symbolize Lumbini Garden where the Buddha was born in present-day Nepal.Apr 10, 2006

Established in 1617, Tsukiji Hongwanji temple is the Tokyo headquarters of the Nishi Hongwanji Jodo Shinshu sect. The present temple, based on Indian architecture, was built in the 1930s.The temple is the only one in Japan which is under the direct control of the sect. Its head priest is the Monshu Abbot himself. April 8 is observed as Buddha's birthday, called Hana Matsuri ("Flower Festival) in Japan.Apr 10, 2006

Tsukiji Hongwanji temple gate with wisteria crest.The emblem is a wisteria flower and symbol of the Jodo Shinshu sect.Apr 10, 2006

Temple gate and flagApr 10, 2006

Play room for kids on HanamatsuriApr 10, 2006

2. Hitozato ひと里Apr 09, 2006

(Applause)Apr 09, 2006

Facing the right in thanks...Apr 09, 2006

ArigatoApr 09, 2006

7. Sawagi さわぎApr 09, 2006

Tossing free hand towels to the audience, a real crowd pleaser...They do this every year. Most people sitting in the front can catch one.Apr 09, 2006

With okami-sanApr 09, 2006

7. Sawagi さわぎThe finale where all the geisha appear on stage.Apr 09, 2006