Image search results - "tsutsuji" - JAPAN PHOTOS by Philbert Ono

Image search results - "tsutsuji"

Nezu Station (Chiyoda Line) platform. Just follow the sign to get out the correct exit. 根津駅

On the street, just follow the signs to Nezu Shrine. Only a few minutes walk.

Nezu Shrine torii gate 根津神社

The Bunkyo Tsutsuji Matsuri or Azalea Festival is held from April to early May at Nezu Shrine which has a slope filled with 50 varieties of azaleas.

Azalea Garden and Nezu Shrine gate 楼門（国指定重文）

The azaleas usually reach full bloom in late April, but there are flowers which bloom later or earlier so there's always something in bloom during the festival period.

This bridge was recently rebuilt.

The large slope of azalea bushes have walking paths where you can see and photograph the flowers up close.

Nezu Shrine, Tokyo

Some bushes are in full bloom, while others are still too early.

Entry to the azalea garden. 200 yen admission (actually a donation). Open 9am to 5 pm.

Walking path among the azaleas.

Shrine gate and azaleas.

This variety of azaleas are the most common in Japan.

Many exotic varieties of azaleas.

Mixed colors

Dainty ones

Flower crush

Great view for lunch.

Guess who was there too? Nobuyoshi Araki, Japan's most famous photographer shooting the azaleas at Nezu Shrine, Tokyo. That's a Canon EOS 7 film camera.

Top of the slope.

Quite spectacular from the top. Nezu Shrine.

Azaleas and torii gates, Nezu Shrine

Buds to bloom

White and pink mixed together.

This little hill was spectacular.

All these reds and pinks drove my eyes crazy.

They cannot bloom any better than this.

The White One

Azaleas and torii gates

This was a weekday so it is less crowded than the weekend.

How do they mix these flower colors?

More flower blobs...

Azalea Ball

Can you believe yellow azaleas??

Great relief for the eyes after seeing so much red and pink. Yellow azaleas.

Splotch of pink on white

Wish they also wrote the name in English... ハナグルマ

Torii gates and azaleas

Entrance to Tsutsujigaoka Park in Sendai, Miyagi. The park is near Tsutsujigaoka Station on the JR Senseki Line, one stop from Sendai Station.

It's also possible to walk to the park from Sendai Station, about 20 min.

These photos were taken in early May 2012.

The varieties of cherry blossoms in the park.

Grassy lawn in the center of the park.

Folk History Museum. Didn't have time to enter.

A nice long row of weeping cherry trees at Tsutsujigaoka Park, Sendai.

I was too late for the Somei Yoshino trees.

Obiki ferry dock is on the left above the bridge on this map.

Approaching Tsutsujigaoka Park

Map of Tsutsujigaoka, a National Scenic Site. It's a low, flat hill full of azalea bushes. There is a maze of foot paths going through the azalea. 名勝

Tsutsujigaoka Park is a lakeside park featuring this low hill almost 200 meters long and 80 meters wide.

Even the edges are incredibly colorful. This edge had group photo stands.

Mind-blowing just to see so many azalea along the edges. But much, much more was waiting on this hill.

Tanuki and azalea, a good match? I prefer women and flowers. Tsutsujigaoka

Tourist information office

Shopping street for tourists next to Tsutsujigaoka.

Tsutsujigaoka Park, Tatebayashi

Rest house on Tsutsujigaoka.

Tanuki sighting near Lake Jonuma

A few azalea bushes had passed their peak.

The hill also has a few azalea tunnels.

My friend in Tatebayashi tells me, "The legend of the azalea park is that the lord of Tatebayashi, Sakakibara Yasumasa, had a mistress named Otsuji.The wife was jealous of her and gave her such a hard time that Otsuji threw herself into Lake Jonuma and died. Since her name sounded like tsutsuji, the lord planted the garden to console her soul."