flowers

Nokonoshima: flower park

memoirsofaleishaLeave a comment

Last autumn, whilst down in Kyushu, I took a half day trip to the island of Nokonoshima – just a short train and boat ride away from Fukuoka. I was in Saga at the time, so had got up early to travel from Saga to Fukuoka and then to the boat port.

Nokonoshima is a very small island. The only thing I saw there was the flower park, which is what the island is famous for. The park occupies much of the island.

From Nokonoshima

Highly recommend going when the flowers are in season. I was in luck. Even though it was November, I managed to catch the field of cosmos flowers. Weather was surprisingly gorgeous and the view of the surrounding waters from the island was really nice too.

Enjoy the colourful flower photos:

First, the boat ride:

From Nokonoshima
From Nokonoshima
From Nokonoshima
From Nokonoshima

And if all that water makes you wanna pee, follow the signs once at the flower park:

From Nokonoshima

Once you arrive at the port at Nokonoshima, you need to take the local bus to the park. It’s all uphill, along windy narrow roads, so a rental bike is not really recommended.

The flower park is at one of the highest points on the island. Great views:

From Nokonoshima
From Nokonoshima
From Nokonoshima
From Nokonoshima
From Nokonoshima
From Nokonoshima
From Nokonoshima
From Nokonoshima
From Nokonoshima
From Nokonoshima
From Nokonoshima
From Nokonoshima

The park is quite large. There are different sections for different flower fields. There is even a small animal/farm section.
Saw me some goats….I’m not kidding!

From Nokonoshima
From Nokonoshima

There’s even swings for the kids:

From Nokonoshima
From Nokonoshima

The highlight was the cosmos field:

From Nokonoshima
From Nokonoshima
From Nokonoshima
From Nokonoshima
From Nokonoshima
From Nokonoshima
From Nokonoshima
From Nokonoshima
From Nokonoshima
From Nokonoshima
From Nokonoshima
From Nokonoshima
From Nokonoshima
From Nokonoshima
From Nokonoshima
From Nokonoshima
From Nokonoshima
From Nokonoshima

And these flowers were cool too, really bright:

From Nokonoshima
From Nokonoshima
From Nokonoshima
From Nokonoshima
From Nokonoshima
From Nokonoshima
From Nokonoshima
From Nokonoshima
From Nokonoshima
From Nokonoshima
From Nokonoshima
From Nokonoshima
From Nokonoshima

Allow yourself a few hours to walk around the park. It’s super relaxing and peaceful. Take a book, chill out, pack a picnic or eat at the restaurant there.

From Nokonoshima
From Nokonoshima
From Nokonoshima

I managed to spend a couple of hours here, and then made my way back to Fukuoka for my afternoon flight back to Tokyo.
All in a day’s work.

Nokonoshima Island highlights

memoirsofaleishaLeave a comment

More photographic treats.
From Fukuoka city, just a 10minute ferry ride is a small island called Nokonoshima. There’s a big island park there which has an impressive garden park filled with an assortment of seasonal flowers and great ocean views.

Here are a few highlights.

From Nokonoshima highlights
From Nokonoshima highlights
From Nokonoshima highlights
From Nokonoshima highlights
From Nokonoshima highlights

Seeing Red: Hitachinaka Seaside Park

memoirsofaleishaLeave a comment

Ticked off another thing on my Japan bucketlist and went to the Hitachinaka seaside park yesterday in Ibaraki prefecture. A nice way to enjoy the long weekend.
Had timed the visit so it fit in perfectly with the autumn kochia season. Last year, my autumn trip was to Oze. This time it was to the Hitachinaka flower park. A massive spanse of an area dedicated to flowers. Key times are spring and autumn where they plant seasonal flowers for en-masse viewing. There’s a 10km cycling route and a ride theme park area as well. You could spend the large part of a day there. Spent about 3 hours there and still didn’t see everything. I wouldn’t mind going back in spring.

I came for the red kochias there and they were pretty awesome. Cosmos flowers were also out. Lots of people on a long weekend though but still got to take lots of pretty pictures.
You’ll be seeing red. And lots of it!

From Hitachinaka seaside park

Brace yourself for the throngs of people:

From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park

These flowers are called cosmos:

From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park

These burning bushes are kochia:

From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park

So that’s where my shoes went!

From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park

The saddest fountain ever:

From Hitachinaka seaside park
From Hitachinaka seaside park

After a day walking around, there’s only one thing for it – an onsen.
Highly recommend this one: http://www.ajigauraonsen.jp/

Cherryblossoms

memoirsofaleishaLeave a comment

That time of year where the cherryblossoms bloom. It’s oh so wabisabi.
They were only out for about 2 weeks this year and peak hanami viewing was hampered by rain.
Nevertheless, snapped a few shots of the cherryblossoms.

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/OSndNRjT75uk0NrO-KgONl1Dt6afYLMC_5J_ERPEVds?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-v3nqpgXankc/U0QA0smytUI/AAAAAAACiaQ/XRjyAPzrGPo/s640/sakura.JPG&#8221; height=”640″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Cherryblossoms02?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Cherryblossoms</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/njyu-MEFdjCwmOmpN8s-Ol1Dt6afYLMC_5J_ERPEVds?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-JsPTRJLyFa0/U0QA4HLjyNI/AAAAAAACiaY/OFVDvhMbtj0/s640/yoyogi%2520hanami.JPG&#8221; height=”640″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Cherryblossoms02?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Cherryblossoms</a></td></tr></table&gt;

Here are some taken around my workplace:

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/WdsIZObYtZakq3AYeW2uPl1Dt6afYLMC_5J_ERPEVds?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-HoQKtOybcBQ/Uzq200KqASI/AAAAAAACiEQ/E1kVAIlbTjM/s640/DSC_0498.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Cherryblossoms02?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Cherryblossoms</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/yyWAkQq2-1KwJ2ZSY6-fZF1Dt6afYLMC_5J_ERPEVds?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-xYZXQMBFl54/Uzq218DIzMI/AAAAAAACiEM/O4cpFOwXyas/s640/DSC_0503.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Cherryblossoms02?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Cherryblossoms</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/L82aUVBL1nnHdOwDFAfjvl1Dt6afYLMC_5J_ERPEVds?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-LGOLlNI0QnA/Uzq23MvrwbI/AAAAAAACiEs/6dG5obi8Q0I/s640/DSC_0504.jpg&#8221; height=”640″ width=”425″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Cherryblossoms02?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Cherryblossoms</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/7mJT5rVh0nUg9ZwQ2HnHcF1Dt6afYLMC_5J_ERPEVds?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-L17LN_DTjt4/Uzq2-acxhRI/AAAAAAACiGc/4jwK8CJ7tbo/s640/DSC_0522.jpg&#8221; height=”640″ width=”425″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Cherryblossoms02?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Cherryblossoms</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/b61W6jkizsDZEtrmNTY3yV1Dt6afYLMC_5J_ERPEVds?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-5gebEziOGmg/Uzq3AZ4EumI/AAAAAAACiG4/i76p8BrzMt4/s640/DSC_0528.jpg&#8221; height=”640″ width=”425″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Cherryblossoms02?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Cherryblossoms</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/HcO-EdJ3zgQEa6Lws0kdNF1Dt6afYLMC_5J_ERPEVds?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-LrhWMvea_Ik/Uzq2_riHt6I/AAAAAAACiGw/X-gQt12UIQ8/s640/DSC_0527.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Cherryblossoms02?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Cherryblossoms</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/NVgi-bcfMTtwc32t2n4NBl1Dt6afYLMC_5J_ERPEVds?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Um5ZNQjqlls/Uzq3BEGVtPI/AAAAAAACiHU/JmI7n9Etp3Y/s640/DSC_0532.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Cherryblossoms02?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Cherryblossoms</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/V3_yVzt9NhojWLGCaaic2l1Dt6afYLMC_5J_ERPEVds?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9AzlV09Gwnw/Uzq2wwjl54I/AAAAAAACiDE/hSwkbs29QcA/s640/DSC_0487.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Cherryblossoms02?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Cherryblossoms</a></td></tr></table&gt;

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/y1FYzfp8d-lghJBbMNM6GV1Dt6afYLMC_5J_ERPEVds?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-tVIE7hE0m2M/Uzq2z-lDw-I/AAAAAAACiDw/YthwqOvFZ-Y/s640/DSC_0494.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/Cherryblossoms02?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Cherryblossoms</a></td></tr></table&gt;

Here are some taken around my neighbourhood during an early morning walk:

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Lio5lS0h4bOGWnno50Bz1BBrg7ZMpatMx_wgTAbOWXo?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-WM7Bnc1sCxs/UztK-qrrG7I/AAAAAAACiKI/p4fUd-zE0gw/s640/DSC_0003.jpg&#8221; height=”640″ width=”425″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/NeighbourhoodSakura?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Neighbourhood sakura</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/I3CM5ieCAPBzRFBDLbG0RBBrg7ZMpatMx_wgTAbOWXo?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ulL3Z26vvts/UztLAxrgLEI/AAAAAAACiKk/UA4boJyD2dQ/s640/DSC_0008.jpg&#8221; height=”640″ width=”425″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/NeighbourhoodSakura?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Neighbourhood sakura</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/RTPH28ckV5ejglh2BtvAJhBrg7ZMpatMx_wgTAbOWXo?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-e2DD7zNhr60/UztLEgLQLII/AAAAAAACiLw/BX6riJKOSCM/s640/DSC_0015.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/NeighbourhoodSakura?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Neighbourhood sakura</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ce8-LcT9j7YEY4hOerjYvBBrg7ZMpatMx_wgTAbOWXo?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-u6GP602xFOk/UztLFd52ZuI/AAAAAAACiLk/YXI-Hs8NSwo/s640/DSC_0016.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/NeighbourhoodSakura?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Neighbourhood sakura</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/-Q9bb2L15q0ggwrIoHE9mRBrg7ZMpatMx_wgTAbOWXo?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ikGCDs0Jnsk/UztLIQZA7oI/AAAAAAACiMc/OsAZxhQKuFk/s640/DSC_0022.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/NeighbourhoodSakura?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Neighbourhood sakura</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/GVdcDzQqqanCnuHw5EYsjhBrg7ZMpatMx_wgTAbOWXo?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-NvmWdy0Xr6k/UztLItRE7lI/AAAAAAACiMg/Ttq8v_yAH04/s640/DSC_0023.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/NeighbourhoodSakura?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Neighbourhood sakura</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/VzxkRdzaV2HKPPE1HBCsNhBrg7ZMpatMx_wgTAbOWXo?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-NmNFyJQ6dxQ/UztLJfR9MVI/AAAAAAACiM0/skJvVfJviB4/s640/DSC_0024.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/NeighbourhoodSakura?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Neighbourhood sakura</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/K0HEdjg9fDBR9vuwfcDRDRBrg7ZMpatMx_wgTAbOWXo?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-yItpBKAI558/UztLJYYcThI/AAAAAAACiM8/PbhUn9Rzbro/s640/DSC_0025.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/NeighbourhoodSakura?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Neighbourhood sakura</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/sG6S5LvQukK5VqsbzQzMwxBrg7ZMpatMx_wgTAbOWXo?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-rdwk5faAJXs/UztLNqUw0sI/AAAAAAACiOQ/_K1aqSeF_3A/s640/DSC_0034.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/NeighbourhoodSakura?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Neighbourhood sakura</a></td></tr></table>

And here are a few unexpected snaps during the above said walk.
Someone collecting beer cans and lining them up on the sidewalk:

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/zGKUa80ZJT-a8Odz-ywIxhBrg7ZMpatMx_wgTAbOWXo?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-0DHU_h68YBc/UztLL8HaUMI/AAAAAAACiNc/yWcIjctGMoQ/s640/DSC_0030.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/NeighbourhoodSakura?authuser=0&amp;authkey=Gv1sRgCOa5-PWWiOWIPQ&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Neighbourhood sakura</a></td></tr></table>

And a dinosaur playground:

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/bR8HsEOI3I0knc0IYRvxeRBrg7ZMpatMx_wgTAbOWXo?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lqy4XWMX4D8/UztLOnnVdPI/AAAAAAACiOM/HN9Mg878PSY/s640/DSC_0036.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/NeighbourhoodSakura?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Neighbourhood sakura</a></td></tr></table>

A dinosaur lizard slippery dip:

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/kelSFbRwkGDdNDrrIp2KXBBrg7ZMpatMx_wgTAbOWXo?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-logH0uAg5K0/UztLO1Lpj4I/AAAAAAACiOU/CUtyceJZ3xw/s640/DSC_0037.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/NeighbourhoodSakura?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Neighbourhood sakura</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/sUcgBShhe_3G3ZjW0vQWXBBrg7ZMpatMx_wgTAbOWXo?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cBddfxG0_bE/UztLSXqmAMI/AAAAAAACiOs/fCWlDAtmmMU/s640/DSC_0040.jpg&#8221; height=”640″ width=”425″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/NeighbourhoodSakura?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Neighbourhood sakura</a></td></tr></table>

Bloomin’ Tulips

memoirsofaleishaLeave a comment

Move over cherryblossoms, bring on the tulips.
I think tulips would have to be my favourite flowers. Yep, way better than roses any day.

Went for a gourmet spring picnic with some friends over the weekend, back to Showa Kinen Park for the tulip festival. It’s such a great park. You might recall I went there last autumn to see the autumn gingko leaves. Was nice to go this time around in the spring. It’s supposed to really nice when all the cherryblossoms are in full bloom too, but this year the cherryblossom season happened really early and they were all over by the end of March. Instead, all the tulips were out. So colourful, so pretty, so many people. That’s Japan for you.

Gave the old camera a bit of a workout.

This is how your picnic, gourmet-style:

From Showa Kinen picnic
From Showa Kinen picnic

Ahh, spring love:

From Showa Kinen picnic

Oh, this park bench must be mine:

From Showa Kinen picnic
From Showa Kinen picnic

A spectacular tulip garden spread:

From Showa Kinen picnic
From Showa Kinen picnic
From Showa Kinen picnic
From Showa Kinen picnic
From Showa Kinen picnic
From Showa Kinen picnic
From Showa Kinen picnic
From Showa Kinen picnic
From Showa Kinen picnic
From Showa Kinen picnic
From Showa Kinen picnic
From Showa Kinen picnic

Don’t you just want to bury yourself in a bed of tulips.

From Showa Kinen picnic
From Showa Kinen picnic
From Showa Kinen picnic
From Showa Kinen picnic
From Showa Kinen picnic
From Showa Kinen picnic
From Showa Kinen picnic
From Showa Kinen picnic
From Showa Kinen picnic
From Showa Kinen picnic
From Showa Kinen picnic
From Showa Kinen picnic
From Showa Kinen picnic
From Showa Kinen picnic
From Showa Kinen picnic
From Showa Kinen picnic
From Showa Kinen picnic

Aah so many tulips.