This cherry blossom tree in Gifu looks downright majestic all on its lonesome.
© J // Washing Rice Blog
Photo Post: Spring in Gifu!
Tag Archives: nature
Last BBQ of the Summer
© J // Washing Rice Blog
Shūbun no Hi, or Autumnal Equinox Day, passed last week marking the start of fall. It’s not uncommon for Japanese summers to persist well into mid-October, but this year it seems we’ve caught a break and fall has visited us at its regularly scheduled time. To mark the end of the season, Mr. J’s old schoolmates threw last BBQ chance of the year party this past Sunday in Yokohama at the Kodomo Shizen Kōen (Children’s Nature Park) BBQ/Picnic area near Futamatagawa Station on the Sōtetsu line. Continue reading
Photo Post: Niigata Countryside
Niigata grows some of the best grade rice in all of Japan.
© J // Washing Rice Blog
Photo Post: June Hydrangeas #2
The season is almost over, and you can already see many starting to wilt.
Photo Post: June Hydrangeas
June is the rainy season and when hydrangeas start to bloom.
© J // Washing Rice Blog
Traveling: Singapore Days 3, 4, & 5
A view of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel from the waterfront.
© J // Washing Rice Blog
Hopefully you were here for last week’s post! Today’s entry is where the heart of all the action is. Read on for lots more Singapore sightseeing highlights and pic spam! 😀
A Fleeting Look at the Cherry Blossoms
It’s that time of year where winter’s chill is carried away by large gusts of spring breeze, leaving the cherry trees free to blossom in its wake. As the season usually coincides with school and company entrance celebrations, you’ll find many Japanese camping out under the cherry blossoms with beer and picnic lunches in tow. This custom, called hanami, literally means flower viewing but nowadays you’ll find the blossoms serve more as a nice backdrop for boozing and chatting than the actual focal point of the outing they once were traditionally.
Because I took a trip to Singapore right as the blossom petals were first opening, and then went to the Kanamara Matsuri (NSFW) the following weekend instead of joining in on any parties when the cherry trees were blooming at their fullest, I’m sorry to say I don’t have a lot to report about this year’s hanami. Still, I was fortunate to spend a small amount of time surrounded by their beauty and snap a few pictures . And hey, who doesn’t love seeing cherry blossom photos?
Photo Post: Elementary School in Autumn
Students practicing for the fall marathon during P.E. class on an overcast day in November.
© J // Washing Rice Blog
A Little Bit of Fall Foliage
The leaves full of color at the park.
© J // Washing Rice Blog
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