Author: Benkei

Barn swallow: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barn_swallow

Barn swallows, Roadside Station Nanbu, Nanbu-cho, Yamanashi, 4/10/2026; Restroom, Shiraito Falls, Fujinomiya-shi, Shizuoka, 4/12/2026

Japanese wisteria (Wisteria floribunda) is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae, native to Japan. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisteria_floribunda

Japanese wisteria plants, Wakutama Pond, Mount Fuji Head Sengen Shrine, Fujinomiya-shi, Shizuoka, 4/15/2026

Torii is a traditional Japanese gate found at or within a Shinto shrine.

Torii: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torii; Fujisan Hongu SengenTaisha: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fujisan_Hong%C5%AB_Sengen_Taisha

Japanese snowball (Viburnum plicatum f. plicatum), commonly known as Oodemari in Japan, is a deciduous shrub prized for its large, rounded, white flower clusters that bloom in late spring.

Japanese snowball (Viburnum plicatum var. plicatum f. plicatum): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viburnum_plicatum; https://mikawanoyasou.org/data/oodemari.htm

Japanese snowball plants, Road Station Nanbu, Nanbu-cho, Yamanashi, 4/10/2026; Japanese snowball trees, Mount Kuno Tosho Shrine, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka-shi, Shizuoka, 4/10/2026

Nanbu town, Yamanashi: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanbu,_Yamanashi

Futaba-aoi or Kamo-aoi (Asarum caulescens, syn. Japonasarum caulescens) is a low-growing, deciduous, perennial herb in the Aristolochiaceae family. It is native to Japan (and parts of China), featuring creeping rhizomes, heart-shaped leaves in pairs, and small, purple-brown, bell-shaped flowers hidden beneath the foliage in spring. It is culturally important in Japan, known as the plant that inspired the design of the Tokugawa family crest (Mitsuba Aoi) and used in the Kamo Shrine’s Aoi Festival in the city of Kyoto, Japan. Asarum: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asarum; Futaba-aoi: https://mikawanoyasou.org/data/hutabaaoi.htm; https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%95%E3%82%BF%E3%83%90%E3%82%A2%E3%82%AA%E3%82%A4

Asarum caulescens (futaba-aoi) seedlings, Mount Kuno Tosho Shrine, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka-shi, Shizuoka, 4/13/2026

The mon of the Tokugawa shogunate, three aoi leaves inside a circle

Mon: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mon_(emblem)

Japanese apricot trees started bearing fruit. Fresh green apricot or ume fruit (Japanese apricot) has been seen.  While the blossoms appear in early spring, the green fruit—known as ao-ume in Japan—is available for a very short, specific season, coinciding with the rainy season (tsuyu).

Ume / Japanese Apricots (Prunus mume): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ume_(disambiguation); https://www.kikkoman.com/en/cookbook/glossary/ume.html; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prunus_mume

Green Japanese apricot, Maple Mountain Garden, Sumpu Castle Park, Aoi-ward, Shizuoka-city, Shizuoka, 4/07/2026

Maple Mountain Garden, Sumpu Castle Park: https://sumpu-castlepark.com/en/

Peach blossoms, Fuefuki-shi, Yamanashi, 4/03/2026

Saiko Iyashi-no-Sato Nenba is a traditional restored thatched-roof village located on the western shore of Lake Sai (Saiko) in the town of Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan.

Saiko Iyashi-no-Sato Nenba: https://saikoiyashinosatonenba.jp/en/

Saiko Iyashi-no-Sato Nenba, Fujikawaguchiko-machi, Yamanashi, 4/03/2026

Thatched roofs in Japan, known as kayabuki, primarily use kaya (a general term for thatch) harvested from Miscanthus grass, specifically Japanese pampas grass susuki (Miscanthus sinensis) and kariyasu. Other materials include reed (yoshi), cogongrass (chigaya), and rice straw. These materials are harvested, dried, and bundled to create a durable, insulating 30–40 year roof.

susuki (Miscanthus sinensis): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miscanthus_sinensis

kariyasu (Miscanthus tinctorius (Steud.) Hack): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miscanthus

yoshi (Phragmites australis): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phragmites_australis

chigaya (Imperata cylindrica): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperata_cylindrica

rice (Oryza sativa): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oryza_sativa

A wine tasting tour for an American couple was conducted on April 2, 2026. Five wineries Grace Winery, Lumiere Winery, Marufuji Winery, Haramono Winery and Manns Wines Katsunuma Winery were visited.

1. Grace Winery: https://www.grace-wine.com/en/
2. Lumiere Winery: https://www.lumiere.jp/en
3. Marufuji Winery: https://www.rubaiyat.jp/en/
4. Haramono Winery: https://www.haramo.com/index.html
5. Manns Wines Katsunuma Winery: https://mannswines.com/

Manns Wines: https://mannswines.com/

Manns Wines, Katsunuma-cho, Koshu-shi, Yamanashi, 4/02/2026

Haramo Winery: https://www.haramo.com/

Haramo Winery, Katsunuma-cho, Koshu-shi, Yamanashi, 4/02/2026

An old storehouse and an old Citronnelle grape planted in 1949

Dodan-tsutsuji (Enkianthus perulatus): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enkianthus_perulatus

Wood violet (Viola odorata): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viola_odorata

Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acer_palmatum

Lumiere Winery: https://www.lumiere.jp/en

Lumiere Winery, Katsunuma-cho, Koshu-shi, Yamanashi, 4/02/2026

Scenes from the veranda of Grape Hill Katsunuma, Katsunuma-cho, Koshu-shi, Yamanashi, 4/02/2026

Grape Hill Katsunuma: https://budounooka.com

As I previously wrote in my sites (#1 ~ #3), in the town of Katsunuma, located in Koshu City, Yamanashi Prefecture, is renowned as the birthplace of Japanese wine, boasting over 80 wineries concentrated in the area. As Japan’s premier grape-producing region, it offers scenic vineyards, numerous wine tastings, and deep historical roots in wine-making.  With a long history and tradition, it’s wine production accounts for about 30% of Japan’s domestic wine.

#1. https://yamanashietsuo.net/visiting-chateau-mercian-katsunuma-winery-2/

“2. https://yamanashietsuo.net/chateau-mercian-katsunuma-winery-and-miyakoen/

#3. https://yamanashietsuo.net/wp-admin/post.php?post=2187&action=edit

Sago cycad (Cycas revoluta): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cycas_revoluta

Sago cycad ♀, Miho Shrine, Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka-shi, Shizuola, 3/27/2026

Nihondaira Ropeway, Mount Kuno Tosho Shrine, Negoya, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka-shi, Shizuoka, 03/27/2026

https://ropeway.shizutetsu.co.jp/; https://www.toshogu.or.jp/english/

Blue rock thrush (♂) is greeting to the visitors, Mount Kuno Tosho Shrine, Negoya, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka-shi, Shizuoka, 03/27/2026

Blue rock thrush (Monticola solitarius): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_rock_thrush

While spring approaches, higher elevation areas in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, remain cold in late March.

Narusawa Ice Cave (Hyoketsu): https://www.mtfuji-cave.com/en/ice_cave/; https://www.japan.travel/en/spot/201/

Narusawa Ice Cave, Narusawa Village, Yamanashi, 3/22&23/2026

Mount Fuji, Lake Motosu and Aokigahara Forest, and Lake Sai from Sankodai Lookout, Fujikawaguchiko Town, Yamanashi, 3/23/2026

Japanese andromeda, Koyodai Entrance, Narusawa Village, Yamanashi, 3/23/2026

Japanese andromeda (Pieris japonica): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pieris_japonica

Koyodai and Sankodai Lookouts: https://www.narusawa-kanko.jp/koyodai.html

Also, please visit my previous article on February 12, 2026: Icy Fugaku Fuketsu (Wind Cave) and Narusawa Hyoketsu (Ice Cave), Yamanashi

The Kofu Local Meteorological Observatory announced the opening of Somei-Yoshino cherry blossoms in Kofu City in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, on March 16, 2026.  This is the earliest recorded flowering since observations began in 1953.

Release of 2026 Cherry Blossom Forecast (9th forecast): https://n-kishou.com/corp/news-contents/sakura/?lang=en

Kofu Station, Kofu, Yamanashi, 3/14/2026

Somei-Yoshino: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prunus_%C3%97_yedoensis

Yet, the air is still cold in the morning. There was ice on the surface of the reservoir in Kotogawa Dam in Yamanashi City.

Kotogawa Dam: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kotogawa_Dam

Kotogawa Dam, Kitabara, Makioka Cho, Yamanashi City, Yamanashi, 3/14/2026

Views of Gojoiwa and Mount Kinpu from Kotogawa Dam, Makioka Cho, Yamanashi City, Yamanashi, 3/14/2026