Category: Uncategorized

https://www.toshogu.or.jp/english/; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kun%C5%8Dzan_T%C5%8Dsh%C5%8D-g%C5%AB

Mount Kuno Tosho Shrine, Shimizu-ward, Shizuoka-city, Shizuoka, 5/05/2025

Pearlbush (Exochorda racemosa): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exochorda_racemosa; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exochorda

Pearlbush, Kaneyamaen, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, 5/01/2025

Mitsuba Tsutsuji (Rhododendron dilatatum) https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%9F%E3%83%84%E3%83%90%E3%83%84%E3%83%84%E3%82%B8; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azalea; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhododendron

Mitsuba tsutsuji, Kaneyamaen, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, 5/01/2025

Satsuki (Rhododendron indicum): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhododendron_indicum

Satsuki, Kaneyamaen, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, 5/01/2025

Renge tsutsuji (Rhododendron japonicum): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhododendron_japonicum

Renge tsutsuji, Kaneyamaen, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, 5/01/2025

Hotel Kaneyamaen & Bessho SASA: https://www.kaneyamaen.com/eng/

Siberian iris (Iris sanguinea): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iris_sanguinea

Siberian Iris, Arakawa River, Kofu, Yamanashi, 4/29/2025

Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centaurea_cyanus

Cornflowers, Arakawa River, Kofu, Yamanashi, 4/29/2025

Hairy vetch (Vicia villosa): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicia_villosa

Hairy vetch, Arakawa River, Kofu, Yamanashi, 4/29/2025

Centaurea cyanus and Vicia villosa are considered invasive in Japan. They are non-native plants that have been introduced and can spread aggressively. 

Koedo (small Edo) Kofu Hanakoji is a newly opened shopping street to attract more tourists to the central Kofu area in the city of Kofu in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan.

(In Japanese) https://hanakouji.com/; https://kofu-kameyaza.com/; https://kofu-tourism.com/spot/872

Koedo Kofu Hanakoji, Kofu, Yamanashi, 4/28/2025

The Big Apple No. 50 2025, Kofu City Hall, Kofu, Yamanashi, 4/27/2025

Also, please visit the articles on The Big Apple No. 45 2008: https://yamanashietsuo.net/masaaki-sato-exhibition/; https://ymmt.etsuo.tokyo/2022/06/

Azalea flowers were blooming in the gardens of Japan Plateau Dream Lookout (Nihondaira Yume Terrace), located at the elevation of 307m in Shimizu-ward in the city of Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azalea

Japan Plateau Dream Lookout: https://kkaa.co.jp/en/project/nihondaira-yume-terrace/; https://nihondaira-yume-terrace.jp/wp-content/themes/nihondaira/pdf/pamphlet_english.pdf

Azalea flowers, Japan Plateau Dream Lookout, Shimizu, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka, 4/25/2025

https://www.misakanoen.co.jp/

Peech flowers, Misaka Farm Grape House, Misaka, Fuefuki, Yamanashi, 4/16/2025

Canola flowers, Misaka Farm Grape House, Misaka, Fuefuki, Yamanashi, 4/16/2025

Soybean Paste and Koshu Fuefuki Wine, Misaka Farm Grape House, Misaka, Fuefuki, Yamanashi, 4/16/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miso; https://fuefuki-wine.com/

Cerasus serrulata ‘Sonosato-kizakura,’ Ueno, Tokyo, 4/16/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prunus_serrulata; https://www.ootk.net/cgi/shikihtml/shiki_4021.htm (Japanese); https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%AE%E3%83%A7%E3%82%A4%E3%82%B3%E3%82%A6 (Japanese)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapeseed; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanohana

Canola flowers, Arakawa River, Kofu, Yamanashi, 4/12/2025

The Hakone Shrine is a Japanese Shinto shrine located on the shores of Lake Ashi in the town of Hakone in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. It is also known as the Hakone Gongen. The Hakone Shrine was founded in 757. The original shrine was at the summit of the Komagatake peak of Mount Hakone. The shrine was relocated to the shores of Lake Ashi in 1667.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hakone_Shrine; https://www.hakonenavi.jp/international/en/spot/523; (In Japanese) https://hakonejinja.or.jp/

The Hakone Shrine, hakone, Kawagawa, 4/05/2025

Cider Trees, the Hakone Shrine, hakone, Kawagawa, 4/05/2025

Buttercup witch hazel (Corylopsis pauciflora), the Hakone Shrine, hakone, Kawagawa, 4/05/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corylopsis_pauciflora

(Added) The Hakone Shrine and Suruga Bay, hakone, Kawagawa, 4/09/2025

There is a legend of the Nine-Headed Dragon (Kuzuryu) in Lake Ashi. It goes as follows:

Long ago, a terrifying nine-headed poisonous dragon lived in Lake Ashi, causing storms and tormenting the villagers. Every year, the village had a sorrowful custom of offering a young maiden as a human sacrifice to the dragon.

During the Nara period, a high-ranking Buddhist monk named Venerable Mangan (Mangan Shonin), who was training in the Hakone mountains, deeply grieved over this tragic situation and resolved to subdue the dragon. The Venerable Mangan built an altar on the shore of Lake Ashi and fervently prayed.

After a fierce battle, the poisonous dragon finally surrendered to Venerable Mangan and repented for its evil deeds. The dragon apologized for its past wrongdoings and vowed to become the guardian deity of Lake Ashi from then on.

Venerable Mangan built a shrine to enshrine the repentant nine-headed dragon as the Nine-Headed Dragon Great God (Kuzuryu Okami). This is a deified form of the repentant poisonous dragon. It is worshipped as the guardian deity of Lake Ashi, the god of water, and said to be the origin of the present-day Kuzuryu Shrine, the Main Shrine. There is also a sherine named the New Shrine within the grounds of Hakone Shrine for theNine-Headed Dragon Great God.

This legend is thought to have originated from the desire to personify the threat of the natural environment of Lake Ashi as a deity and to pray for the peace and safety of the people by subduing it. The nine-headed dragon may have symbolized the ferocity of nature and forces beyond human comprehension. The story of the dragon being subdued by the power of a real monk, Venerable Mangan, likely gathered people’s faith and was passed down through generations.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Ashi; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuzury%C5%AB