Towards the end of May, Japan enters its rainy season. And while the skies may be gloomy, this is also the time to see the glorious hydrangea in full bloom.
In this feature, we visit one of the most popular spots to enjoy these beautiful flowers. Hakusan Jinja (Shrine; 白山神社) located close to Hakusan Station on the Mita Line in Tokyo is well known for its annual hydrangea festival called Bunkyo Ajisai Matsuri.
The shrine is just a 3-minute walk from Hakusan station. A relatively quiet residential area, it may seem like nothing exciting is around here.
As soon as you exit the station, you will see a sign showing the direction for the shrine.
You will even see beautiful hydrangeas in bloom on the way to the shrine.
The entrance may not seem like much but there are over 3,000 hydrangea bushes planted in the vicinity of the shrine and the adjacent Hakusan Park.
Look at how packed the flowers are! If you squat, you can get some great photos of these pink & blue hydrangeas.
The path towards the Haiden (main shrine) is covered with hydrangea on both sides.
Hydrangea bloom from late May to mid-June. Of course, each year this varies a little depending on the weather conditions.
Hydrangea are synonymous with the rainy season in Japan.
As these shrubs require plenty of water, it is no wonder you see the flowers blooming in this season.
There are many different varieties of hydrangea and the colors pop under the grey skies.
If you plan to visit Tokyo in this season, make sure to stop by at Hakusan Jinja.
Hakusan Jinja (白山神社)
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