April 23, 2012

Sakura blossoms in Heian Jingu Shrine (Kyoto)


In the streaming rain, I visited Heian Jingu Shrine which is one of the most famed places for beautiful Sakura blossoms in Kyoto.

Beyond the green tiled roof of the vivid vermilion corridor of the shrine, the full-blown pink blossoms of Shidare-zakura were drooping heavily in the soaking rain.

The magic of that spring rain in Kyoto made me wake to the other beauty of splendid Sakura blossoms.

Sakura blossoms in Heian Jingu Shurine (Kyoto)


Beside the quiet pond rippled faintly by raindrops, the pale pink blossoms of Sakura were standing out clearly like the gleaming clouds having just come down from the dim rainy sky.

Sakura blossoms in Heian Jingu Shrine (Kyoto)


The pinkish white blossoms of an aged Sakura tree were blooming in full glory in the falling rain.

A shrine maiden in white and vermilion gently passed on through the corridor.

Sakura blossoms in Heian Jingu Shrine (Kyoto)


Beyond the stepping-stones in the pond, the pale pink blossoms of Sakura were quietly struck by the spring rain.

Yama-zakura (Prunus jamasakura) blossoms in Kita-kamakura (Kamakura)


The small rolling hills overlapped one another in Kita-kamakura were decorated exquisitely with spring flowers and new leaves of various delicate pastel colors.

Yama-zakura (Prunus jamasakura) blossoms in Kita-kamakura (Kamakura)


I saw the abundant blossoms of Yama-zakura sparkling brightly in the sunlight under a sky of cloudless blue.

Yama-zakura (Prunus jamasakura) blossoms in Kita-kamakura (Kamakura)


The modest and austere beauty of the blossoms of wild sakura trees is suitable for the gentle hills and valleys of Kita-kamakura where Zen-temples are nestling quietly.

Yama-zakura (Prunus jamasakura) blossoms in Kita-kamakura (Kamakura)


April 16, 2012

Yama-zakura (Prunus jamasakura) flowers in Engaku-ji (Kamakura)


This is the season when the delicate and ephemeral flowers of Sakura are at their best.

In the height of spring, various kinds of colorful flowers are also blooming lively with one accord as if to accompany the magnificent blossoming of Sakura.

This brilliant flowering season always makes me feel deeply the true beauty of the world where I live.

To feast on the cherry blossom season in Kyoto, I made a weekend trip to this elegant ancient city.

Some of the photographs which I took in Kyoto during this visit will be posted here in several parts together with the photographs of the exquisite spring scenes of Kamakura.

Sidare-zakura (Prunus pendula f. pendula) flowers in Daigo-ji (Kyoto)


"Shidare-zakura" means "weeping cherry."

The numberless white flowers of this old sakura tree seemed to be floating quietly in the fragrant spring air like unseasonal snowstorm freezed in midair.

Yama-zakura (Prunus jamasakura) flowers in Engaku-ji (Kamakura)


The tranquil hill at the back of the buildings of Engaku-ji were decorated exquisitely with the light pink flowers of Yama-zakura (mountain sakura).

Sidare-zakura (Prunus pendula f. pendula) flowers in the night garden of Kodai-ji (Kyoto)


In the night garden of Kodai-ji, the softly illuminated sprays of pale pink flowers were swinging faintly and endlessly in the spring lazy breeze.

Sidare-zakura (Prunus pendula f. pendula) flowers and the five-storied pagoda in Daigo-ji (Kyoto)


Sidare-zakura (Prunus pendula f. pendula) flowers in Daigo-ji (Kyoto)


April 7, 2012

Sakura flowers in Kencho-ji


In the height of spring, countless Sakura flowers are magnificently blooming as if to be enchanted by the bright and pleasant sunlight of this season.

Seeing from a distance, the innumerable masses of the flowers look like small snow-white clouds glistening and floating still above the gardens.

These spring flowers always make us sense the true beauty of the present life.

The flowering period of Sakura is very brief. These glorious flowers will soon vanish suddenly without taking any notice of our unwilling to part from them.

Sakura and Zen-monks in Kencho-ji


Tsubaki (Camellia japonica) flowers in Engaku-ji


Sakura flowers in Engaku-ji


Haku-mokuren (Magnolia heptapeta) flowers in Engaku-ji


Mitsumata (Edgeworthia chrysantha) flowers in Tokei-ji


Kawazu-zakura (Cerasus lannesiana Carrière, 1872 'Kawazu-zakura') flowers in Engaku-ji


Ryokugaku-bai (Prunus mume 'Ryokugakubai') flowers in Tokei-ji