Experience the Colorful Sensory Symphony of Spring in Japan

 

From time immemorial, purple has been a noble color in Japan. Wisteria, with its purple color and the graceful appearance of its numerous cascading branches of flowers, is loved by the Japanese people. On the grounds of Nagoya Castle, in downtown Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture, 660 meters of wisteria trellises cover an area of 3,300 square meters, where nine varieties and 85 wisteria trees grow. In addition to purple flowers, white and pink flowers bloom from late April to early May, offering a veritable contest of color between the wisteria and the blue-tinted tiles of the castle’s sweeping roofs.
 
 

The arrival of spring is heralded by the yellow flowers blooming along the river embankments. Rapeseed flowers, long-cultivated as a source of cooking oil, offer one of the most intimate spring landscapes for Japanese people. A waterway that extends through wetlands in Omihachiman City, Shiga Prefecture, is famous for the rapeseed flowers and cherry blossoms that cover both banks. The canal, maintained for water transportation to Lake Biwa, Japan’s largest lake, is popular for boat tours through the beautiful scenery—a perfect way to spend a peaceful spring day!
 
 

 

One fruit grown in Japan that is particularly popular overseas is the strawberry. Thanks to repeated selective breeding, about 300 distinctive varieties are cultivated throughout the country. Some farms let visitors pick their own strawberries, and the activity, known as ichigo-gari, has become a regular leisure pursuit. Nothing tastes as sweet as a bright red strawberry freshly picked by you!