Amazing Grace / Mae Grace

AMAZING grace

What To Do In The Rainy Month of June?

by Mae Grace

In Japan, June is interestingly symbolized by snails, umbrellas and hydrangeas. June is, after all, the start of the summer season in Japan ushered in by rains and thunderstorms and although many people might find that an anticlimactic end to the beautiful, refreshing and colorful climate in spring, the rains in June do bring with them immeasurable benefits and blessings.

Ajisai

by Mae Grace

One of the many reasons to enjoy ‘tsuyu’ or the rainy season in June is --- the hydrangeas! Hydrangeas, called ‘ajisai’ in Japanese, grow abundantly and are one of the most popular flowers in Japan. They are found in countless temples and parks and arranged into magnificent displays in numerous festivals in the summer. It is one unique kind of flower adored by the Japanese. In Japanese tradition and folk beliefs they represent beauty, grace and gratitude. Because of their lavishly shaped and brilliantly growing petals, they are believed to radiate abundance and their colors symbolize love, harmony and peace.

There are many popular places where hydrangeas could be found here in Tokyo and from nearby locations as well, and one of them is in Kamakura City in Kanagawa Prefecture where three temples there compete for the best in hydrangea viewing, the Meigetsu-in, the Hase and Jochiji Temple. Another way to enjoy hydrangeas is to take a ride on Enoden Line or other ‘Hydrangea Trains’ and grab a seat facing the window side, as these are special trains designed for one to enjoy the spectacular view of thousands of hydrangeas lining both sides of the rail tracks all the way to Hakone. Ang gandaaaa! Promise!

Heto pa, maraming famous spots for hydrangea viewing dito mismo sa Tokyo. Isa na dito ang Hakusan Shrine in Bunkyo-ku, also, Showa Kinen Park in Tachikawa, and the beautiful Sumida Park along Sumida River just somewhere near Asakusa. This park has a promenade called, “Ajisai Road” where more than 6,000 hydrangeas were planted along a two kilometer long path. One can enjoy viewing these impressive flowers with the famous Tokyo Sky Tree in the background. It’s a five-minute walk from Asakusa Station and the flowers are free to view and visit from mid to late June until July. Let’s go guys! Magdala na lang tayo ng payong!

Ajisai

by Mae Grace

Also, somewhere in my little city of Fuchu (ayaw patalo, eh), is a city park and museum known as Kyodo No Mori Museum which has an impressive collection of 10,000 plus hydrangeas representing more than thirty varieties of this colorful beauties planted in patches and paths that look absolutely breathtaking. Take a walk along these paths for refreshing air, taking in the beauty of each unique flower interspersed here and there by some unique features of the park including their collection of outdoor architectural structures of old farm houses, workshops, a charming waterwheel, man-made waterfalls and a clear running stream lined with huge shapely rocks. If one has time for a quiet ‘me time’, there’s an old thatched house offering tea and sweets done in the simple but deeply profound art of tea ceremony. What a calming balm to the tired soul.

And yes! Don’t forget po. Just around this time of the year, the lotus flowers would be in bloom, too! They’re located on the other side of the park and it would be wonderful for you to visit this magnificent garden pond as well. You would be swept o your feet, as I was. The lotus flowers are the favorites of Buddha, according to tradition. This park has the biggest, most colorful and most beautiful collection of this mystical flower. Please check out my photos of them.

Kyodo no Mori is located at 6-32 Minami-cho, Fuchu City. Take Keio Line from Shinjuku, get o at Bubaigawara Station, then take a Keio bus from Bubaigawara going to Kyodo No Mori Park/Museum to get off at the main gate of the park. It only takes 25 minutes from Shinjuku to Bubaigawara.

June is to rainy season, as rainy season is to abundant blessings for one and all! Wishing you all goodness and blessings!

Mae Grace

Jeepney Press