It’s foliage season, my favorite time of year, and I am stuck in 87*F southern California. Not that palm trees aren’t pretty mind you … 😉 I’m just very excited to head back to Japan in two weeks to catch the autumn leaves in their splendor. (I’m hoping at least. It’s been a bit colder … Continue reading
Japan is known for its love of rankings. Top 10, Top 50 and Top 100 lists abound but some of the oldest rankings related to this country are the Top 3 designations. The Top 3 night views, the Top 3 waterfalls, the Top 3 Castles … that’s just a start. I’ve always been a garden … Continue reading
Tokyo may not be as popular a destination as Kyoto for its autumn colors, but the city’s trees do deck themselves out in some pretty striking colors from mid-November to mid-December. Ask any Tokyoite where to go however, and the answers remain mostly the same: the ginkgo avenue near Jingu Gaien, the traditional garden of … Continue reading
Since moving to Tokyo, I’ve had the pleasure of connecting with many people who share my interests, particularly in the food and garden category. One of those new acquaintances is Anika, who is part of the team behind Real Japanese Gardens. After exchanging numerous emails and bonding over our mutual love of gardens (though her … Continue reading
Two years ago, I gave a quick profile on Sumiko Enbutsu’s tiny but fantastic guidebook A Flower Lover’s Guide to Tokyo. As we really swing into the spring flower season, I wanted to do the book a bit more justice and hopefully give garden lovers out there (like myself) an additional resource to track down some … Continue reading
How is it that, given my acknowledged love of Japanese gardens, I rarely seem to write many up on this blog? Let’s change that, shall we? 🙂 Today starts the first of my Great Gardens series, and no better spot to begin with than the currently blooming Kawachi Fujien. Continue reading
Himeji Castle is undoubtedly one of Japan’s star attractions. Even as its scaffold-clad exterior finishes up a multi-year reconstruction project, the numbers of visitors remain steady. Most, however, overlook one of my favorite sites in Himeji City – the stunning gardens of Kokoen, a stone’s throw from the castle’s western edge. Kokoen is not a … Continue reading
