Tranquil white cherry blossoms in bloom at Shinjuku Garden, Tokyo, against red foliage backdrop.
Stunning white cherry blossoms in full bloom at Shinjuku Garden, Tokyo.

Yet Another Spring Comes in Japan

Last year when I first arrived in Japan, I was really looking forward to my first Hanami. But unfortunately the earthquake happened just before the warm south wind came, and everyone was told to constrain themselves and feel sad for the people who died and suffered, instead of enjoy cherry blossoms.

Last year when I first arrived in Japan, I was really looking forward to my 初花見 (first ever Hanami). But unfortunately the earthquake happened just before the warm south wind came, and everyone was told to constrain themselves and feel sad for the people who died and suffered, instead of enjoy cherry blossoms.

Sanzenin Garden in Kyoto

The truth is, cherry still blossomed, and it was overwhelmingly beautiful for me. Not allowed to do it publicly, I was quietly enjoying the Sakura from my local McDonald. My street was long and full of big cherry trees on both side, the best you can imagine as a foreigner first seeing it. I also found a swing not far from the McDonald, right under a huge sakura tree. I was swinging until quite dizzy of course.

Jizo at Sanzenin around Kyoto

Finally, after a year, we are allowed to enjoy the sakura openly. Thus all the gaijins here are having an ‘overdose’ (thanks for Adrien for the perfect term) of sakura. We skipped the joy of Yoyogi and Ueno, but we could not resist the charm of Shinjuku Gyoen. We also end up going to some splendid hanami trips first in Saitama, then in the deep mountains of Nara and Kyoto. I will leave the rest to the pictures. Enjoy!

A Sakura Patch at Yoshino Yama

Sakura at the Yoshinoyama Village

Sakura at the Aoyama Cemetery

The Sakura River of Naka Meguro

Sakura in Naka Meguro

Little Sakuras at the Shinjuku Gyoen

Sakuras Flying Up at the Shinjuku Gyoen

Pinkish Sakura at Yoshino Yama

Hallway of Sakuras at the Shinjuku Gyoen

Roof of Sakura at Shinjuku

Lonely Sakura in Saitama

End of a wonderful day - Nara Temple

Question: can you guess which of those pictures were taken by a Mamiya 645… an infrared camera… and a Fujifilm X-Pro 1? The rest has been taken with the Nikon D800.

And for more awesome content about Japan, follow Jordy Meow on Instagram ! 🎵

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Who Am I

Jordy Meow
This is me!

I am Jordy Meow, a French photographer based in Tokyo. I explore offbeat places in Japan.

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Pillars guard the past, Under blossoms' pink embrace— Spring whispers linger. ---石像守る 桜の花にて— 春の囁き ---#cherryblossoms #jizos #traditionaljapan #serenefields #floralguardians #offbeatjapan #japan
Wheels rust in stillness, Blue skies dance with clouds above, Nature takes the stage.---静けさに錆びた車輪、 雲と踊る青空、 自然が舞台を奪う。---#offbeatjapan #japan #abandonedplaces #ferriswheel #naturetakesover #melancholicbeauty #ruraljapan
Stone lanterns whisper, Blue night cradles ancient glow, Path of dreams aglow. ---灯籠の声が、 青い夜、古き光を抱き、 夢の道かがやく。 ---#stoneLanterns #nightGlow #enlightenmentPath #ancientJapan #mysticalJourney #offbeatJapan #japan
Wood bends whispers soft, Ruby bridge spans silent snow, River's blue embrace.---木は静かに曲がり、 赤い橋は静かな雪にかかり、 川の青が抱きしめる。 ---#GinzanOnsen #WinterInJapan #TraditionalVillage #HotSpringTown #RubyBridge #SnowyScenes #OffbeatJapan #Japan
Scarlet lilies gleam, Whispering tales of beyond, Sunlight weaves their dream. --- スカーレットユリが輝く、 彼岸の物語をささやき、 陽光が夢を織る。 --- #LycorisRadiata #redspiderlily #etherealbeauty #offbeatjapan #japan #landscapephotography #culturalheritage
Fiery leaves whisper, Tea fields cradle emerald dreams— History’s soft gaze. ---火の葉が囁く、 お茶畑に翡翠の夢を抱く— 歴史の柔らかい視線。---#offbeatjapan #japan #ruralbeauty #teafieldserenity #autumncolors #hiddenjapan #natureandhistory
Scarlet flames ascend, Daruma spirits rising, Hope reborn in fire. 赤い炎上がり、 だるまの魂立ち上がる、 炎で希望再生。 #DarumaKuyo #FireCeremony #HopeReborn #CulturalRitual #JapanCulture #OffbeatJapan #Japan
Sky meets stone giants, Silent faces in the sun, History etched deep. 青空と 石の巨人達 静かなる歴史 #mountainscapes #rushmoreviews #historycarved #americanicons #offbeatusa #nationaltreasures #natureartistry