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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Wooden whispers glow, Stone paths weave through time's embrace— Sky of tranquil blue. 木の囁き、 時間の抱擁を織る石の道—— 静かな青空。 #Higashiyama #KyotoDreaming #TraditionalJapan #MachiyaMagic #CulturalJourney #offbeatjapan #japan
Silent green whispers Pathway through the towering strength Grey stone stands at peace 静かな緑の囁き 高くそびえる力の小道 灰色の岩が平和に立つ #bambooforest #japanesenature #serenity #stonepath #greenvibes #offbeatjapan #japan
Pink and white whispers, Sakura dreams in the breeze, Spring’s soft-hued embrace. ---ピンクと白、 そよ風に桜の夢、 春のやわらかな抱擁。---#sakura #cherryblossom #hanami #springinjapan #renewal #offbeatjapan #japan
Green moss whispers soft, Car cradled in stone's embrace, Leaves dance 'round its grave. ---苔は囁き、 石の抱擁の中で、 葉は舞い踊る。---#offbeatjapan #japan #naturetakesover #abandonedcar #mossmagic #earthytones #hiddenjapan
Green fields stretch afar, Red-brick vents mark earthly veins— Sky whispers below. 緑の野原 赤い煙突並ぶ— 空が囁く。 #RuralJapan #VentilationPipes #NatureInfrastructure #ScenicCountryside #offbeatjapan #japan #HiddenGemsJapan
Rows of emerald, Sunlight kisses verdant hills, Golden whispers glow. 黄金の輝き エメラルドの畝間に 光る日差し#GreenTeaScape #Shizuoka #KyotoTeaFields #EmeraldHills #OffbeatJapan #SunlitScenery #Japan
Wooden serpents twist Through emerald dreams, chasing The coastal skyline.  木の蛇曲がる エメラルドの夢 海岸の空へ。 #rollercoasterviews #coastalcity #thrillride #japanparks #beautifuljapan #offbeatjapan #japan
Lanterns softly glow, Steam whispers past ancient stones— Night bath's gentle warmth.提灯優しく灯る、 蒸気が古い石を通り過ぎる— 夜の入浴は穏やかな暖かさ。#onsen #nightmagic #japantravel #hotjapanese #kinosakionsen #offbeatjapan #japan