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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Pink lanterns aglow, Sakura whispers to night, Reflections of dreams. ---ピンクランタン 夜に囁く桜 夢の映り ---#sakura #hanami #cherryblossoms #nightview #japantravel #offbeatjapan #japan
Forest whispers slow, Wooden paths embrace the hues, Autumn's gentle touch.森が囁く 木道が彩を抱き 穏やかな秋#foresttrail #autumnvibes #japantravel #naturehike #fallcolors #offbeatjapan #japan
Hill's verdant embrace, Calico whispers secrets— Time slows, roads meander. 丘は緑、 三毛猫囁く— 時はゆっくり。#calicocat #villagevibes #traditionaljapan #ruraljapan #serenity #offbeatjapan #japan
Rust whispers through time, Frosted glass and rusty hues, Silent tales on wings. ---錆びた音が ささやく翼は 静かな物語。 ---#aviationhistory #forgottenwings #ghostsofmetal #aviationart #japan #offbeatjapan #aestheticdecay
Ancient jars stand still, Whispers of herbs in twilight— Healing's ghostly dance. 古い瓶が並び、 夕暮れに耳を澄ます薬草の囁き、 癒しの幽霊の舞。 #offbeatjapan #vintagejapan #japan #tradition #apothecary #hiddenhistory #japaneseculture #rusticjourney
Scarlet bridge stands bold, Embraced by nature's colors— Water whispers by. ---赤い橋、 自然の色に抱かれて、 水がささやく。 ---#offbeatjapan #japan #redbridge #seasonchange #naturelovers #tranquility #autumnineyes #hiddenbeauty
Yellow dots embrace, Blue sea whispers to calm hills— Art in nature's hug.  黄色の点、 青い海が囁く— 自然に抱かれた芸術。#YayoiKusama #Naoshima #SetoInlandSea #ContemporaryArt #ArtInNature #offbeatjapan #japan
Under starry sky, Western gates glow deep green-blue— Time's whispers linger.スターリーな夜空の下で、 西洋の門は深い緑青に輝く— 時のささやきが残る。#offbeatjapan #japan #eeriebeauty #abandonedplaces #nightphotography #forgottenhistory #urbanexploration #mysteriousjapan