Glimpses of Japan Local - in JEnglish

  Day 2 of the Long Holiday: Sunny weather After a long time, I rode my bicycle down the usual path as usual.  Along the Shioiri River embankment, I found Tsukushi and was reminded of the Indonesian batik pattern by the red spots on the Itadori plant. Amid lush greenery, thistles were blooming.  As I gazed at the group of them, I thought the name "Azami-No" (thistle field) was quite fitting. The wheat stalks that used to stand tall and sway in the wind have been cut down, marking the arrival of the  "Autumn of Wheat." In one of the villages, there was a house with a watchdog tied to a long rope. He came out to greet me with a suspicious expression as I approached while whistling from afar. It seemed like he had aged quite a bit. At the motorcycle parking lot near   Hatsuz  Beach, dozens of large motorcycles were parked, and riders were chatting with each other, which was heartwarming to see. As I cycled along the coastal bike path, I passed by a breakwat...

    Perhaps due to the effects of global warming, the  Nanja Monja  ("What on earth is this?")  flowers, which usually bloom around the start of the long holiday season, have started blooming a bit earlier this year. From blooming to changing colour and beginning to fall, it's happening faster than usual, so I've been visiting frequently during this time to keep an eye on the progress (well, it's just a personal decision, haha!). Looking back at my records, I realized that I've visited four times already on April 11th, 14th, 18th, and 21st. Considering the strong winds and rain the last weekend, the flowers might have already started fading by now. Let me capture the state of the  Nanja Monja  flowers at Oka-no-minato Shrine in Ashiya Town, as of 21st April 2023 and keep it as an album in this blog. Nanjya Monjya as of 18th April 2023 @Oka-no-minato Shrine

During the full bloom, you can enjoy wisteria clusters that are over 1 meter long swaying in the wind. It's no wonder that the place gets filled with spectators, so you need to be prepared for the crowds. So, the proper way to visit is to time it a little early and come on a weekday, as the weekends can get crowded with people who have heard about the blooming information. Even on weekdays, the parking lot on the other side of the pond, separated by a bridge, is full of cars from people who know about the blooming information. You have to wait for the cars of other visitors to leave and proceed in order. There are a few food and drink stalls that provide light refreshments, which can make you feel like you're enjoying a wisteria cluster viewing atmosphere just with that. It will still take a while for the wisteria clusters to grow to over 1 meter, but you can still feel the unique impact of it. After all, the wisteria here at   Jozenji  Temple is said to be  over 500 year...