Perfect Sakura

Perfect and peak blossom on this Sakura in Ueno Park.

Sakura at the Shogun's Shrine

Today I visite Ueno Park, one of the most spacious parks in Tokyo and location of several shrines and hundreds of Sakura trees. (There is a Sakura map to help located the trees and differentiate the species and you can't touch the flowers).

The avenue to the shrine for a major Edo period shogun was lined with blossoming trees - truly beautiful.

Wikipedia tells us 

Ueno Tōshō-gū is a Tōshō-gū Shinto shrine located in the Taitō ward of Tokyo, Japan. First established in 1627 by Tōdō Takatora and renovated in 1651 by Tokugawa Iemitsu, the shrine remains mostly intact since that time, making it a great example of Shinto architecture in the Edo period.

Sunday Kimono 13 - Admiring Peonies

Stylish kimono wearing ladies out looking at the Peonies at Ueno Park in January.

Peony Tents

The peonies at the Winter Garden in Ueno Park each have their own intricately woven straw home - very cute - to protect them from frost.

A White Peony

So many types and colours of Peonies - all beautiful.

Peony and Pagoda

The five storied pagoda at Kaneji Temple in Ueno Park is next to the Peony garden.  It gives context to the location of the garden and its importance in the time of the Shoguns. The last Tokugawa Shogun, was defeated in 1868 at the Kaneji Temple.

Another Peony

 A lone Peony in a bowl.

More Peonies

Another obsession - They were truly beautiful!  The winter peonies fuyu- botan at Toshogu Shrine in Ueno Park are forced to bloom early for the New Year as a symbol of good fortune.

Peony Huts

 The Winter Peony Garden at Toshogu Shrine Ueno Park was a highlight last winter so I visited again on Sunday.  Peonies are truly beautiful and regal flowers - no wonder the Imperial Court of Japan  and the Shoguns valued them as Royal flowers and symbols of good fortune.

The peonies are covered with straw snow fences -yuki gakoi - in a traditional Japanese garden.  In one section there was a zen gravel garden as well - Japanese at there best!!

Peony Love

Close up of a beautiful pink peony. Peony is Botan in Japanese and they feature in art work - paintings, fabric, screens, ceramics. Botan are symbols of wealth, beauty and fortune.

Good Fortune

One more Peony photo (with some Lightroom playing)

Peonies in Huts

 The peonies at the Ueno Toshogu Peony Garden near the Toshogu Shrine in Ueno Park were absolutely divine. The richness of the colour, the blousy nature of the huge blooms and their delicacy made for a beautiful visit.
The peony was brought to Japan from China and is seen as a symbol of fertility and nobility.  They are a symbol of good fortune at New Year.
Kan-Botan means winter peony, cultivated using a special technique to bloom in the winter. and to protect them from snow and frost they are given straw shade huts and straw mats.

A White Peony

By chance I found the Peony Festival in Ueno Park on Saturday.  The blooms were divine.