Nagano

Flowers of the Snow Melt at Azumino

Searching for late spring in the mountains of Nagano

Takako Sakamoto Mar 19, 2015 - 1 min read

<p>Flowers were kissed by gentle spring rain, and the dim light of the rainy weather softened their brilliance</p>

<p>They are blooming directly from a tree trunk! Their pale pink color is so elegant.</p>

<p>Japanese kerria flowers were blooming in clusters! Their golden yellow color brings healing.</p>

<p>When you see these flowers from this angle you'll know spring has definitely come!</p>

<p>Raindrops enhance their brilliance! It looks as though they are dripping violet-colored raindrops.</p>

<p>A tree trunk's gorgeous accessory - a brooch of cherry blossoms!</p>

<p>They are wearing spring colored lipstick</p>

<p>A white light? or white raindrops?</p>

I visited Daio Wasabi Farm on April 20th of 2012 for the third story of my 'Late Spring of Mountainous Shinshu'. This farm was the location of an NHK morning serial drama a few years ago. Cultivating wasabi (green horseradish) needs clear water. As expected, a beautiful crystal clear stream was flowing through the farm. The water was freezing cold when I put my hands in. Looking around, I saw stunning snow-capped peaks in the distance. Snow melt flowing through the farm, intensifies the vivid colors of the spring flowers, like nature's own beauty lotion.

More info

Find out more about Daio Wasabi Farm.

Shinshu in Spring

Takako Sakamoto @takako.sakamoto

I was born in and grew up in Tokushima prefecture, and have lived in many places since then: Nishinomiya, Kyoto, Nara, Mie, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Fukuoka and Fukui. I am currently living in Yokohama City. All the places I lived, all the places I visited, I have loved dearly. The histor...