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This week, we check out more flower spots in spring. Our next trip takes us to the peninsula of Izu in Shizuoka. Ito, a well known hot spring town in Shizuoka, is also a famous flower town during spring time. From Ito Station, make your way to Syougetsu in Temple. Also known as the Sakura Temple, it is a five-minute walk from the station. Built 800 years ago, this historical temple was a Soto Zen temple during the Edo period. Many writers and artists come to pray here, attracted by the spiritual tranquility. In the beautiful garden within the temple grounds, you can find various varieties of sakura, such as the early blooming Oh-kanzakura and the Someiyoshino Sakura. The sakura trees here begin to bloom as early as February every year.
After strolling around the temple's garden, head to Kaiyou Park by bus. The admission fee to the park is 500 yen (S$8) per person. Visit the Izu Four Seasons Flower Park inside Kaiyou Park. At least 20 varieties of flowers bloom here during each season, with 200 varieties flourishing throughout the year. The park is especially vibrant with captivating colours during spring and the artfully-shaped landscape creates a serene atmosphere. It is the perfect spot to appreciate seasonal changes. This famous flower park is almost the same size as Tokyo Dome. Another recommended spot in the park is the bougainvillea greenhouse. The bougainvilleas here originate from South America and other tropical areas. After enjoying the bougainvilleas and other tropical plants, head to a spot in the park where you get a magnificent view of kale blossoms. Around 20,000 stalks of kale blossoms are planted in this park. Different species bloom at different times of the year.
After feasting your eyes on the beautiful flowers, it’s time to feast on some tasty Italian cuisine. Restaurant Delfino is situated near Jogasaki Kaigan Station. Adored by the local residents, the Italian restaurant serves dishes such as pasta at reasonable prices during lunch. Try the pasta lunch, which features pasta with kale blossoms and whitebait. Edible kale blossoms are lightly blanched first, then mixed with freshly-caught whitebait and delectable pasta seasoned with garlic and sea salt. The lunch set comes with salad and bread.
Following a scrumptious lunch, make your way to a citrus farm called Jogasaki Orange Village. Its admission fee of 400 yen (S$7) allows visitors to walk around the farm and pick and eat as many Amanatsu (a citrus fruit) as they like. Amanatsu picking is available from February to May and spring is the best season to taste the fruit's sweetness. Visitors can also see an improved variety of sakura - Jogasaki-zakura – which is only grown in this area. The first sakura to bloom here, it is characterised by a bright shade of pink, similar to peach blossoms. There are about 10 Jogasaki-zakura trees in this farm.
Later, travel by Izu Express from Jogasaki Kaigan to Izu-Kogen Station. Right in front of the station is a 3km boulevard lined with almost 2,000 sakura trees. It is an ideal place for a stroll. Once fully bloomed, flowers such as Someiyoshino Sakura form a sakura archway to create a truly magnificent scene. After the sakura boulevard, head to a charming little cottage nestled among trees. Called Teahouse An-an, it opened in March and its delectable desserts attract a steady stream of customers. Its popular desserts include seasonal treats such as roll cakes with sakura filling. One features sweet red beans filling with fresh sakura cream. Another comprises sakura paste - made with dried and pulverised sakura leaves which have been mixed with the batter - and fresh cream. After savouring these delicious treats with the taste of spring, walk towards Mount Omuro and visit Sakura Country. Boasting over 3,000 sakura trees, you can see 40 different varieties of sakura here. Some winter varieties begin blooming as early as October. Around spring time, you can see different types of sakura such as Shidare-zakura, kale blossoms, Sanbagawa fuyu Sakura, peace blossoms and Someiyoshino Sakura.
For our next trip, we will take a tour around Hiroshima's Seto Inland Sea. We will hop from one island to another by ferry and visit various flower spots on the islands. Start your trip on a beautiful note by going to a famous spot for sakura trees, which is halfway up Mount Senkoji in Onomichi. About 1,500 sakura trees can be found here. Besides sakura, several other flowers can be admired at this spot too. Onomichi is a town full of slopes. It is also made up of several islands. Ferries provide a connection between the mainland and the islands. In front of Onomichi Station is the port terminal. Take a 20-minute ferry ride to Innoshima, which is the second island from Onomichi. Innoshima is famous for its shipbuilding industry. It also used to be the country’s naval base. A walk up the hill takes you back to the Warring States period when the navy was active around Seto Inland Sea. A famous sakura-viewing spot on the island is the Innoshima Naval Castle. Many varieties of sakura bloom here such as the dark pink Taiwan Cherry, the pure white Oshima Zakura and Someiyoshino Sakura.
Since the citrus fruit Hassaku originated from Innoshima, visit a place that makes Japanese confections using Hassaku. At Hassaku-ya, you can buy the popular Hassaku Daifuku, which is filled with skinned Hassaku and white walnut paste and wrapped in glutinous rice cake. Tangerine peel is also mixed into the rice cake batter. This delicious local specialty was created by the owner of a rice cake factory, which specialises in making traditional Japanese rice cakes. After satisfying your palate, head to another flower spot - Innoshima Flower Center. About 95,000 flowers bloom here during each season. There is also a huge greenhouse, which houses 500 varieties of tropical plants. These include flowers such as New Guinea Impatiens and orchids.
After Innoshima, head to a neighboring island, Ikuchijima. This island is right in the middle of Shimanami Kaido Expressway. The ferry ride from Innoshima takes around 20 minutes. The shopping area of Ikuchijima has an Edo-period atmosphere. Roam around the historical town and the interesting shops which line the streets. After touring the shopping area, go to the Kosanji Temple Museum, which has many halls. The builder of this massive temple was an important industrialist and decided to become a monk after the death of his mother. This island was his mother's homeland, so he decided to rebuild Japan's iconic Buddhist structures here and create one huge temple. This temple is also famous for its beautiful sakura. Around 200 Someiyoshino Sakura trees bloom here, together with others such as Kawazu-zakura. Besides sakura, Ikuchijima is also famous for its homegrown citruses and boasts many citrus trees. Lemons are especially prosperous here. And at a hotel nearby, guests can enjoy a unique and fragrant bath which has slices of lemon floating in it. This lemon bath is especially good for people with dry skin. Later at the hotel, enjoy a dinner featuring seasonal delicacies from Seto Inland Sea. Dishes include freshly-caught parrot fish, the famous Hiroshima oyster and stonefish.
The next day, visit another flower spot, Citrus Park Setoda. It is the first park in Japan where visitors can learn about citrus fruits. During spring, about 500 varieties of citrus fruits can be found in the park. Around 800 sakura trees are also planted in this park. The best time for sakura viewing at this park is the middle of April. Next, head to another island of the Seto Inland Sea. It costs about 145 yen (S$7) to take a five-minute ferry ride from Ikuchijima to Iwagijima in Ehime prefecture. Iwagijima is an island that is famous for its sakura and lemons. Drop by a restaurant, Debeso Grannies Shop, which serves dishes featuring the area’s famous local lemons. In the local dialect, debeso means proactive and the farmer restaurant – which opened about five years ago - is run by three sprightly grandmothers. For lunch, you may have the lemon kaiseki (feast), comprising 10 dishes featuring delicacies from Seto Inland. You can even try your hand at making some lemon sushi. The appetizing feast of spring is full of sweet-and-sour flavors, featuring dishes such sea bream with lemon soy sauce, and shabu-shabu pork with lemon slices.
One of the best places to see sakura flowers is from Mount Sekizen. Thousands of sakura trees are lined across the surrounding mountains. Not only can you see the beautiful sakura trees, you can also enjoy the panoramic view of Seto Inland Sea from here. It is a fitting end to your trip of flower spots in Seto Inland Sea. |
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