Although it was rain since the morning last Saturday, I rode a train to watch hydrangea and Japanese iris which flower well in the rain. In the drizzle, there were many people in the Meiji-jingu shrine, Tokyo. This shrine is enshrined emperor Meiji and his consort Empress Shoken. Yes, it is easy to become God from human in Japan. You can easy find a lot of shrine that God originally was people, such as Poet Basho Matsuo (I posted in June 5), Admiral Togo, General Nogi, Heian period samurai Masakado Taira, Syogunate Ieyasu Tokugawa, lord Michizane Sugawara, etc. This shrine was built on November 1, 1920. After Meiji emperor’s demise in 1912, Japanese people donated 100,000 trees from all over Japan, and they worked voluntarily to create Meiji-jingu forest. This year’s June 30 will be the centennial anniversary of the demise of Emperor Meiji, they will plan various commemorative events (special nighttime visiting to the shrine). At the inner garden, there are 1500 plants, 150 different Japanese iris (Hanashobu) which was planned by the Meiji emperor’s order for Empress Shoken.
- Meiji-jingu shrine’s torii gateway
- Meiji-jingu shrin’s woods
- Otsuri-dai, was built by the order of Meiji emperor for his wife Empress Shoken who frequently enjoyed fishing this spot.
- Meiji jingu shrine’s innner garden’s pond
- Japanese iris “oosakazuki” (large sake cup)
- Japanese iris
- Japanese iris “Kamiyono mukashi” (the age of the Gods)
- iris garden
- Japanese iris
- Japanese iris
- Japanese iris at Meiji jingu garden
- Japanese iris
- Meiji jingu shrine’s inner garden
- They are watching irises under the hut.
- Kiyomasa ido (well) at the Meiji jingu shrine garden. It is famous place for healing these days. It was made by the 17century’s samurai lord Kiyomasa Kato. Now they use this water for the iris garden and pond.
- Japanese iris “Shigano uranami” (wave in Shiga bay)
- Japanese iris, “Tsuruno kegoromo” crane’s down robe
- Japanese iris
- flowering irises
- Japanese iris “Nure-karasu” (wet crow)
- Japanese iris
- Japanese iris “Gosechinomai” (Gosechinomai dance) —that means “performs the imperial court harvest dance ceremony”
- Yomono-umi (Ocean in all directions)
- Japanese iris “Uthu” (cosmos)
- Iris garden
Similar “iris” post
Enjoy the rainy season, in the iris field
Beautiful pictures. Love the large plantings. Your varieties differ from ours, but Iris are beautiful regardless of variety.
I heard Japanese iris has 5,000 different kinds of flowers. In the garden, it is fun to find the difference.