spring – Susan Spann, Adventure, Mystery, and Mountains

The Koubai (Red Plum Blossom) Festival at Ushi-Tenjin Kitano Shrine in Tokyo

Susan Spann Blog, Flowers in Japan, Holidays & Observances, Shrines and Temples February 11, 2024February 11, 2024Shinto, shrine, spring, sugiwara no michizane, Tokyo, ume, ume matsuri, Ushi-Tenjin Kitano

Every February, Ushi-Tenjin Kitano Jinja (shrine) holds a koubai (red plum blossom) festival to celebrate the blooming ume (Japanese plum) trees that grow around the shrine. Last weekend, a friend and I hopped a train to Bunkyo to check out the festival, and the early blooms.

Welcome, Spring!

Susan Spann Blog March 1, 2020March 1, 2020Murder is Everywhere, spring, ume

“Springtime in Japan” conjures mental images of sakura – cherry blossoms – but in reality, the first colorful harbingers of spring are the ume (plum, or Japanese apricot), and the beautiful blossoms have now arrived once more.

Happy Setsubun!

Susan Spann Blog February 2, 2020February 2, 2020holidays, Japan, observances, oni, setsubun, spring

In Japan, February 3 is Setsubun (節分), the day before the first day of spring.

Springtime in Tokyo!

Susan Spann Blog March 26, 2018March 25, 2018flowers, Japan, plum blossom, spring, Tokyo

Sadly, I had to leave Tokyo last week and return to the USA to finish chemotherapy. (On the positive side, I had an infusion last week, and only have one more to go!) Fortunately, I didn’t miss out on all of the lovely spring flowers in Japan.

Setsubun – Have You Scattered Beans Today?

Susan Spann Blog February 3, 2017November 8, 2017Japan, Japanese festivals, setsubun, spring

In Japanese, “setsubun” means “division of the seasons” but the word is generally used with reference to the festival that takes place each February 3.