summer – Susan Spann, Adventure, Mystery, and Mountains

Chimes and Lotus: Summer in Ueno Park

Susan Spann Blog, Flowers in Japan, Travel & Tourism August 12, 2024August 2, 2024festivals, lotus, summer, ueno park, wind chimes

In mid-July, author friend Jonelle Patrick and I headed over to Ueno Park to see the lotus in bloom on Shinobazu Pond, just before the start of the Ueno Natsu Matsuri (Summer festival). Lotus blossoms open early in the morning, and close before noon, so you need to get up early to catch them at their peak. We arrived at the pond before 9 a.m., and walked around to the place where the festival setup was going on. The stands were still under construction, but the hundreds of furin (風鈴)–Japanese wind bells–were already hung and chiming away in the breeze.

Kakigori – a Japanese Summer Treat

Susan Spann Blog July 26, 2021July 25, 2021Japan, Japanese desserts, kakigori, summer

One of the things I love most about living in Japan is the seasonal nature of Japanese food. While it’s sad to have some of your favorite treats fall off the menu when the calendar changes, it’s also exciting to look forward to seeing your favorites return the following year (and having the chance to find new favorites, too). Last summer, my son and I discovered a delicious spot to get kakigori–the fluffy shaved ice that’s a favorite summertime treat across Japan. Kurashiki Coffee at Toritsu-Daigaku station offers three different flavors: strawberry, matcha (powdered green tea), and tiramisu–each with a