It's been warming up, spring is definately on it's way, although it might snow on Wednesday, but we are having more (relatively) warm days than cold days each week. And that means ume are blooming! Ume is the Japanese apricot/plum tree that is right up there with cherry trees (sakura) here in Japan. Well almost. The blossoms are a little more hardy than sakura and they have a wonderful fragrance. My favorite are the weeping ume. If you want to learn about ways the ume fruit is used you can go to this link: http://www.japan-talk.com/jt/new/ume
I still have some of the ume liquor and syrup I made last year. It's so yummy.
I went to Kyoto with Erin on Saturday and we had a good time, along with MANY others, admiring the blossoms.
We first went to Jonangu which is a little bit south of Kyoto station. This garden is full of weeping ume and they were almost in full bloom.
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| LOTS of people!! |
On the way back to the station we found this.
On our way to Kitanotenmangu northwest of the station.
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| Some young women like to dress in kimono and walk under the blossoms. It's beautiful. |
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| Lots of people here too! |
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| This ticket came with refreshments. |
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| You rub the bull? ox? in the place you want healed. And the head for studying for exams. |
It's been a long time since I've been to Kyoto. So glad I went!
