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The 2018 Nezu Shrine Azaleas were beautiful
The 2018 Nezu Shrine Azaleas were beautiful. I had been apprehensive about my visit that year, as the weather had been relatively warm. Would the flowers bloom early? Yes, there was a chance I would get the timing wrong like last year and miss their peak. In the end, I worried needlessly. They were perfect.
I was dreading the ride on the morning train. The hill where the flowers were didn’t open until 9 am. That meant I could get there very early and wait or get there at a reasonable time but have to ride a crowded train. I took the latter option with a bit of trepidation as I had to ride the Marunouchi.
Undoubtedly, the Marunouchi is one of Tokyo’s most crowded subway lines. I waited at the back of the line, wondering if my camera would survive. Yes, I wished I had left home much earlier.
My fears proved groundless. The train I got in Shinjuku was the starting train. It was empty upon arrival. So, everyone piled on, and we all had a little space. It was comfortable. No one crushed me. Next was the Nanboku line, which had fewer people, so my camera and bag survived!
As it was a weekday, the shrine and hill weren’t overly crowded, so taking pictures wasn’t a problem. There was a mix of people, from the young to the old. And there seemed to be many tourists from overseas. Of course, people prayed at the shrine.
I went with two lenses: my 16-55 mm f 2.8 and the XF 55-200 mm f/3.5-4.8 R LM OIS. They proved to be a good pairing. The 16-55 did the wider shots, while I used the 55-200 for shots that needed bokeh. This trip started me thinking about the 10-24 mm wide angle. With it, I would capture the entire grounds.
I had zero complaints about my visit. My only mistake was not staying longer!! The weather was good, a little overcast. That wasn’t a problem, as the cloud cover made it easier to shoot lighter-colored flowers. It was an enjoyable day.
Did you go to the 2018 Nezu Shrine Azaleas? Let us know if you did. I’d love to know your thoughts. Don’t be shy!
For related articles, look at:
- Nezu Shrine (main article)
- Nezu Shrine Azalea Festival in 2019