Aoyama Cemetery cherry blossoms: My last chance

2020 was a terrible year. Coronavirus was the culprit. The hardship it caused, on many levels, was unbelievable. It especially ruined my flower photography schedule. I avoided going out as much as possible. But, I wanted at least some good photos of cemetery cherry blossoms. Once again, I headed to my favorite place, Aoyama.

I needed to finish the season on a good note for two reasons. One was the death of the comedian, Ken Shimura, due to coronavirus. In all honesty, I wasn’t his biggest fan, but he was an icon in Japan. Turn on the TV, and he was always there. His work schedule over forty-six years must have been incredible. Many people will miss him.

The other was the weather. Two days of rain in Tokyo conspired to kill the 2020 Hanami season. I had hoped to see some new places. But it was mostly a washout. I wasn’t having a good time.

So, with the imminent end of the cherry blossom season, I got up at 4 am. Getting the first train of the day allowed me to avoid people and go to Aoyama Cemetery again. Yes, I went there a few days before, but I needed to go again. A few nice pictures of the cemetery’s cherry blossoms would put my world back on track for the rest of the year.

I planned to get in very early and take my pictures. Then, I would go home after the morning rush had finished. That would limit any interactions with others. With the weather forecast looking good, I was confident.

And I got my wish. It was a great morning, and the trees were perfect, still in full bloom! I got some excellent photos of cemetery cherry blossoms. What do you think? 

Aoyama Cemetery is a beautiful place. If you want to learn more about it, read the main article here. And yes, some semblance of order was restored to my life in 2020.

Aoyama cemetery cherry blossoms photo gear:

  • Camera body: Fujifilm X-T3
  • Lens: Fujifilm XF 16-55mm F2.8 R LM WR
Picture of Rohan Gillett
Rohan Gillett

Rohan has lived in Tokyo for 30+ years. He loves photography and plans to capture the entire city.

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