Beautiful hydrangeas at a canceled Tokyo festival
There were no beautiful hydrangeas at Hakusan Shrine in 2020. Well, there were but the festival was canceled. The same thing happened in 2021. That year I went anyway, pandemic or not. I wanted to do flower photography. And I’m glad I went. Why?
I thought very few people would be at the shrine. And that turned out to be true. When I arrived mid-morning, there weren’t many there. There were only a couple of photographers and a few dropping in to pray.
But I had a great time. It was easy to get photos having the flowers almost to myself. I only had to wait for a couple of shots which wasn’t a bother. And that was only for a mother with a baby in a pram passing through.
One thing could have been better. More hydrangeas should have been around the shrine itself. Usually, they are in planters. But, with the cancellation of the festival, they weren’t needed. If they had been there, my day would have been perfect.
For this event, I took three lenses with me. In the end, I only used the XF 16-55mm f/2.8. The shrine’s grounds are compact, so I didn’t need a zoom or ultra-wide angle. I couldn’t find a reason to use anything else.
In the end, it was disappointing that coronavirus has affected Tokyo this way. To see Hakusan Shrine’s Hydrangea Festival canceled again was terrible. But, on the other hand, it was a blessing for me. I got the flowers to myself.
For that visit, the hydrangeas were in excellent condition. I have never seen them at their peak before. They were very impressive. It was a thrill to be there.
Hakusan Shrine is an excellent place for flower photography. It is easy to get to, and the hydrangeas are brilliant. You should check them out when you have the chance.
Photo gear these beautiful hydrangeas
- Camera body: Fujifilm X-T3
- Lens: Fujifilm XF 16-55mm F2.8 R LM WR
If you have questions or comments, leave them below. And if you have ever been to this shrine for the festival, let us know your thoughts.
Rohan Gillett
Rohan has lived in Tokyo for 30+ years. He loves photography and plans to capture the entire city.
More flower festival articles:
External related websites:
- Hakusan Shrine (official website)