Hakusan Shrine hydrangeas 2018
In 2018, I went to the Hakusan Shrine Hydrangea Festival. This time was my third or fourth visit there. I got up early, before 6 AM, thinking that if I got to the station before 7 AM I would miss the morning rush. I packed up the camera gear and headed off.
Photo gear for this shoot
- Camera body: Fujifilm X-T2
- Lens: Fujifilm XF 16-55mm F2.8 R LM WR
How was my day with Hakusan Shrine hydrangeas 2018?
My prediction about the trains was completely wrong. The trains, from Takaido to Jinbocho, were full even well before 8 a.m. I had a bad start.
Still, it was worth it as I got to the shrine early enough to avoid its crowds. As expected, my bad luck continued, as the sky was overcast. During my visit, I didn’t see one patch of blue. Still, I got some nice flower photos.
If you don’t know anything about Hakusan Shrine, it is tiny. That’s true but it has 3000 hydrangeas, which should be enough to make everyone happy. And there is even a hill dedicated to them (only open from 9 am). The main hall has plants all around it.
Taking photographs under clouds wasn’t a bad thing, as it was diffused light. But, shooting with some blue skies would make the pictures more attractive, wouldn’t it? I’m sure most people would agree.
To be honest, Hakusan Shrine hydrangeas 2018 was a little lacking. You might notice that some of the flowers were starting to wilt. I got there too late in the season.
It would be nice to be a professional and get to these events in a timely manner, but I need to make a living first. At the moment, my day job has priority. One day, photography might be my full-time job. That won’t happen soon, but it is my dream.
I had a good time with Hakusan Shrine hydrangeas 2018, but there was no chance to chat with people like the previous year. If you are looking for places to see hydrangeas in the inner city area, this shrine is the best place to go. But if traveling is not a problem, Takahata Fudoson in Hino City might be for you. Whatever you choose, both are excellent.
If you don’t know anything about hydrangeas, they come in blue, red, white, pink, or purple. There are two types. One is ball-shaped, and the other has a rather flat center core, surrounded by an outer ring of flowers. And that is the extent of my knowledge! I still need to learn more about them.
If you have useful tips about flower photography, I’d love to hear them. Leave questions and comments below.
Rohan Gillett
Rohan has lived in Tokyo for 30+ years. He loves photography and plans to capture the entire city.
Here are more flower articles:
External related links:
- Hakusan Shrine (official website)