Spring arrived early in Tokyo in 2024. After a record-breaking warm January, I started seeing photos of plum blossoms online far sooner than expected. A quick call to Hama Rikyu Gardens confirmed it—the blooms were out, and I had to see them for myself.
So off I went for my early spring in Tokyo plum blossom photos of 2024. By the way, do you know Hama Rikyu Gardens? It’s about a 10-minute walk from Shinbashi Station. The park was a hunting ground for the shoguns long ago. Now, it has a great collection of flowers.
We had great weather the day I went. The skies were blue, and there was a little cloud. I couldn’t have asked for anything more. It was even a little warm. Officially, it is still winter. But to me, it felt like spring in Tokyo. My expectations for flower photography that day were high.
Well, when I arrived, I was a little disappointed. The weather was great. But the flowers weren’t. A few trees had nice blooms, but most didn’t. What could I do?
There was only one choice. I photographed the trees that looked good. Then I looked for blooms that had fully formed. I filled the frame with them. My flash helped with those a lot. In the end, I was happy with the photos I got.
And I lucked out with something else. Hama Rikyu Gardens has a canola (rapeseed) field too. While half of it was bare, the other half had enough for photos. I could use those for this article as well.
I saw something unusual on the day. A mother and daughter were in the rapeseed field. Mum was probably in her thirties and had a camera with a huge zoom lens. The young girl might have been four or five and dressed to the nines. She was cute! It was a photo session.
The daughter carried a small step (or ladder, if you prefer), which she struggled with. Mum yelled to her where to put it and how to pose. She must have been so tired at the end of it. I hope the photos were worth it.
I snapped a few photos of her myself. But when I got home, I found a problem. I had shot at a large aperture, and in my haste, the focus point had probably been in the wrong place. With the depth of field so narrow, the girl’s face was blurred! I missed a great opportunity.
It was a fantastic, if unexpected, start to the flower-viewing season. While not in full bloom, the vibrant plum and canola blossoms at Hama Rikyu Gardens were a clear sign that spring in Tokyo was making an early appearance in 2024. It’s a great reminder to always keep an eye out for nature’s surprises. I’m excited to see what the rest of the season holds!
Rohan has lived in Tokyo for 30+ years. He loves photography and plans to capture the entire city.
One of the last places I saw hydrangeas in 2017 was at Myōhōji shrine. That is in Tokyo’s Suginami Ward, where I live. I arrived late in the season, and the flowers were fading. Still, I was glad I went as some were okay for photographs.
Jindai Botanical Gardens is famous for its roses. The 500 bushes are among the best in Tokyo. Other flowers are there too, but they take a back seat. Ignore them at your peril. Every season has something special.
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.
Higo Hosokawa Garden is an excellent place in spring and autumn. With its flowers and trees, nature photographers should find it interesting. It is also pretty enough to enjoy your bento at lunchtime! And nearby are photo spots that add more value.
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