I visited Hanegi Park in 2017 for its plum blossoms. The weather for that visit was terrific. We had amazing blue skies in Tokyo that week. It was perfect for photography.
Hanegi is one of Tokyo’s many local parks. It’s nothing special for most of the year. But, when spring comes, and the plum blossoms bloom, we see something very nice. It’s very different from another place I often visit for these flowers, Yushima Tenjin.
Yushima Tenjin has a shrine, lots of entertainment, and can be too crowded. Hanegi is different. Yes, it has some stalls, a teahouse, and entertainment, but it is more laidback and quiet. The emphasis is more on the flowers. And there is no shrine either!
I went there early in the morning, and it was almost empty. The people there seemed to be locals. They were doing their morning walks, with or without a dog. Joggers were there too. It was real Tokyo suburban life.
Hanegi did manage to give me one big surprise. Through the trees was Mount Fuji! I’d been to the park many times, but that was the first time I saw the mountain from there. Might I have been unlucky with the weather in the past? Who knows, but I’m glad I saw it, especially during the plum blossom season.
My thoughts about these old photos?
I’ve republished these photos after more than five years. It’s interesting looking at them. To be honest, they are pretty bad. The biggest problem is the lack of a real subject. What was I thinking of when I hit the shutter button? I probably only saw a pretty flower and clicked. There was no thinking.
Many beginner photographers do this. We see something we like and press the button. I’ve done it so many times over many years. What was I doing? Not much, obviously. Well, it became an ingrained problem that I am still fighting.
Maybe one of the causes is that I didn’t understand photography, let alone art when I was younger. I had no idea to compose a photo. The same went for lighting a subject. Now, I’m working on fixing those problems. I am making progress, but it’s a long and slow process.
The only picture that made me happy was the one with Mount Fuji! That’s a hard one to get as it is weather dependent. I’ve been to the park maybe six times and only managed to get that shot once!
Anyway, if you have ever been to Hanegi Park to see the plum blossom festival, please let me know your thoughts. Or have you been to the festival anywhere else? Please share your experiences if you have.
For more flower articles, look at:
Please leave your questions and comments below.
Pingback: 2018 Kameido Tenjin Wisteria Festival - Tokyo in Pics