Rose Festival 2021 at Kyu-Furukawa Gardens

Camera Body: Fujifilm X-T3
Lenses: Fujifilm XF 10-24mm f/4 R OIS Fujifilm XF 16-55mm F2.8 R LM WR

After a long lockdown in Tokyo, the Kyu-Furukawa Gardens Rose Festival 2021 was a much-anticipated floral escape. I woke up to an overcast sky, but I wasn’t about to let that dampen my spirits. A trip to one of my favorite places in the city for a dose of roses was the perfect pick-me-up I needed.

An unexpectedly quiet visit

The night before, I had booked my ticket online, which made getting into the gardens a breeze. After a quick payment of 150 yen at the entrance, I walked in and was met with a surprise – the gardens were almost empty. This was a first for me. Even on weekdays, this event is usually bustling with people. The quiet atmosphere made for a peaceful and ideal setting for photography.

A photographer's delight

The lack of crowds allowed me to take my time and capture the beauty of the roses without any rush. While a few of the flowers had yet to bloom fully, there was no shortage of stunning blossoms to admire. I was delighted to find plenty of my favorite pinks, with the classic red ones coming in a close second.

A special mention goes to the dedicated staff of the Kyu-Furukawa Gardens. Year after year, they do a superb job of maintaining the gardens. Their ongoing effort to prune and care for the plants ensures the roses are in pristine condition for visitors to enjoy.

As the day went on, the clouds began to part, and the sun started to peek through. While the sunny weather was a welcome change, it was unfortunately my cue to leave. I had a busy but enjoyable day ahead, with a planned visit to Shinjuku Gyoen to see the roses there.

A colorful day in the city

Looking back, 2021 was a memorable year for roses. In fact, I went to Jindai Botanical Gardens the day after taking the photos for this article. The weather was fantastic and the flowers were beautiful. It’s a pity not every year is like that!