Yushima Tenjin chrysanthemums 2021
In autumn 2021, I checked out Yushima Tenjin’s chrysanthemums. Earlier that day, I visited Shinjuku Gyoen to see its flowers. At that time, the weather was perfect. I lucked out as the conditions continued into the afternoon. It was an excellent day for photography. I was more than happy at the end of it.
As it was a weekday, the shrine wasn’t too crowded. Some had come to pray. But most wanted to see these pretty flowers. I’m sure they were impressed. What made me happy was not having to wait to take photos.
The chrysanthemums were excellent. They were as good as the ones I saw at Shinjuku Gyoen. The only difference was the way they were displayed.
I hope you don’t mind me voicing one complaint. Yushima Tenjin has one flaw. Concrete surrounds the shrine. It would be nice if there were more grass. The only “green” is near the plum blossom grove at the back, but it is barren in autumn.
It isn’t a huge problem, though. The pretty chrysanthemums and the shrine occupy your eyes. I’ve only started to notice the concrete recently. Maybe I’d been to the shrine so many times I was blind to it.
If you are looking for something more “natural,” there is another shrine that fits the bill. You could visit Omiya Hachimangu in Suginami ward. It has far more trees. Some might find it a little far out in the suburbs, though. Here, you are near Ueno. So, once you finish your visit, you won’t have far to go to see something.
Anyway, it didn’t detract from the displays. The ozukuri and ogiku were fabulous. I like those varieties a lot. But, this time, they were outdone by the kengai.
Kengai are hundreds of flowers draped over an arched lattice. They look like they are hanging over a cliff. These displays can be up to two meters in length. Some were on the shrine’s steps, and they looked marvelous.
As always, there was a monkey show Yushima Tenjin Chrysanthemums 2021. The cute guy put on a slapstick and acrobatic routine for an appreciative crowd. This type of entertainment is popular in Japan.
If you have seen chrysanthemums at any of the exhibits in Tokyo, please tell us about your visit. We’d love to hear about your experiences. Of course, an entire article about Yushima Tenjin is on the site, so please check it out. It is a shrine worth visiting. Leave questions and comments below.
Yushima Tenjin Chrysanthemums 2021 photo gear:
Camera body: Fujifilm X-T2
Fujifilm Lenses:
- XF 16-55mm F2.8 R LM WR
- XF 55-200mm f/3.5-4.8 R LM OIS
Rohan Gillett
Rohan has lived in Tokyo for 30+ years. He loves photography and plans to capture the entire city.
More chrysanthemum articles:
External related websites:
- Yushima Tenjin (official website)