Better Late Than Never

As a koyo freak, I was a little disappointed to be away from Tokyo for the peak of the season. But I was lucky enough, after much careful koyo-stalking, to get one golden afternoon with the leaves.

 

The first attempt was not entirely successful, when I coerced Matcha-kun into an overly early, rain drenched walk in Shinjukugyoen... very little colour, but a rather unique chance to have a 'kashikiri koen' (private park).

Kichijouji is slightly colder than the rest of Tokyo, so the leaves in Inokashirakoen change colour earlier than their more centrally located cousins.

 It was predicatably crowded, and many fine examples of 'girl-rowing-boat-while-boyfriend-looks-on-boredly' were on display. Still, it is so pleasant to lounge on a bench with a cup of hot tea, under a golden canopy, and watch the swan boats go by.

My apologies for this seasonally inappropriate post, but it is hard to repress a koyo obsession. Stay tuned for exciting adventures in Nagano!

Hydrangeas and the time in between

As Matcha-kun goes off for a two hour professional coaching session, I head towards Shinjukugyoen, one of my favorite places in the whole world, to pass the time and ponder.I love this park in every season, as it encompasses several different worlds in garden form.

 My aim is to find some hydrangeas, my spring/summer obsession (to balance the fall/winter obsession with koyo leaves). As I wander there seem to be so few. Slightly disappointed, I head toward my very favorite part of the park, towards the back.

 Two long lanes, flanked by sky tickling trees (which in the autumn turn the most stunning shades of russet) transport me, without having to deal with the trouble and expense of planes, to Paris' Bois de Boulogne. In the middle is a sprawling collection of roses, reminiscent of yet another beloved spot in London's Regents Park.

And I can't help but smile, when I see the familiar clumps of sunset colours. All of Shinjukugyoen's hydrangeas cluster here, in this place which seems to exist to please my senses. My camera loses power after a couple shots, so my phone has to make due to remind me of this happy coincidence.

But all good things must come to an end. The strains of Auld Lang Syne fill the air, an unobtrusive signal that they are closing for the day. I take off my shoes and take the long route back, through the clean, soft grass. It is nice to tread a little more lightly on the Earth, and a reward for my hard working feet, usually battered by hard concrete and asphalt.

Back to reality, and my date :)