The camellia is the symbol of the Goto Islands and they have long made a living from the flower and its oil. But it is the Goto Islands that claim the camellia crown. Native to Japan, with its official name being “Camellia Japonica,” the rose-like plant can be seen all over the country. In Yatsuka-cho, go to Yuushien, one of the most gorgeous places to see peonies.Įven further down the historical flower path lies the camellia. In nearby Yatsuka-cho, 1.5 million peonies are produced annually. This contributed greatly to the island’s peony fame, and now peony saplings are even exported abroad. Back in the 1950s, the women of Daikon Island traveled on foot far and wide to sell peony saplings and provide for their families. It turned out the peonies absolutely loved Shimane. The slight acidity in the soil from past volcanic activity coupled with the perfect climate allowed them to truly thrive.īut their success wasn’t only due to their optimal growing conditions. He went for training in Shizuoka and brought the peonies back for medicinal purposes before cultivating them elsewhere on the island. Although the peonies entered Japan through Shizuoka, they made their way down to Shimane on the back of the chief priest of Daikon Island’s Zenryuji Temple. Peonies, Shimaneĭelving back into Japan’s floral history, the extravagant peonies are thought to have been brought into Japan from China in the 8th century AD. When to see nanohana: Mid-January – Mid-March And for a famed railroad shot, photographers love this location in Isumi, Chiba. It’s rare for one flower to have quite so many meanings.įor a great field shot, go to the aptly named Nanabatake Road in Kamogawa. In fact, this flower has seven different meanings: love, liveliness, energy, fortune, small victories, cheerfulness and spirited competition. Once flowered, they are used for their oil.Īllusions to rape blossoms can be found throughout various Japanese poems and artworks. The young plants can be found in supermarkets all over Japan, offering a bitter but refreshing taste to any stir-fry. In spring, fields are blanketed in a joyful yellow as far as the eye can see. The yellow hemming represents nanohana rape blossom, the bright and cheerful flower that signifies the coming of spring. If you are going to Chiba Prefecture, try and spot their blue and yellow flag floating overhead. Though not always flying in plain sight, Japan’s prefectures each have their own flag. When to see lavender: Late June – Early August Now the beautiful farms that saved Tomita’s livelihood make for a beautiful spot where visitors share in that happiness. Though the market price was much lower than that of say, potatoes, it at least guaranteed a living wage. He also contracted others to grow lavender in the region. Tadao Tomita, founder of Farm Tomita, brought in lavender seeds from France and began fervent domestic production of lavender oil. A market crash then sent already struggling crop farmers into further distress.īut lavender provided a purple ray of hope in an otherwise dark time for these Hokkaido farmers. Some of the crops made a comeback by the 1950s, so post-war price controls were eliminated. But that wasn’t always the case.Īfter World War II, many of Hokkaido’s farms and crops were devastated, leaving potato production at 30 percent and rice at a measly 20 percent compared to pre-war numbers. Tomita farm has made a name for itself for its summer carpets of purple lavender bringing in flocks of tourists to its comfortable summer climate.
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