Wisteria

Now that the cherry blossom has gone, the Wisteria is blooming.

Kasuga-taisha Shrine has a famous Wisteria tree, “Sunazuri-no-Fuji”.

“Sunazuri” means “touching the ground”, and its blossoms hang down 1m.

Remarkably, it’s about 800 years old and still blooms every year!

It contrasts beautifully with the vermilion-coloured shrine.

Since the temperature has been unusually high recently,

it’s blooming 10 days earlier than usual.

You should be able to enjoy it until the end of this month.

From April 29th to May 6th is the “Golden Week” of holidays in Japan.

Expect everywhere to be crowded!

If you want avoid the crowds around Kasuga-taisha Shrine,

why not take the forest path?

In fact, there are 3 paths through the forest.

Kami-no-Negi-michi (Upper path):

from Wakamiya Shrine to Takabatake east area.

Naka-no-Negi-michi (Middle path):

from the Shrine gate going towards Shin-Yakushiji Temple.

Shimo-no-Negi-michi “Sasayaki-no-komichi” (Lower path):

from below the gate, going towards

the Former Residence of Shiga Naoya

This is the Naka-no-Negi-michi (Middle path).

It’s very quiet and peaceful.