If you are now in TOKYO, it’s time for you to be an early bird and enjoy lotus flowers on Shinobazu Pond in Ueno.
I got on the first train early, around 5:00 a.m., heading to Shinobazu Pond in Ueno, Tokyo, because many social media posts have indicated that the lotus flowers are now in full bloom. I arrived at the pond around 6:15 a.m. and was greeted by fully blooming lotus flowers. It was fantastic to see large pink flowers standing straight up in the light green leaves.
The local community in Ueno organizes the Lotus Flower Festival, where the committee sets up wind bell decorations on the observation deck and a traditional colorful umbrella wall for the photo spot.
A bee was so busy collecting honey on the lotus flower that it was never aware of me, even though my iPhone was approaching it closely.
You may wonder why the lotus pond is in the center of Tokyo. Of course, there is a reason. The lotus pond is part of Kaneiji Temple, so the lotus flower holds particular significance in Buddhism.
The lotus flower is regarded as representing five natures in Buddhism:
(1) Purity
It grows from a muddy bed in the pond, not firm soil or ground, which means it grows beautifully without being polluted with mud or dirt.
(2) Independence
It has only a flower on its stem, unlike many roses on a branch, which means it focuses on one thing.
(3) Efficiency
It blooms all at once, unlike cherry blossoms, which bloom gradually, and it already has seeds in its flower when it blooms, representing its efficiency.
(4) Reproduction Power
It has many seeds in a flower, although the apple or cherry blossom has only one seed.
(5) Going straight forward
It grows straight and upright, not winding, like morning glories.
Buddhists believe that people who go to the Buddhist paradise after their deaths will be reborn with these five natures. You may understand how the lotus flowers are admired in Buddhism, as you can find the statue of Buddha standing or sitting on a lotus-flower-shaped base.
Anyway, please enjoy more photos of the lotus flowers in the Shinobazu Pond before you leave my post.
The lotus flowers start blooming around 5:00 to 6:00 a.m. and close before noon, blooming only for four days in sequence, as outlined below.
It starts blooming just after sunrise.
On the first and second days,
it closes its petals by 9:00 a.m.
On the third day,
it doesn't close entirely in the afternoon and remains partially open.
Then, on the fourth day,
it opens fully and widely, and sheds all its petals eventually.
Therefore, it is best to go there in the early morning, before breakfast. You can enjoy watching the beautiful lotus flowers and taking a morning walk. It’s worth it!
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