If you have a chance to visit the Nezu shrine from late April to early June, you will be so lucky to have a view of the full-blooming azalea that is overwhelming the left side of a hill in the shrine. About 100 species and 3,000 azalea trees with colorful blossoms must amaze you so much. Different species bloom at different times so that people can enjoy the gorgeous hillside for about two months.
The azalea planting dates back to the late 17th century when the samurai lord’s mansion still stood there. The lord, Ieshige Tokugawa, an elder brother of the 5th shogun Tsunayoshi Tokugawa, transferred azalea trees from Tatebayashi, north of the Tokyo area. After the Nezu shrine was moved to its current location in 1706, it became a public space as well as a popular sightseeing spot among citizens of Edo, the ancient Tokyo.
The Bunkyo City office of Tokyo annually holds the Azalea Festival in the Nezu area, attracting many visitors who view the gorgeous color of azalea blossoms. In 2024, it was held from April 30 to June 30. To hit the best timing of azalea blooming, you’d better check its Instagram, which shares the present landscape photos with azaleas on time when the blossoms start blooming. https://www.instagram.com/nedujinja_official/
During the Azalea Festival, many shops open along the main street to the main hall and the side path to the back gate. One of them is a Japanese samurai amor craftsman shop, Kato Tomomi Workshop. Kato Takumi, the third generation of the craftsman family, told me how to craft the traditional samurai armor and helmet, Yoroi and Kabuto, respectively, by showing me a miniature of them. Nowadays, there is no real samurai family, but many ordinary families still want to display them on Boy’s Day, May 5, wishing for their boys’ healthy growth. I was absorbed by Takumi’s fascinating enthusiasm as an artisan and spent time listening to the story of his love for Kabuto and Yoroi skills and techniques. He also tries to use his skills and art in accessories and items such as smartphone straps to disseminate traditional craftsman skills and culture and hand them over to the next generation. His positive mind inspired me to ask him to let me visit his workshop soon, and my wish was accepted with a gentle smile on his face. I will write a post about my visit to his workshop later.
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