A hearty hello to all all of our loyal readers from far and wide!
As I write this column, the sun is streaming through my office window on a warm and sunny June morning. Today's summery weather stands in sharp contrast to the cooler, rainier conditions that have dominated weather forecasts in central Japan for the past couple of weeks.
Unhappily, the regular lashings of rain became so intense that prefectural authorities were forced to close roads leading into Kamikochi on two occasions (most recently, Sunday the 15th.)
To a certain extent, constant rain is to be expected during the mid-June to mid-July window which constitutes Japan's rainy season. According to weathernews, this year's rainy season will stretch from June 10th to July 19th in the Kanto-Koushin region. That's a little later than usual, but rather ealier than last year's rainy season which got off to an unusually late start.
For prospective visitors to Kamikochi, the rainy season is not the most popular of times. Cloudy skies and rainy conditions can understandably put a damper on what you might imagine to be the ideal Kamikochi experience: mountain vistas framed by clear skies above and lush, spring greenery below.
But those who forego a June visit will also miss some of the unique benifits of the sometimes soggy season. The numbers of visitors are typically far fewer with many avoiding outdoor activity during the rainy season.
There’ｓ also the matter of sesonal flora in the form of bright orange-red azaleas currently in bloom in central Kamikochi:
The Japanese azalea (or rhododenron japonicum) is a species of evergreen rhododendron found in Japan. In Kamikochi these beauties reside mainly in spots with damp soil and ample exposure to sunlight. They are currently in full bloom and will likley remain in peak condition until about June 20th.
Here are some of the locations were you can find them:
Tashiro Wetlands:
Tashiro Pond:
Dakesawa Wetlands:
You can find azaleas in bloom all around central Kamikochi, often in locations that are just a 15-20 minute hike from Kappa Bridge. Along the way, you'll see all the usual calming sights for which Kamikochi is famous, from the clear running water of the Azusa River to the vibrant spring greens crowning the trees.
Thanks to intrepid Five Sense blogger, Sakura, for sharing the images and info used in today's blog. Your continued efforts make our work easy!
That concludes this week's blog. We'll be back again shortly with another update on the early summer season in Kamikochi.
Till next time, be well and keep dry.
Sources of Information:
Nature Guide, Five Sense, Kamikochi blog: https://fivesense.guide/blog/today/141564/
Weather News: https://weathernews.jp/s/news/tsuyu/
