In Nijyushi-sekki (二十四節気, 24 divisions of the year in Japanese old almanac), the day of Keichitsu (啓蟄) was on March 6 this year. It is the date on which wintering insects come out of hibernation. Around this day, buds in all kinds of trees begin to bloom in Japan, as if they were waiting for the spring to arrive.
At Suika Tenmangu (水火天満宮) shrine, Asebi (馬酔木, Japanese Andromeda) trees were in full bloom. The Kanji (漢字) characters for Asebi mean "drunken horse tree (馬=horse, 酔=drunk, 木=tree)", and is literally poisonous for horses. The shape of Asebi flower resembles that of Suzuran (鈴蘭, lily of the valley). I spent a very pleasant afternoon enjoying the pretty view of Asebi flowers swinging in the wind.
Kyoto Certificate 1st grade Akane Kibune
Access:
2 mins. on foot from Tenjin Koen Mae, Kyoto city bus
MAP:
