Though cherry blossoms are synonymous with Japan and the country boasts many viewing sites and festivals dedicated to the blooming season of the famed buds, there are other flowers worth a second look.
Only a few hours’ drive from most bases in the Kanto Plain, Sawara in Chiba Prefecture is an attractive town, known as “Koedo,” or little Edo, that preserves the original townhouses and streets from the Edo period, allowing for a glimpse at the former glory of the samurai capital.
Although the season brings us constant gray skies and showers for nearly two months, various beautiful flowers, such as iris and hydrangea, begin to bloom and put an attractive spin on the season.
