Hydrangeas and the Rainy Season🌼☔️

あじさい (Ajisai: Hydrangeas) are one of the flowers that best represent early summer in Japan.✨

They bloom in beautiful shades of blue, purple, pink, and white, and they look especially stunning when covered with raindrops.💧

In Japan, many people feel that the rainy season has arrived when hydrangeas begin to bloom.

Although the rainy season can sometimes be inconvenient, hydrangeas are one of the things that make this time of year special.☔️🌿

There is something very calming about seeing them blooming in the rain.

Japan is home to many famous hydrangea spots.

One of the most popular places is Kamakura, where visitors can enjoy beautiful hydrangea views at temples such as Meigetsu-in and Hasedera.

Other well-known locations include Mimuroto-jiin Uji and Huis Ten Bosch in Sasebo.🌸

Interestingly, I have also seen hydrangeas in Singapore.

They are sometimes used as decorations in hotels, including the famous Marina Bay Sands.🏨✨

Seeing such a Japanese-looking flower in tropical Singapore always makes me happy and reminds me of home.

Hydrangeas have another fascinating characteristic.

Their color can change depending on the acidity of the soil.

The same variety may bloom blue in one place and pink in another.🔵🩷

Because of this, hydrangeas are sometimes called 七変化 (Shichihenge), which means “the flower that changes in many ways.”

As someone who was born during Japan’s rainy season, I have always felt a special connection to hydrangeas.😊

When I was a child, seeing hydrangeas bloom reminded me that my birthday was approaching.

Even now, whenever I see them, they bring back memories of Japan’s rainy season and the changing of the seasons.

Do you have a flower in your country that makes you think of a particular season?🌹

If you ever have the chance to visit Japan in early summer, I highly recommend taking some time to enjoy the beautiful hydrangeas that bloom during the rainy season.🇯🇵✨

Sayuri