Spring flowers blooming and early Kakigori（かき氷）!

Japanese people have enjoyed Sakura viewing from old days.
Now it is the season of Ume（梅）before Sakura blooming.
I went to see Ume and early-blooming Sakura before Sakura became in full blossom.

The Koishikawa botanical garden (小石川植物园) was the place for studying medicinal herbs in the Edo era (from 17th Century). Various plants are still grown and used for scientific studies at the University of Tokyo

Here, each Ume is different in all the kinds. We can enjoy various Umes at the same time.

The camellias were still in full bloom and also there was an early-blooming Sakura tree! So pretty!

This time, it’s not only about flowers. We went to a famous Kakigori (かき氷) Shop “Himitsudo”（ひみつ堂）. In summer season, we need to wait for four hours to have it!

In Himitsudo, naturally-made ice broght from Nikko, Tochigi prefecture（日光の天然氷）is used. Here, ice is shaved manually in the old-fashioned way to make Kakigori.

Seasonal fruit for now! You should try “Strawberry with milk”!

This is a special limited, “Sakura Kakigori”. Salt-preserved Sakura petal is on the top. Inside the ice, there is Japanese green bean jam contained.

Have you tried yogurt with ice? This is a winter seasonal menu, “Apple yogurt Kakigori”. Pour the red and green apple sauce to a yogurt mountain!

We also have hot gratin in Himitsudo! And amazingly, we can have it during the summer time!

When this article is uploaded, Sakura is at its best in Japan. And when the Sakura season is over, the Kakigori season will come soon!

From Bakutin


小石川植物园
3-7-1 Hakusan, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, JAPAN
http://www.bg.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/koishikawa/

ひみつ堂（Himitsudo）
3-11-18 Yanaka, Taito-ku, Tokyo, JAPAN
http://himitsudo.com/