fuchu city local forest museum

We've been to Fuchu City Local Forest Museum to see ume, higanbana and now for hydrangea.

This was my lunch view yesterday, I bought musubi (konbu & ume) from the convenience store and sat under a tree inside the park.

So thankful there was somewhere to sit and with shade! it was blazing

The little ones (and big ones) keeping cool

Opposite to the ume orchards, Annabelle, a white hydrangea variety covers a hillside, so beautiful!

lots of other hydrangea varieties all around taking me to different parts of the park

it was nice to see but like I said, it was blazing!

luckily I brought my secret weapon , though it was fully melted by the time I was about to go home.

There were lotus flowers outside of the park on the way back to the station.

I'm glad I got to check the hydrangea out here….13231 steps

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Wednesday, met up with V & M to show them to Fuchu City Local Forest Museum.

The kawazuzakura was blooming in a tiny pocket park nearby.

The girls day dolls were up.
 

Luckily even after all that strong wind on Monday & Tuesday, there were still ume flowers on the trees.

We even spotted Mount Fuji from a remote area of the park.

Robai (waxy apricot) was still in bloom

V treated us to ume soft serve...bits of kari kari ume (the crunchy ume) mixed into the soft serve, delicious

And also gave us some omiyage from her travels to Okayama and Matsuyama (thank you!)

Love the bag!

Thanks for today V & M, have a safe trip back to Hawaii!

so...

Friday, I went to get my Covid XBB vaccine.

For the most part I felt okay after, then Saturday my arm hurt and I had a slight fever.

I did take aspirin and still somehow got the errands that needed to be done, done.

The gloomy rain didn't help the mood though.

Sunday, felt way better though for the 1st time there is a slight “lump”where the vaccine was administered… 

We got out early and went to check out the higanbana (spider lilies) at Fuchu City Local Forest Museum.

If you remember we went here in March to check out the ume.

backstory: On an afternoon program, they featured this park and showed all the spider lilies in bloom.

It was so beautiful.

Apparently this park has 350,000 spider lily blooms! mostly all under the ume trees!

I also learned that it is also called manjushage.

Apparently this flower is poisonous and was planted near the bodies of the deceased to deter animals.

We along with lots of others were at the park when it opened at 9:00.

Snacks from Kimuraya Bakery, who has been in business since 1965

Curry pan, gateau noir & menchi katsu sandwich…delicious!

Kakuni don (braised pork belly bowl) with matcha sauce at Iyemon Cafe for lunch

This was so delicious! I want to recreate it!

Satoshi had their soy milk tan tan udon, which he drank all the soup! ack! when I wasn't watching...

We want to come back to try other matcha dishes/drinks

The weather FINALLY got cooler in the early mornings and evenings…but will go back to blazing in a couple of days…ack

Have a good week.

Kimuraya Bakery

1-6-56 Minami-cho

Fuchu, Tokyo

Closed Tuesdays

Hours: 7:00-19:00

Iyemon Cafe

Lazona Kawasaki

Open when Lazona Kawasaki is

ps if you are interested more photos, look here

fuchu city local forest museum

On the way back from Yaho, I noticed another ume festival sign from the train...

when I looked online, I found out that Fuchu City Local Forest Museum, which is labeled as an arboretum on Google maps, has a baien (plum garden) and they were having an ume festival.

So, I went to check it out...

From the JR Fuchuhonmachi station....walk past Suntory Brewery

And the Daitokyo Sogo wholesale market...

wouldn’t mind coming back to check out this market

There was a tiny park with many cherry trees.

And then you need to buy an admission ticket...300 yen 

If I'm not mistaken, they only take cash.

There is also a planetarium, on the grounds, but the admission is separate and costs 600 yen.

There are some restored buildings on the property.

One was being used as a cafe.

60 plum varieties and 1000 plum trees...wow!

The plum blossom season was nearing the end, glad I was able to experience this.

Brought a musubi to tide me over...there were benches all over the place...to sit, to chat, to just hang out.

They have a little area with robai (waxy apricot) also called wintersweet/Japanese allspice.

Since it was March, I thought I missed this but there were still some flowers on the trees.

There is also an area for hydrangea though not as extensive as the plum...we might be back.

Lots of people out and about.

They also have ume trees lit up at night, which must be beautiful to see.

To get back home, I walked to the JR Bubaigawara station, because I've been curious of this statue, that you can see from the train...Samurai Yoshisada Nitta.

Sweets from Aokiya, which has been in business since 1893.

We tried these manju and mochi...delicious.

Another area of Tokyo explored.

The days are getting longer and warmer, I think some areas are May or June temps!

Fuchu city local forest museum

6-35 Koremasa

Fuchu City, Tokyo

Closed Mondays

Hours: 9:00-17:00

Aokiya

3-22-26 Katamachi

Bubaigawara Minano 1F

Fuchu City, Tokyo

Open daily 9:30-19:00

p.s. if you are interested in seeing more photos/videos, look here