Manjushage Festival in Koma

Relaxing and amazing at the same time

Allan Murphy Sep 23, 2013 - 1 min read

Pathway stall: left, hana nasu, dried Japanese eggplants on the vine; right, Halloween wreaths

Pathway stall: squash and hyotan. Traditionally, hyotan were dried, scooped out and used as canteens for travelers or seed containers by farmers

Scarecrows influenced by the gradual seepage of Halloween into Japanese popular culture

The sunlight makes the brilliant red colour even brighter

Otsukimi (September moon viewing) flower arrangement and seasonal foods

We went to Koma again on Saturday, September 21st 2013. It is one of those places that is easy to get to, relaxing and quiet but totally amazing at the same time. It is also different every time, as there's always something new to see. By my estimation, about 80% of the flowers were out. In other words, that season's peak was around the weekend of the 28/29th September. Even so, we had a very memorable time and took home many memories—and fresh chestnuts, hana nasu, etc.

Allan Murphy @allan.murphy

Although I consider Vancouver to be my home, I'm an army brat and grew up in London, Ont., Birkenhead, UK; Soest, West Germany (then); and Petawawa, Ont. As a result, I became a rolling stone: lived in China (Chengdu), Western Auatralia and about 30 years in Japan. It ain't over yet.