The cold days continue on. Many wouldn't normally associate this season with flower viewing outings. Taito City, however, is home to spots where you can see flowers exclusive to this time of the year. Today, we're featuring the winter peonies currently at their peak at the Peony Garden of Ueno Toshogu Shrine in Taito City.

This peony garden is literally on the grounds of Ueno Toshogu Shrine in Taito City. The best time to see the peonies here is in spring (mid-April to early May) and winter (early January to late February), with 600 peonies of 110 varieties in spring and 150 peonies of 40 varieties in winter. The cultivation of these winter peonies currently at their peak is one of the largest in the Kanto region.

The entire Peony Garden of Ueno Toshogu Shrine is a circular Japanese garden. During the winter peony viewing period, the flowers bloom beautifully in red, pink, white, and other colors, protected from the frost by a straw umbrella called "wara-botchi." The garden also features seasonal flowers like Japanese allspice, pheasant's eye, and Japanese apricot. Here, visitors can appreciate peonies and other beautiful flowers in a Japanese atmosphere.

The winter peony viewing at the Peony Garden of Ueno Toshogu Shrine is open until February 23, 2022 (Wed). Stop by and enjoy the breathtaking sight of beautiful peonies amid the Japanese scenery.