Shuji and Hiroko Yamazaki picking flowers with cherry trees in full bloom in the background (in Asahi town, Toyama Prefecture)
Along the bank of Funagawa River in Asahi town, Toyama Prefecture, tulips and cherry blossoms are in full bloom at once, presenting a beautiful harmony of colors with the mountains of the Northern Alps in the background.
The tulips are grown by a 56-year-old local bulb grower, Shuji Yamazaki, who successfully manages to make his tulips flower when the 280 cherry trees on the river banks are in full bloom. This year, he planted approximately 600,000 bulbs of tulips in 30 different kinds in his 1.5 hectors field.
Shuji and his 74-year-old father began producing tulips in the cherry-blossom season in 2008, expecting that “the tulips added to the already-beautiful combination of the cherry blossoms and the mountains will make this town even more famous among tourists.” “Local people and government support our initiative. I hope this beautiful scenery will become a resource to accelerate the region-wide efforts to make the town more attractive,” he said.
Hiromi Tanji, a 50-year-old female traveler from Toyama city was in the town with her friend, an amateur photographer, and said, “We thoroughly enjoyed the lovely combination of bright red tulips and pale pink cherry blossoms.”