Winter peony flowers in Tsurugaoka-hatchimangu

The winter peony flowers were blooming with magnificent and gorgeous beauty in the sunny spots of the old shrine's peony garden.

In China and Japan, a peony flower is esteemed as one of the most auspicious flowers and is called the king of flowers because of its splendid figure and color.

A peony flower naturally blossoms in April and May in Japan. A winter peony flower is artificially stimulated to blossom in January and February by the painstaking attention and care of gardeners.