Japan

Though the south of Japan’s memorably scenic archipelago experiences a sub-tropical climate the northernmost parts of this island chain have more in common with Siberia. Early spring bulbs bloom where the snows are still receding whilst lower latitudes and elevations host a more exotic flora.

We’ll be immersed immediately in fabulous plants and scenery – both go together frequently in Japan! Mount Fuji will form the perfect backdrop to the purple-pink pouches of Cypripedium macranthos, the divine little spotted Cypripedium yatabeanum, swathes of Iris sanguinea, and delightful clumps of Gentiana zollingeri. Botanical wonders continue with the striking orange blooms of Chaenomeles japonica, the delicate anemone Dichocarpum stoloniferum, the tasselled spires of Comanthosphace japonica, Arisaema ovale var. sadoense, and the orchids Neottia acuminata, Liparis kumokiri and gorgeous Galearis cyclochila. Japan is also famed for its unbelievably diverse woody flora and we’ll get our first taste here with Carpinus japonica, Acer distylum, Styrax obassia and flowering Magnolia kobus amongst a host of species

Hakuba-jiri’s famous snowy valley holds Glaucidium palmatum with its impressive pink or white blooms as well as Anemone flaccida, Primula jesoana, the tall pink orchid Neolindleya camtschatica, beautiful and delicate Schizocodon soldanelloides, and Paris japonica. At Utsukushigahara we can see both orange-red and pinkish forms of floriferous Rhododendron molle subsp. japonicum. No less than three species of Trillium inhabit the wonderland that is the Ozegahara Marsh and the Numayama Toge Pass – pink Trillium smallii, vinous Trillium apetalon, and the lovely white Trillium tschonoskii. There’s both Paris tetraphylla and Paris verticillata, drifts of Pteridophyllum racemosum topped by sprays of purest white flowers, delicate little Helonias orientalis, the pink urns of Epigaea asiatica, and the even more classically urn-shaped Asarum sieboldii.

After looking for Lilium rubellum near Minamiaizu Town we’ll head to Japan’s west coast where wetlands host populations of lovely Lilium maculatum and fabulous Hemerocallis middendorffii var. esculenta as well. Though a mountain of moderate height by Japanese standards, the 1984m high Mount Gas-san’s grassy subalpine slopes are for much of the year buried under deep snow, only clearing around the start of June. Here we’ll find the odd-looking Heloniopsis orientalis, Foamy Thalictrum tuberiferum and delicate ivory Primula nipponica.

An extension takes us to the northernmost part of Japan’s memorably scenic archipelago, the island of Hokkaido, has more in common with Siberia, and at its very northern tip is the remarkable landscapes of Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park. This protects two islands and part of the peninsula, an area of spectacular and unique landscapes. The impressive volcanic cone of Rishiri-Fuji dominates the scene from the island of Rebun-to, where we’ll be based. Rebun-to is known in Japan as the ‘Floating Island of Flowers’ an epithet you’ll see well-given when you see meadows coloured yellow with stands of yellow Thermopsis lupinoides, blue with Geranium erianthum, golden with Trollius ledebourii, and orange with the wonderful Siberian Lily Lilium pensylvanicum with their large orange blooms. The stunning creamy pouches of rare Cypripedium macranthos var. rebunense will be a top priority and we’ll also look for Primula farinosa subsp. modesta var. matsumurae, the impressive Cobra Lily Arisaema serratum, and the clustered chocolate bells of Fritillaria camschatcensis.