GLIMPSES OF JAPAN 967 
Our excursion from Tokio 
to view the cherry blossoms 
proved a double joy, as, in 
addition to the wonderful 
display of the exquisite, 
fluffy bloom, resembling most 
delicately tinted clouds, we 
were afforded an unusual 
opportunity of studying the 
people in their free and easy 
enjoyment of the occasion 
(see pages 976-978). 
Near the Sumida River, 
about seven miles from To- 
kio, is the Arakawa Ridge, a 
road raised about eight feet 
above the surrounding paddy 
fields, and bordered on either 
side for many miles with the 
double-flowering variety of 
cherry trees. Here, as long 
as the display lasts, the peo- 
ple gather day after day, 
wandering up and down, 
abandoned to the enjoyment 
of the scene. They are 
dressed in holiday attire, the 
colors of their kimonos and 
obis vying with those of the 
blossoms; so it was a toss- 
up which produced the most 
brilliant display. Numerous 
booths, elaborately decorated 
with lanterns and paper or- 
naments, for the sale of sake, 
tea, and refreshments, to- 
gether with roving bands of 
musicians and dancers, some 
of them in grotesque costumes, added 
greatly to the entertainment of the crowd 
as well as ourselves. 
A little later the cherry blossoms were 
followed by the graceful wisterias (see 
page 994). ‘The native sort were seen in 
luxuriant bloom, their long branches of 
delicate - tinted flowers suspended from 
an overhanging trellis resembling ropes 
of purple beads. Some of these strings 
of blossoms grow to a length of six feet. 
Japanese gardeners obtain splendid re- 
sults with the variety commonly seen in 
our own country. The blossoms of this 
sort grow in thicker clusters and the 
color is deeper than the native variety. 
Photo by W, W. Chapin 
THE COMPASSIONATE GOD JIZU (SEE PAGE 997) 
Probably no flower impresses Ameri- 
can tourists with the floral possibilities 
of Japan as does the wonderful display 
of azalias. Some of the gardens we 
visited contained acres of bushes, many 
of them higher than our heads, all a 
mass of bloom (see page 995). Then, 
too, the mountain-sides were tinted with 
the wild species. Dooryards and hotel 
grounds contained many single specimens 
of exquisite color and form. ‘These out- 
of-door plants were even more beauti- 
ful than those raised in our hot-houses. 
Regular Japanese houses in construc- 
tion are frail frame affairs. The ever- 
present danger from earthquakes having 
