On a blustery Saturday in late February, social media was abuzz with videos and photos of what looked like smoke billowing from the mountains of western Tokyo. But these weren’t wildfires. The images captured vast plumes of pollen erupting from dense cedar forests, forming a fine yellow mist that spread across the landscape.
“Today’s pollen in Okutama: It’s rising from the trees like steam, and a yellow haze hangs over the entire mountain. If you’re heading this way, don’t forget your protection…!” user @kawanokuruma posted on X, accompanied by a short clip of pollen drifting through the treetops.
“It’s hard to see in this photo, but the mountains in Chichibu looked the same,” @Takagisya824 replied, sharing an image from the city in neighboring Saitama Prefecture.
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