It was the spring of 2026, and I found myself once again plunging into the vibrant, nostalgic world of Teyvat. The Irodori Festival always felt like a warm reunion, even after all these years. My travel log was dusty, but the moment I stepped onto Ritou’s docks, the electric energy of the Hues of the Violet Garden event washed over me. This time, though, I wasn’t just here to admire the fireworks or listen to Venti’s cheeky poems. Oh no—I had a mission that perfectly blended my love for exploration and photography: the “Prepare 4 Photos of Inazuman Regional Specialties” objective from the Legends of the Kasen questline.
Now, let me set the scene. The quest opens with a burst of fanservice, just how I like it. Kujou Sara was being her impeccably serious self, Ayato glided through conversations with that mysterious smile, and Klee was already eyeing the nearest cliff probably thinking about fish-blasting. I chuckled as Yoimiya tried to convince Albedo that fireworks and alchemy might have more in common than they realized. The festival was a melting pot of Mondstadt and Inazuma personalities, and I felt like a kid in a candy shop. But then, the poetry challenge began. Lenne, the event NPC, asked me to submit photographs of regional specialties to complete a haiku. “Four pictures, can’t be too hard,” I murmured to myself, not yet aware of the tiny, glowing headaches awaiting me.
My first target was the Sakura Bloom, those ethereal pink petals that flutter around the Grand Narukami Shrine. I teleported to the shrine, the air instantly turning crisp and sacred. Finding them is easy—they drift in clouds of soft pink light, almost like they’re playing hide-and-seek with the breeze. I pulled out my Kamera, and here’s where things got tricky. You can’t just point and click willy-nilly. No, the game wants you to truly see the subject. As I centered a cluster of blossoms, a small prompt appeared: “Appropriate target found.” Ah, sweet validation! I snapped the photo, and for a moment, I swear the Sakura Bloom sparkled back at me, as if saying, “About time you noticed us, Traveler.”
Next, I hunted for Naku Weed, a specialty that feels like the introverted cousin nobody talks about until they desperately need it for ascension materials. These plants cling to the edges of cliffs and hide in the purple-tinted grass around the shrine. I remember thinking, “Why are you so dramatic, Naku Weed? You literally glow!” But that’s the charm. One patch I found was half-submerged in the shadow of a sacred tree; when I focused my lens, the weed swayed gently, as if leaning into the frame. It was oddly therapeutic. I took two photos here, just to be safe—but, hey, more on that choice later.
With two down, I hopped over to the coast near Ritou. The Sea Ganoderma are impossible to miss—they sprout from the shallow waters like tiny, blue-gray seashell flowers. The tricky part is the tide. I waded into the water, my character’s clothes getting damp, and waited for a perfect angle. The sun was setting in-game, casting a golden rim on each Ganoderma. It struck me then how alive these materials feel. They aren't just inventory clutter; they’re little characters with their own personalities. The Ganoderma seemed to puff up its chest proudly, as if to say, “I may be a seaside mushroom, but I’m your seaside mushroom.” I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. Click. Third photo secured.
For the final shot, I went to Nazuchi Beach, where memories of the Vision Hunt Decree still lingered in the scorched sand. There, Dendrobium grows defiantly, a blood-red flower that tells a story of resilience. I knelt by a cluster, watching their petals pulse with a faint glow. My Kamera was ready, but wouldn’t you know it—a stray hilichurl decided to photobomb. I dispatched the fluffy nuisance with a single Pyro-infused slash (sorry, buddy), then reframed. The “Appropriate target found” message popped up again, and I captured the Dendrobium’s fierce elegance. That was number four. Mission complete, right? Well, I suddenly remembered a little trick.
I recalled reading that you can actually take more than four photos. It doesn’t give extra rewards, but it opens up additional dialogue options for personalizing the poem at the end of the quest. Now, that’s a bonus for any lore hoarder like me. So I spent another half hour scampering across Inazuma, snapping Crystal Marrow near Tatarasuna (they look like crystallized dinosaur spines, I kid you not), Sango Pearls in Watatsumi Island’s pink coral reefs, and even some Fluorescent Fungus in the gloomy underground of Tsurumi Island. Each one had its own vibe. The Fungus, in particular, felt like a shy creature hiding from the sun, its glow dimming whenever I moved too fast. I coaxed it patiently, whispering, “Come on, little guy, just one photo for the album.” Eventually, it cooperated.
By the time I turned in the quest, Lenne was impressed—or at least as impressed as a poetry-obsessed NPC can be. The resulting poem was delightfully quirky, and the extra choices I had unlocked meant my haiku mentioned soothing sakura mochi and a spirited Dendrobium dance. It was a small win, but these moments are why I keep returning to Teyvat even in 2026. The Hues of the Violet Garden event is more than a nostalgia trip; it’s a reminder that even the simplest tasks—like gathering four photos—can become a canvas for storytelling when the world around you feels so lively.
So, for any Traveler still wrestling with this quest: teleport to the Grand Narukami Shrine for Sakura Bloom and Naku Weed, zip to Ritou for Sea Ganoderma, and hit Nazuchi Beach for Dendrobium. That’s the speedrun strat. But if you’ve got time, I gotta say, take the scenic route. Let the specialties reel you in with their subtle personalities. After all, in the Irodori Festival, poetry isn’t just in the verses—it’s in the snapshots we capture along the way. Just be careful with those hilichurls… they have no sense of composition.
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