Category Archives: Sakura

Sakura is one of key seasonal festivities in Japan

Sakura

JP 2019 April “Snowy” Sakura Matsumoto

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Visited Japan for sakura in mid-April for 1 week.

  • Matsumoto Castle and Takato Castle Ruins Park by car from Suwa-ko.
  • Arakurayama Sengen Park and Kawaguchi-ko by car
  • Akagi Senbon-zakura, Miharu-Takizakura, Nihonmatsu as day trips from Tokyo.

 

 

Matsumoto Castle

Right after landing in Tokyo/HND, headed to Suwa-ko by JR express train via Shinjuku. Prior to our arrival, snow was forecasted in Nagano Prefecture, apart from Tohoku etc on that night. Indeed, it had been snowing the entire night and on the next morning, the lake rim was covered in snow. 

 

The Matsumoto Castle was not in my original plan. Due to sunny day being forecasted on the next day, decided to postpone the Takato Castle Ruins Park till then.

Visited the former after picking up car from Suwa-ko and drove very carefully – less than 50km/h and kept longer distance away from vehicles ahead. It took about 1 hour while snowing along the way.

Luckily some sakura trees were already in full bloom inside the castle park, including Shidare-zakura (weeping sakura) trees. While this was our 3rd visit to this castle, it was the first time when it was covered in snow – together with sakura  🙂

 

 

Apart from sakura, Ume (plum) flowers too were covered in snow.

 

It’s good to have warm soba noodles for lunch after leaving the castle park when temperature was around 1-2C.

Snowfall had stopped and on our way back we dropped by the Harumiya (Spring Shrine) – one of two Shimosha and nearby Manji stone buddha in Shimosuwa town.

ps. visited the Akimiya (Autumn Shrine), the other Shimosha 2 years ago in another sakura trip.

Suwa Taisha

Manji stone Buddha

 

Had a coffee break with nice macha (green tea) roll cake in a small local cafe  – we were the only customers.  Headed back to onsen hotel and dropped by one of my fav local sake brewery – Masumi (真澄) from Suwa. Though sake tasting was offered, had to pass due to driving.

 

 

Stayed in a 100-year old onsen hotel on the lakeside. Ordered Masumi (sake) for 2 nights during Kaiseki dinner 🙂

 

 

===>   Takato Castle Ruins Park  ===>

 

Sakura

JP 2018 May Sakura Matsumae Castle

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On the next morning, picked up a rental car and headed to Matsumae Castle about 100km away from Hakodate. As there was no expressway, it took about 2 hours to reach there.  Dropped by Cape Shirakami (白神岬) at the southern tip of Hokkaido.  Had lunch in Matsumae road station which was crowded with locals visiting the same destination 🙂

Another top 100 sakura spot, the Matsumae Castle was renowned for having 10,000 sakura trees in over 200 sakura varieties.  Most of the sakura in full bloom was pinky Naden (南殿), which is an early blooming species, with many other sakura trees yet to be blooming.

 

 

The huge park extended slightly uphill. We walked around it and arrived at the northwestern corner where there were temples with 300-year old sakura trees.

 

 

Kozenji (光善寺) with early blooming 300-year old Ketchimiku-zakura (血脈桜), and Meoto-zakura (夫婦桜) literally husband-and-wife – a pinky Naden sakura fused with Somei Yoshino.
 

 

Left after 3pm. Heading to Shiriuchi onsen ryokan for overnight stay.

===>  Hakodate outskirts  ===>

 

Sakura

JP 2018 April Sakura Hakodate

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Took Hokkaido Shinkansen to Hakodate through the undersea Seikan tunnel for the first time.  As it was a Sunday and the beginning of the golden week, it was quite crowded.

 

Hakodate Park

Sakura was in full bloom in the park, at the foothill of Mt Hakodate. Locals were having a good time there enjoying with family and friends.

 

Goryokaku (五稜郭)

Visited this top 100 sakura spot in full bloom with 1600 Somei Yoshino trees.  Went up to the tower observation levels for panoramic views of the city and the park below.  When we first visited in 2004 we bumped into sakura blossom at about 50%  but this time it was gorgeous and more crowded as expected. 

 

Tea time in former British Consulate for the third time

 

===>   Matsumae Castle   ====>

 

Sakura

JP 2018 April Sakura Hirosaki

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After 2 days in Morioka, we headed to Aomori and stayed there for another 2 days.  Took about 2 hours to reach Hirosaki with a connection in Shin-Aomori.  The local train was very crowded and we had to stand for about 30min.  Outside the station, a temporary express bus took visitors direct to the Hirosaki Castle in about 15min.  Though we took the first Hayabusa Shinkansen train leaving Morioka before 9am, we arrived at Hirosaki Castle at around 11:30.

 

Hirosaki Castle

It was a sunny day with temperature at high teens. Sakura was again in full bloom in this top 100 sakura spot while the outer moat was covered in sakura petals !  Only then we noticed we were lucky to visit Hirosaki Castle on its 100th Sakura festival 🙂

We crossed the outer moat into the garden area, which was huge and planted with various varieties of sakura trees.  It was crowded even on Friday.  As we had been to other top 100 sakura spots in the last few days, we picked the historical sakura trees, such as the Otakizakura (big waterfall) to focus. There were plenty of food stalls selling cooked food, snacks and drinks.   Took a break and had a quick yaki-udon bento.

Entrance fee was required in order to enter into the Honmaru area – where the Hirosaki castle was relocated few years ago for renovation.  Lined up for about 20min to enter the small castle.  Nice views of distant Mt Iwaki and sakura up there.  Left around 3pm.

 

===>  Aomori   ====>

 

 

Sakura

JP 2018 April Sakura Kakunodate

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From Morioka, visited Kakunodate as a day trip by Akita Shinkansen in less than 1 hour direct.

Kakunodate is famous for the pink Shidarezakura, whose shoots were brought over from Kyoto more than 300 years ago.

Kakunodate Samurai houses (角館武家屋敷)

Top 100 sakura spot.  Took a taxi from station which would otherwise be a 30min walk.

Sakura was in full bloom. There were about 400 trees spread out in the former Samurai houses.  Though it was still cold at 11-12C, it was cloudy, less windy,  and with sunshine from time to time.

 

 

Hinokinai River Dyke (桧木内川堤)

After about 1.5 hours, we headed towards the river dyke, about 15 min on foot from the Samurai houses. 400 Somei Yoshino sakura trees were planted along this 2km river dyke.  Apart from adults, small kids led by teachers were having picnic lunch along the dyke.

 

 

Inaniwa Udon and Akita dog

Had lunch in an udon shop serving famous Akita Inaniwa udon by former Samurai family.  It was so delicious ! 

After lunch we strolled around and bumped into a gentle Akita dog. He was a 4-year old dog and had previously served in the local police. 

 

===>  Hirosaki   ===>

 

Sakura

JP 2018 April Sakura Morioka

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After leaving Hanamaki onsen, we headed north to Morioka by Tohoku Shinkansen in about 10 min.

 

Ishiwarizakura (石割桜)

After dropping our luggage in Morioka hotel in the city centre, we visited the Ishiwarizakura (stone-splitting sakura) of 350 years old. It’s amazing that it could split up a core of granite rock in the middle.

 

Takamatsu-Koen  (高松公園)

Top 100 sakura spot – about 1200 sakura trees were planted around a small lake.  Though sakura was in full bloom, it was not crowded.

As temperature was hovering around 10C with occasional strong wind and drizzle, we stayed for about an hour.

 

 

Morioka Castle Ruins Park  (盛岡城跡公園)

About 10 min on foot from our hotel we visited this park. While sakura was in full bloom, there was so much petals on the ground as if it had snowed.  From time to time, petals were swirling in the wind as if it was snowing – a beautiful Hanafubuki scene (花吹雪).

 

===>   Kakunodate  ====>

 

 

Sakura, Sightseeing

JP 2018 April Sakura Kitakami

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After visiting the Hitachi Seaside Park and Ashikaga Flower Park, we headed to northern Tohoku for sakura in late April as per original plan.

The first stop was Kitakami in Iwate Prefecture – a top 100 sakura spot. Arrived from Tokyo by Hayabusa Shinkansen train in about 2.5 hours direct.  The venue was along a 2km river dyke on the other side of a river. We took a temporary boat service crossing the river in 5min, landing in the middle of the venue. 

There were well over 1000 sakura trees – mainly of Somei Yoshino, of which 500 of them were over 90 years old.  Sakura was in full bloom with temperature in low teens – about 10C cooler than in Tokyo.  As usual, the pink Shidarezakura (weeping sakura) attracted more crowds.

Though there were more sakura trees to the south of the venue where lots of temporary food stalls were selling cooked food, we left the venue after 2 hours.

Kitakami Tenshochi (北上展勝地)

 

Hanamaki onsen (花巻温泉)

After late lunch in Kitakami station, we headed to Hanamaki onsen where we stayed for 2 nights in 1 of 4 onsen hotel premises belonging to the same group.  According to its exhibits, some of the premises were nearly a century old and the Japanese royal family members had stayed.

Just opposite to our onsen hotel there was an indoor rose plantation, while sakura was in full bloom.  Roses were totally unexpected in April.

 

Daily performance after dinner – local folk dance, traditional singing and sanmisen performance.

 

 

===>  Hiraizumi   ===>

 

Sakura, Sightseeing

JP 2018 March Sakura Minamata

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Yunoko Cherry line – top 100 sakura spots

(湯の児チェリーライン)

The cherry line was 5km long skirting along the coastline of Yunoko in Minamata.

 

Sunset in Yunoko

Stayed in an onsen hotel in Yunoko onsen town.  Sea was calm so nice reflections were caught easily.

 

Fukuda farm

Before leaving Yunoko on the next morning dropped by this farm uphill. Scenery was gorgeous with panoramic views of the sea and coastline. 

 

Returned car in Izumi city and took Kyushu Shinkansen back to Kagoshima city. Checked into onsen hotel on Shiroyama, which overlooks the city and Sakurajima on a hill.

Shiroyama hotel

 

Sakura along Koutsukigawa

Strolled along the river banks again before departing Kyushu. After 1 week since our arrival sakura was in full bloom.

 

 

Sakura, Sightseeing

JP 2018 March Sakura Hitoyoshi

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Tadamoto-koen – top 100 sakura spots (忠元公園)

On the next morning stopped by this park in Isa town before reaching Hitoyoshi in southern Kumamoto Prefecture.

It was awesome with about 1000 Sakura trees in full bloom, while many seniors were competing in croquet.

 

Hitoyoshi castle ruins (人吉城跡)

Arrived at Hitoyoshi  castle ruins where sakura was in full bloom as well. Plenty of locals were having picnics beneath the sakura trees.

 

Sekisui-ji  (石水寺)

After lunch, dropped by this temple of about 600 years old. (Sekisui literally means stone water).

From the main entrance, a megane-bashi (spectacle-shaped bridge) crossed over a stream where it led up to an eye-shaped stone in front of the main hall.

It was serene with Magnolia and Sakura in full bloom.

Onsen hotel overlooking Kumagawa

 

Aoi-Aso Jinja (青井阿蘇神社)

Before leaving Hitoyoshi on the next morning, visited this Jinja of more than 1000 years old in the city.

 

Kyusendou (球泉洞)

Dropped by this limestone cave while driving onward to seaside onsen town Yunoko in Minamata.  It took about 30min for an unguided visit inside the cave. Turquoise Kumagawa was along the way. 

 

===>  Minamata ===>

 

 

Sakura, Sightseeing

JP 2018 March Sakura Kirishima

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Kirishima Jingu (霧島神宮)

It was first established in the 7th century AD though due to multiple eruptions of nearby Kirishima volcanoes it had been destroyed and rebuilt. The current site was built in 18th century.

Sakura was in full bloom while locals lined up to offer their worships in the Jingu.

In the nearby park on the hillside sakura were blooming as well, stopped by Maruo-no-taki (waterfall) before reaching Kirishima onsen hotel. Due to fallen rocks it could only be observed from a distance.

 

Onsen hotel with huge onsen and pine garden

 

===> Hitoyoshi ===>