Cherry Blossoms in Japan 2010

Hi there HT. I'm doing four weeks from the 26th March, following the "sakura trail" from Kagoshima to Hirosaki.

I'll be in Kansai from the 4th to 14th in several locations. It looks like my dates are good for peak bloom in at least a few places, so have fingers crossed,plenty of SD cards and lots of optimism, hoping the weather will do the right thing for us.

Doesn't look like our paths will cross much. I'll be in Tokyo on the 27th, probably somewhat jetlagged as I arrive early am and will leave for points south next day. Osaka on the 4th,probably quite late.

Sorry HT, I'm off to Botswana in March to find a lyin' cheetah.

Next time in Japan for me is in December, part of a longer escapade.

Hey, I'm pretty similar to Eigasuki, though a shorter trip. We're arriving in Tokyo on March 27 and then leaving the next day for Kyushu. We'll be touring around Kyushu for 9 nights, then to Kyoto for two nights and then Tokyo for the last three nights. Going home April 11.

We're excited because according to the current forecast it will be peak blooming time for all our destinations except Tokyo, which we expected. It's tough planning a trip because you need to book things before you really know what the forecast will be. Hopefully there won't be any freak weather to throw off the bloom times!

eigasuki, We did your trip a couple of years ago and I do envy you. Hirosaki will be the highlight if your timing is correct. Please stop by Kakunodate if you have time and timing(after 4/19)for a sakura that has eluded me for the past 6 years.....one day soon....

rizzuto, we are also planning a return to Nippon in very early Dec by way of S Korea. Also may show up in Boston in Oct if someone can contain the Panda for the evening,lol

kelloo, if this is any consolation, my predictions are a couple of days earlier than the Japan Met Agency so lets hope we are all lucky this year.

Aloha!

HT, I used your trip report as a guide for planning mine! I'm certainly planning to visit Kakunodate, on the way to Hirosaki, hopefully with better results. I've always been just that bit too late on previous visits, having had to fit in with school holidays, Easter etc.

Kello are you flying to Kyuushuu or train? Maybe our paths will cross somewhere in Kyuushuu.

Eigasuki, we're training to Kyushu. Airfares for that time period are high and since with the rail pass it is basically "free" we decided to do that. We're leaving on an early train to Fukuoka on March 27 where we'll stay for two nights. Then we go on to Nagasaki, Kumamoto/Mt Aso, Kagoshima, Takachiho, and Beppu. We then go on to Kyoto on April 6.

Four weeks! I'm so jealous. We can only get so much time off from work.

Kelloo, had the same issue with airfares, so train it is. Certainly makes the JR pass pay off.

I'm overnighting in Hiroshima but should arrive Nagasaki late on 29th. Then Kagoshima and Kumamoto/Aso before heading to Takamatsu on the 3rd April.

Gotta love Long-service leave.

eigasuki, Glad to have another fodorite follow our path, you will have fun, you are going to the right places. I wish you luck in Kakunodate. If you are lucky enough to see the full bloom on the banks of Hinokinai-gawa I will indeed be envious. Say Aloha for me to Akiyamasan at the Folkloro Hotel if you are staying there. If you need a nice room ask for the one that we stay in.

kelloo, Try the Tonkotso at one of the yatai stalls in Hakata or Tenjin in Fukuoka it is really a treat. Kumamoto-jo is special at this time of year....you are in for a treat!

Aloha!

Hello everyone,

My husband and I will be in Japan from March 25 - April 10. As a simple explanation we begin in Tokyo and then go to Takayama, Kyoto, Hiroshima and back to Tokyo.
If any of you are in Tokyo on Thursday or Friday nights ( March 25,26)or Kyoto area ( around March 30,31 & April 1) and would like a GTG somewhere we would love to meet you.

This is our first time to Japan so we would be thrilled with any 'expert'advice and/or tips.

We will be coming from Australia.

Will be in Nihon in the first week of April chasing cherry blossoms.

I'm going toward the end of April so don't think I'll see the sakura - but then again I will be up north a bit - am planning to do the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route so maybe there will still be some up that way....

My husband and I will be in Tokyo from April 2-8. It looks like we'll have perfect timing for hanami in Tokyo--we are very excited! Does anyone have suggestions for the best places to view the cherry blossoms in Tokyo? I've heard Ueno Park is good. I'm wondering just how crowded it will be...I really have no idea what to expect!

Ueno Park will be packed!!! But it is a wonderful place to view the cherry blossoms as there are so many trees in that park. Other good venues in Tokyo are the Shinjuku Gyoen Park, Inokashira Park, Yoyogi Park(but not many cherry trees), Chidorigafuchi along the moat,Yasukuni Shrine and the Imperial Palace are some of the good places. Enjoy!

Aloha!

ht, any chance of taking me along? lol

don, is there a pga tour in bots?

> is there a pga tour in bots?

It's the European Tour that's in Botswana this week, but I'll actually be going for the Dewey Weber Surfing Championship.

I'm in the Seniors division.

I had no idea you were a surfer, Rizzuto. Good Luck!

Will you post a report when you get back? I'd have a better chance of dragging my DH to Africa if there was surfing involved.

kuranosuke, Ken you are always welcome, we could discuss over dinner this weekend or next or are you out of town again?

Mara, we missed doing the Tateyama Kurobe last fall because we had missed the colors already and there was no snow corridor as it had all melted. Please let us know how your journey thru the pass goes when you return Which end are you starting from Toyama or Shinano Omachi?

rizzuto, Dewey Weber,lol

Gokouun o inorimasu all you sakura fanatics!

Aloha!

you just got home!!!

who is going to put the ink on the press?

ht - starting from Toyama - it opens supposedly the previous weekend if all goes well. I basically planned my trip around it....will report back....

Yes, I read you decided not to do it last fall....
Enjoy your trip - this goes for everyone!

someone help me out here.

Don, help with your surfboard or the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route?

http://www.alpen-route.com/english/index.html

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e7550.html

Mara, sounds like a great time. I am still planning on doing the TKAR someday soon in the late spring like you. The Comfort Inn Toyama is a two minute walk across the street from the JR Toyama Station and is clean,cheap and a great place to stay for a night or two. Free breakfast in the lobby and free internet connection in your room with a handy coin laundromat on the 2nd floor.
http://www.comfortinn.com/hotel-toyama-japan-JP054

Tickets for the "route" are easy to obtain from the ticket office at the Dentetsu Toyama Station which is connected to the JR station(opposite end) so all right there.

Aloha!

ht - I'll be coming from Kanazawa - it looks to be a 40 minute trip on the limited express to Toyama.....I'll have 3 nights in Kanazawa, the longest single stay of my trip - I will be in 7 places in 12 nights...a record for me.

But I might look into your suggestion....thanks!

Just an interesting side note that I meant to add to my post the other day on this 'cherry blossom' thread. I have a girl in my class this year whose first name is Sakura. I reckon this has to be an omen for me, lol. So I'm expecting and hoping to be swamped with cherry blossoms.

ht, you know me too well. sorry can't make dinner this weekend, or next weekend, as i'm on the road promoting economic development in asia.

right now, in the lounge of the cosmo hotel in wan chai. too cheap to pay for internet in the room.

anyway, lets do dinner when you get back from your sakura adventure.

don, i bet you look good in the tunnel.

Hey Ken! Just so happens I'll be looking for a place to stay in the Wan Chai/Causeway Bay area in Dec. How far is the Cosmopolitan from the MTR? Is the surf up in Vic Harbour? Should I tell Lucy that Botswana is landlocked?

promoting economic development in asia lol
dim sum sounds real good right now....

don, the cosmopolitan is different from the cosmo. i think the cosmo is the little sister of the cosmopolitan. its just up the street.

the causeway bay mtr station is nearer than the wan chai station. still a 10 minute walk. there is nothing around the hotel at night. so, bring a good book.

ht, had dim sum at maxim @ central. it was ok, but not worth the 45min. wait.( imho)

I know I have mentioned it on several threads before this but here is the new March 3rd Japanese Met Agency sakura forecast moving up their dates a few days as I said they would have to do........They just should have come to Fodors.com first and asked us here

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2011.html

Aloha!

You are so in for it, Don!

HT, before Kakunodate I'll be visiting Tsurunoyu. I'll be coming from Sendai and am wondering how much time I should allow to comfortable get to Tsurunoyu.

I'd like to get there in a relaxed way and make the most of the facilities but I'm tempted to try to see Hiraizumi on the way. Would this be feasible or insane?

Any tips appreciated

eigasuki,
It takes a while to get to Tsurunoyu. If you read my trip report on Tsurunoyu you would know that you must take the bus from the Tazawako train station then meet up with another shuttle bus that will take you deep into the valley that Tsurunoyu is in. There are only a couple of times a day when the shuttle runs so you must be there at the bus stops on time at the specified times. This fall we rented a car in Kakunodate and drove the whole Tazawa-ko area in peak foliage, everything was just so beautiful! If you are driving, you should be alright to include a stop at Hiraizumi but if you are catching the trains it would be too much imho. IIRC you have to take the shinkansen to the stop past where Hiraizumi is then take the local JR train to Ichinoseki which is the stop for Hiraizumi. Coming out you would do the reverse and it would be too much stress and transfers for me to do especially with Tsurunoyu waiting at the end.

You are in for a treat at Tsurunoyu, throw your inhibitions to the wind and enjoy yourself. I envy you. Be ready for almost no English, be patient and go with the flow. BTW, there still may be snow on the ground and around the rotenburo which only enhances the scenery there. I love to stand in the rotenburo and think back about how the place looked 400 years ago and let your mind drift to that time. It's not hard to do as you will see, the place looks the same as it did back then....

What are your dates in the area?

My instructions for Tsurunoyu say that the shuttle picks you up whatever time you tell them (but that depends on bus times - I believe they're hourly)

Nevertheless, it seems that train times to/from Hiraizumi don't even come close to fitting in with my plans. I'd already checked out the idea and discarded it, but somehow now that I do my final check, I'm going back to all the "Why dn't I... ?" scenarios I had considered and discarded earlier! So much to see. I hadn't considered hiring a car and don't think I would just to see Hiraizumi. I don't want to see it so badly that it's a priority in my planning.

I'll be there on the 18th, and then Kakunodate next, so maybe a bit too early for best sakura but that can't really be helped - Everything's booked now and some prepaid, and it's too much hassle to move everything along for what it still just a prediction.

Another question; which is more reliable, Hyperdia or the classic version? I had a contradition for the trip from Kakunodate to Morioka ]. One version says there are no trains from Kakunodate to Morioka after 3 pm. The JR site says that the Hayate only runs after that time "in peak periods". There must also be local trains but they don't show. How best to find an accurate result for the journey?

Thanks again, fodorites.

The 19th in Kakunodate is when I would have planned to be there this year if I were going there again this year(I mentioned also earlier up-thread). In my predictions that is the target day. I think(hope) you will find that the upcoming Japanese Met Agency's blossom update next week will have the Aomori area's prediction dates moving more towards your dates(I hope).

Hyperdia is good. You have to fine tune and use the search details buttons if looking just for the local JR train routes. I see one Hayate shinkansen per hour or so from Kakunodate to Morioka after 15:00. During the peak periods they will put on another Hayate in peak hours as you will see when you get to Kakunodate. Be ready for the crowds!

You wouldn't want to do the local train from Kakunodate anyways as it takes too long and stops at every little town along the way and goes too slow. I hope you have your Kakunodate reservations already in hand.

Aloha!

kitanomaru park and sumida river are good sights for sakura-viewing too. if you can manage to take the cruise along sumida, that would be a nice and relaxing viewing.

Don't be surprised if cherry blossom predictions fluctuate a lot over the next couple of weeks. We followed the predictions carefully--because of a warm winter spell they predicted the blossoms would be done before we got there. Then there was a cold snap and they predicted that the blossoms would be barely opening by the time we left.

It turned out that we were there at the height of their bloom in Tokyo, Kyoto, Nagoya, and Takayama. It was fabulous, as was watching the Japanese citizens really getting into the season.

eigaisuki,
Have you looked at this site for the Akita Komachi shinkansen schedule? Lots of trains thru Kakunodate

http://jreast-shinkansen-reservation.eki-net.com/pc/english/common/timetable/e_akita_d/index.html

These are for dates after 3/15

Hope the weather in the next two weeks holds in Japan with no major storms

Aloha!

Thanks, HT. What had stressed me was the little stars at the top saying only peak periods. But surely it will be a peak period.

At this stage I've decided to stop checking all the small details and forecasts and just go with the flow. Only two weeks to go till I leave.

Now to cull "to-be-packed" pile. I'll be doing takkyubin but still determned to travel light.

A bit late, but I am off in two weeks' time, spending Easter in Hiroshima and Miyajima, and hopefully catching Hanami there. Any good locations anyone can suggest for viewing the cherry blossoms in those places?

Sydney,
On Miyajima Island you might want to check out near the Tahoto Pagoda which is a two story pagoda overlooking Itsukushima Shrine. There are close to 300 cherry trees found along the paths to, as well as in a small park on the slope next to the pagoda. Along Itsukushima Shrine and around the Senjokaku are more than 1500 cherry trees which are a sight to see if your timing is right.

Also I remember as our driver was driving us on the forest road(not thru the town) from the dock to the Iwaso Ryokan area there were and abundance of trees along that route.

In Hiroshima there are and abundance of cherry trees that line the river next to and in and around the Peace Park.

Getting close to blastoff time,lol!

Aloha!

Mara, glad to see you are going back to Japan. Is this the 1st trip back since your broken foot ordeal? Step carefully...

emd3, Hi Eileen,good to see you in here again! We miss you. Thinking of going back to Japan anytime soon?

I think Mara did make it back after the foot ordeal but I'll let her answer that one.

Aloha!

Hi emd, no, I went last spring - this time I will do the walk from Magome to Tsumago.....wanna come.... Yes, I try to be careful all the time.

ooops, forgot the latest cherry blossom update. The excitement is building.....

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2011.html

If I didn't still have one teen in the house (who has to be watched, she gets in trouble) and one in a private university, I'd be there in a minute. Return to Japan will have to wait a few more yrs. But walk for me, Mara! (Just be careful bc I slip and fall a lot too.) Take pics to share w/us.

The cherry blossoms have already started to open in Tokyo and Kyoto earlier than predicted except by one person......

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2011.html

Good luck to all those who lucky enough to witness the event this year and when are the rest of you going to plan for this. You really don't know what your missing!

Aloha!

So, opening now... Should be at peak by the weekend when that person arrives, is that not the case?

Yippee - perfect timing for me too. Now to hit the jackpot at all destinations.

ht, and everyone else, enjoy!

No no no, not yet! Hold off for one more week!

(Also, thanks HawaiianTraveller for your insight.)

Glad that they have started to open now. We leave in about 24 hrs. time. We might miss the prime time initially in Tokyo and Takayama but should hit it smack bang in Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Hakone and catch the end of them on our return to Tokyo - so feeling very lucky. Should be lots of wonderful photo opportunities.
Only concern is we are coming from 28 degrees celcius to 10 d celcius lol.

> No no no, not yet! Hold off for one more week!

It's only the beginning now. The peak time will be in one week in Tokyo so you are in luck.

It might be past prime when I reach Tokyo, but We'll be in Hiroshima April 1, Osaka and Kyoto April 2-6 and back in Tokyo April 7-11. Can't wait!

I hope I won't be missing the cherry blossoms! I'll be in Osaka from April 13 through the 19th...

Just received an e-mail from a friend in Tokyo. It's a chilly 9 degrees C there today. So sakura may not be blooming so quickly. Then again a sudden sunny day can change all that.

Aloha kappasan! Yes it will be chilly and rainy in Tokyo Tues, Wed and Thursday but the sun is supposed to show up this Friday, Sat & Sun with warmer temps so......aahhhhhhhhh, I can't wait. We leave tomorrow morning

Gokouun o inorimasu everyone!

and

Aloha!

Safe travels!

We just returned from a wonderful Japan trip-March 18-26. Special thanks to you, Hawaiian Traveler, and other Fodorites for all the generous information which helped make our trip so wonderful. We did enjoy some cherry blossoms during the early days of our visit, but as someone else posted, a few rainy, chilly days around the 23-26 slowed the process. So we hope that those there now enjoy the blossoms in their full splendor!

You are very welcome tomarket! Glad you had a good time. We walked the whole length of the Philosopher's Path in Kyoto yesterday under a full bloom. I can't begin to explain to those who have not seen this how beautiful it really is. Osaka Castle was also about 90% so we have been very lucky. We just got back to Tokyo and see on the news that most of the city is peaking so tomorrow promises to be another wonderful event. The park across the street of our hotel is being set up for all the celebrations tonight and tomorrow. Excitement is in the air.

Kuranosuke, you should have come here instead of Vegas, unless you are winning of course,lol

rhkkmk, Kathie, Craig,simpson510,guenmai,gpanda and all you others really have to put this on your list of things to do. You really don't know what you are missing.


Aloha!

HT I think I will try and get on the wrong plane this evening and end up in Osaka instead of Seoul!

Hanuman, You would be making the right decision imho, but since you probably won't please take notes about Seoul as Mrs HT and I are planning some time there this Nov and would like to hear more about Korea from an unbiased point of view. All that we have heard and read(except from rhkkmk)about Seoul and S Korea sounds fascinating to me. I just saw on the Japan news tonight that the cb's are also blossoming in Seoul too although the significance and sheer abundance is not present there.

Aloha!

HT - you've got the wrong person! I'm like Kuranosuke - more casinos than palaces except for only when the palace has a casino. Only going there because my daughter and children of our friends are mad with crazy teen fascination on anything to do with Korea. Should take them to the DMZ and show them where their grandfather fought!

Will take note but please don't expect much. We have plans for Japan before June this year as well!

Hanuman, don't get me wrong either. I am Kuranosukes twin brother except I don't get all the vacation time off that he does,lol. Enjoy your time in Seoul!

Aloha!

"i don't get all the vacation time off that he does", ht last time i checked, i'm sitting here in my condo just off keeaumoku street in honolulu, reading your great hanami report, and turning uh green with envy. lol

hanuman, if you can plan your trip to tokyo to early july, we can go have excellent sushi and sake.

ken, we were at Ueno and Shinjuku Gyoen yesterday and both were in peak bloom, kirei! I have never seen so many people in S Gyoen, literally tens of thousands. We leave for home on tonight's flight so am out the door to do last minute shopping and sightseeing. Hope I can make it to Ginza and the Yoshinogawa

Aloha!

I hope this link works as I am still trying to figure out how it works. Some of the 600+ pictures we took on this trip. iI will figure this out sooner than later and post the rest one day,lol

http://hawaiiantraveler.smugmug.com/Travel/Cherry-Blossoms-in-Japan-2010/11502652_bmU6n#828929183_XFxEW

Aloha!

fantastic pics....another perfect trip to J completed....

pics are very clear and flowers are fabulous... linda also looks fabulous as usual

WOW WOW WOW! The pic of Linda's face being framed by the sakura is priceless.

Great photos - thanks for sharing!

Great clear photos! Are you posting your trip report?

Beautiful pictures HT!

Just got back from Seoul and it was freezing.... -2C at night and around 10C during the day. No cherry blossoms in sight as it was too cold still.

Ken,

It looks like our plan have now, or for now, change to Mongolia. Who knows by the time it's June or July it might change back to Japan again.

Did you win in Vegas? I lost!

HT fabulous pix..Must get Bob more motivated to Japan...esp in cherry blossum time.

ht great pics. mahalo for the oden and the yaki onigiri pics too. looks real ono. btw, working on location for sat. nite.

hanuman, just got back today, with a little extra in my pocket. also won a few bucks picking duke over wva.

Thanks all, I have lots more and will post later.

of course ken is right it is oden not ozoni,lol

kmkrnn, yes karen, will try to convince bob when we see you in oct. japan is not expensive!!!!!! its not bkk but it can be done on a budget very nicely. timing is important. i would pay to see bob at an onsen(did that sound perverted)

I will keep updating the picture site in the next few or several days and am thinking of just doing a pictorial trip report on this one but might do an Osaka short because of all the things we did and ate and shopped at there. Osaka is fabulous and we found a few treasures we'd like to share. So many museums. who would have thought. Hope the late penalties won't be too harsh but maybe the judge is too busy at another poker tourney to notice,lol

Aloha!

HT,

Apart from the beautiful Cherry Blossoms I am very much interested in the eating part and I see that you've already uploaded some food photos already. Please do upload more!

Lovely, lovely photos of the cherry blossoms and all those celebrating them -- thanks.

I am intrigued by your statement that Japan is not expensive because I would love to spend more time there but on my one trip to Japan found Tokyo/Kyoto prohibitively expensive compared to other Asian locales. We haven't been back but maybe I'll pick up some tips here.

marya, Japan can be done at a reasonable price using the local two and three star locations which are small but very clean and most always include internet and a continental breakfast. There are also a network of places that are easier on your pocketbooks other than staying in the 5 star hotels. If you get out of the main Tokyo-Kyoto-Hakone tourist path things also become cheaper. In Tokyo and Kyoto especially we usually use my Hyatt or SPG points where possible to ease the budget hit and still stay in nice places. Some of the budget hotel sites to check:

http://www.toyoko-inn.com/eng/

http://www.sunroute.jp/SunrouteTopHLE.html

http://www.tokyuhotelsjapan.com/en/index.html

http://www.kid97.co.jp/~jeh-group/jeh-group.html

http://www.j-hotel.or.jp/en/index.html

You can also travel long distances utilizing the JR Rail Passes which you already probably know about.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2361.html

Costs of eating is the same as here in the US. If you go to a five star place for Kobe steak expect to pay $160.00 per person or more. If you go to a local Japanese diner you will get great food for 15.00 or less per person.

Aloha!

Mara, when do you leave for your trip to do the walk from Magome to Tsumago?

emd - read your three recent posts....I see you have the Japan urge again....I'm going next week. What about you? Do you still have your same email?

Yes, Mara, same email. Email me- I want to be able to track your walk as you go across Japan...

I got back last week. As HT will attest, the end of March was cold and wet, but the sun came up for the weekend, and I had the great pleasure of enjoying with the crowds the blooms on Miyajima and the Kintai bridge near Iwakuni. Perfect, warm weather, and the blossoms were gorgeous.

Sydney, how was your time on Miyajima? Did you stay in a ryokan while there? Must have been beautiful all of those cb's near Iwakuni.....

Aloha!

I couldn't book a night's berth, even a month ahead, so it was purely a daytime excursion. We tripped it over on the JR ferry, a very quick trip late morning, and me and my party went first through the shopping street, looking at all the fine wares, smelling all the sweet flavours wafting through the air, before finally arriving at the square from which one first beholds the Great Torii. Not unusually there was a lot of picture taking there. Because it was my first time to the island I was the only one who ventured into the Floating Shrine, and unfortunately there was a wedding taking place. Unfortunate for the wedding party, because there was a whole lotta people (including myself) invading their ceremony by taking pictures from the sideline.

After the Floating Shrine I reunited with my party and slowly proceeded up to the bus stop to the cable car. This was arguably the prettiest journey, as the streets were lined with cherry blossoms in full bloom, and it was early afternoon.

Around mid-afternoon we went up on the cable car and went to the top of the island. Although it was a fine day, the haze partly obscured the farthest horizons, but it still was a marvellous view. It was also very interesting to hear the many varied languages all about me. This was the first time I had heard live Hebrew, for example! The only thing missing were the monkeys- I was looking forward to a bout with the bad tempered apes!

Around 5 we went back down, and we managed to catch the Torii at low tide, so I went out across the wet sandy path to have my picture taken under it, the sun setting behind it. Athough it was late we managed to have dinner at a okoyomaki restaurant (we were the last customers!), and man it was delicious and filling.

It was after 6 when we went back out into the cool spring air, the sun was already behind the distant hills, and all the shops and restaurants were shut, other than the few souvenir shops still hawking their wares. I noted something funny, all the tourists were heading for the ferry port, while people coming home after working on the mainland were heading towards the town for thir residences. In the same direction some deers were strolling along, and I remarked that they had done their day's work and were heading for home too!

So ended a really perfect day!

We arrived home yeaterday from our 17 days in Japan...loved it. Highlights: We loved Miyajima, we had beautiful weather, the cherry blossoms were in full bloom and we stayed at the wonderful Iwaso ryokan. We had snow flakes when we visited the alps area, this was picture perfect and a novelty for us. As someone has already mentioned -we too walked the whole philosphers path and thoroughly enjoyed it. These are just a few images of our great time in Japan. Will post a trip report of the whole trip as soon as I get a chance. Between us we took about 2000 photos.

Sydney2K, Wow, what a great story! Hope you'll put your thoughts into a trip report so we can all "see what you saw". Sounds like you had a wonderful time.

paru25, I had been wondering how you were doing. Ah Iwaso Ryokan is a magical place and the Philosophers Path was so splendid with the cherry blossoms and all to take in, we were lucky you know.....
Looking forward to your report(s), welcome home all!

Aloha!

HT, I am so slothful that I had photos from last year's February trip to Okinawa still on my memory card! I only took them off this time around because the friends I was staying with wanted copies of the photos I'd taken previously in the trip. And that is for something as "easy" as backing up photos off a memory card. Anyway...

Sunday I went to church at the US air base at Iwakuni, and then had a tour of the base. My friends work on the base, so I was able to gain access via them. The base mess hall organised a Easter banquet, so we had brunch there, and then we headed off for the Kintai bridge. Of course being a Sunday every other Japanese family had the same idea, and it wasn't long before we got stuck in a huge traffic jam on a two lane road.

I was in the car for about two hours when my friends encouraged me to get out and walk the rest of the way, while they stayed in the car to park it in one of the extensive dirt parking yards next to the bridge. It didn't take me long to get to these yards, and just beyond was the Kintai bridge, and on both banks of the bridge, families were enjoying hanami under the cherry blossom trees.

There were food stalls on the wallsides of the banks, and the smell was so tempting, however I had just eaten so I continued by the road to the bridge. There I paid a small 500 yen fee to walk the bridge both ways.

For people who have not seen the Kintai bridge, this isn't a standard foot bridge, with one long smooth shallow plane. The Kintai bridge is composed of several half circular segments, and you are walking up and then down and then up/down again, until you get to the other side. The view from the bridge is wonderful though. You aren't looking at vast mountain valleys, or peaks that reach into the sky, but you look at the banks, with the trees overhanging the myriads of happy picnickers enjoying the wonderful warm weather.

While there was grass on the bank I entered the bridge on the other side the bank was all stony. People were sitting on benches or on large rocks. I gingerly picked my way down to the bank and around and under the bridge, where there was a small bank. I sat down next to a group of boys wading in the river and took the opportunity to dangle my feet in the cold mountain water. And it WAS cold. It didn't take long for me to pull my feet out of the water and let them rest drying in the sun. In the meanwhile the boys were daring each other to walk to the next pillar supporting the bridge. No one did make it, and no one fell in, but there were some close calls, and one boy did get plenty wet. On both sides of me kids were skipping stones across the river, to varying levels of success.

My friends had finally made it by now, and the called me up on my cell phone. I told them I was under the bridge, and they told me where they were, and even across the wide length of the bridge I saw them waving their arms on the grassy bank. I picked myself up, and after buying some skewered meat I walked back across the bridge to join them.

We then went off into the town square and to the park beyond. While not as busy as the bridge, there was still a lot of people, people lined up for about 50 or so metres for ice cream(!) As we walking into the park, a pair of young girls gaily sang a nursery song as they skipped along before their parents. This elicited a big smile from all of us, you never hear kids singing joyfully like that nowadays. I wished that I switched my camera to movie mode and recorded their song. We then got lost in a maze before heading off to the cemetary where the local lords of the district were buried.

While my friends had been to the Kintai bridge before they had not been to this part of the town, so this was as much new to them as it was for me. While the later lords were buried on level ground, we had to walk up mountain paths to get to the first lord. He looked down upon his descendents from upon high, long with some of his wives and a good friend who laid his life for his lord and master.

As we descended it was very late afternoon, after 5, so we decided to return to the car, looking at some of the period buildings and moat along the way. It was much easier to get out than it was to get in, although the inbound traffic was still very heavy- presumably folk and family intending to enjoy hanami under glowing lanterns. We still ended up in a traffic jam though, the traffic lights for the T-junction very slow to change- unless it was greenlighting our path. And so ended my visit to the Kintai bridge.

Sydney2K, you should put these stories together one day for us to read. You are a very good writer.
I hope you are around when I am planning our Okinawa adventure sometime in 2011. I would love some of your insight.

Aloha!

HT, I only do it when I am bored at work. BTW, with the crazy weather lately do you regret being home now? Snow on the Cherry Blossoms- what a photo opportunity!

Brief trip report, Just as I had suspected, " It might be past prime when I reach Tokyo, but We'll be in Hiroshima April 1, Osaka and Kyoto April 2-6 and back in Tokyo April 7-11. Can't wait!"
It was raining in Hiroshima the two days I was there, but the Cherry Blossoms were at peak. Each morning there was a Sakura report just before the weather report. In Osaka, we really got lucky. April 4th, we had a Hanami (Cherry blossom party/picnic) with a local girl and saw the contrast of perfect white and pink blossoms on a background of blue, cloudless sky. By the time we were in Tokyo April 7th, the rain was starting to make the blossoms fall to the ground and with a heavy breeze, a whirlwind of white petals floated down.
This was a great experience and worked out marvelously.

Aw, HT, we will be leaving Tokyo just BEFORE the cherry blossoms are predicted to blossom, on 03/26/11, so I am very disappointed. Hopefully we will either be able to see the plum blossoms, or (good for us, bad for you), the cherry blossoms may blossom ahead of schedule. We are very excited (and even more overwhelmed) for our first trip to Tokyo; it looks like it will be an adventure! I am learning that Tokyo is nowhere like Hawai`i, but that's the charm and excitement of going on a vacation, right?