This year, cherry blossom season in Japan has started about a week earlier than the average year - many of the sakura that typically bloom in mid-April are already in their peak! One of most famous spots for seeing cherry blossom is Miharu Takizakura. This is an ancient weeping cherry blossom tree, which is overContinue reading Miharu Takizakura: 2018 Guide
I put together this guide for those planning to view the sakura (cherry blossom) in Fukushima Prefecture in 2018 to give visitors an idea of the best times to go do some hanami (flower-viewing)! This guide should also serve as a useful guide for those planning a visit in the future to get better acquaintedContinue reading Fukushima’s Cherry Blossom Season 2018
As the long, hot summer days continue, I thought I’d write about a spring time hike I went on this year to Handayama, to the north of Fukushima! In the springtime, the picturesque heart-shaped lake at Handayama bursts into shades of pink and pastel. Bordered with stunning sakura in the spring, Handa Pond (Handa Numa)Continue reading Handayama’s Heart Lake
Matsugaoka Park, Iwaki, is a large, family-friendly park which manages to balance modern life with its old roots. The park is well-known by locals as a great place for flower-viewing in springtime, not only for its cherry blossom, but also for its azalea! During the peak season of early April to mid-May, the park drawsContinue reading Matsugaoka Park’s Cherry Blossom Festival
I didn’t plan to make a visit to Yakuo-ji Temple during my trip to Iwaki, but the entrance the temple ground really caught my eye and enticed me in. After I had driven past it for a few metres, I couldn’t stop myself from turning the car around and going back to explore. The pathContinue reading The Enchanting Yakuo-ji Temple
I got to explore some very historic, beautiful areas of Iwaki this spring, including the ancient Okunitama Shrine. Okunitama Shrine Okunitama Shrine is the oldest Shrine in the whole of Iwaki City – which is seeing something, seeing as Iwaki is over 1200 km2 – and stands in an incredible historic part of Iwaki. Upon arrival,Continue reading Off the Beaten Path: Okunitama Shrine
The highlight of my month was visiting Kasumiga-jo Park when its 1700 cherry trees were in full bloom, and enjoying a matcha tea in a traditional tea room from the Edo Period. I have wanted to visited the tea room Senshintei (洗心亭) for ages, so I was glad that I finally got to go. TheContinue reading A Matcha Tea Room With a View
The 180 year old weeping cherry trees at Kassenba, a short drive out of central Nihonmatsu City, are very popular among visitors during the early to mid April hanami (flower-viewing) season. The bright canola flowers that cover the hills that surround Kassenba like a blanket make its scenery rather unique, and it’s fair to sayContinue reading Kassenba’s Weeping Cherry Trees
In the heart of Ogawa Suwa Shrine in Iwaki, Fukushima, is a beautiful weeping cherry tree, which has stood strong for over 500 years. Ogawa Suwa Shrine is one of the prefecture’s most popular cherry blossom viewing spots, and also happens to be one of the first to blossom in early April. I went toContinue reading Ogawa Suwa Shrine’s Beautiful Cherry Blossom
During the spring, Hanamiyama, and the surrounding scenery, explodes with colour and beauty. I have always associated the Japanese custom of hanami (flower viewing) with light pink cherry blossom. But at Hanamiyama, there is just so much colour! During my visit to Hanamiyama I saw Yoshino cherry blossom (someiyoshino), double cherry blossom (yaenozakura), peach blossomContinue reading Hanamiyama in Full Bloom
