Saturday, April 5, 2014

Hanami in Tokyo & Yokosuka

This year I took a bus tour to see the cherry blossoms (sakura) in Tokyo. It was a beautiful day and the flowers were at their peak. Many people were enjoying hanami (flower viewing), which typically involves lounging on blue tarps and eating and drinking under the trees...with lots and lots of other people!

Sumida Koen

Tokyo Skytree

Weeping sakura (shidarezakura)


Skytree and Sumida River

The most popular place for hanami in Tokyo - Ueno Koen

Hanami time

Awesome setup with shoe cubbies and everything!

Kaneiji Temple

Unusual tree from Kyoto with single/double flowers within the temple grounds

Chidorigafuchi near the Imperial Palace



Yasukuni Shrine
Jizō statues at Zojyoji Temple at the base of the Tokyo Tower

The next set of pictures are from our neighborhood, Sakuragaoka (which literally means "cherry blossom hill"). This year the trees started blooming March 25 and now they are all falling down. In general, the blossoms only last two weeks or less.
Hashi with the sakura in full bloom at a park by our house


Sakura falling


The lanterns are lit up at night


Yozakura - "night sakura"
This is the best my camera can do at night



We walk around this ravine every day

Tokyo skyline with the Skytree way across the bay from our house

Yaezakura - sakura with more than 5 petals

Looking down the hill towards our house