It`s the season…
It`s the season of cherry blossoms, one of my favourite times of the year in Japan. I take way to many photos but taking photos of sakura is addictive! I have finally uploaded some from the past week or so!!!
The Cherry blossom (Sakura) and hanami (Flower viewing) culture of Japan only comes around once a year, and only for a very short time. It is almost always over within two weeks, which is a shame but it also makes it that much more special!
Last week I spent a lot of time in Inokashira Park with the Spring School kids having picnics….while they were eating lunch it was a good chance to take a couple of photos! The back of Inokashira Park has some great pink sakura!!! Even on the weekdays last week, when the weather was brilliant (warm and sunny), a lot of mums were out with their kids in groups having hanami picnics!! Inokashira is a beautiful park anytime of the year but it comes alive during this season! I also went through the park after the rain yesterday because I had had a private lesson in that area. All the photos from Inokashira park are here but here are a couple of my favourites….
On Saturday I went to Yoyogi Park for Hanami with Catherine, Sumi and some other friends! We kind of decided to go pretty last minute and I mailed around to see who would be interested but most people already had plans, work or other trips but Sumi had decided to have hanami last minute with some friends too so we merged and met up at Yoyogi for some wine, beer, snacks and flower viewing! Luckily the weather on Saturday was actually pretty nice…little windy but still great hanami weather (Better than last year when I went…IT WAS FREEZING!). It was nice to pack a picnic basket, a picnic sheet and head to the park…..Crowded as expected but we managed to find a nice spot!
Photos from the day were here but again here a few of my favourites!
I won`t be around for sakura season next year but will definitely be back in 2010! There are still some sakura left to be seen this year…hoping to go somewhere tomorrow that I haven`t been to before perhaps. Maybe Ueno or maybe near the river in Iidabashi since I have heard it is beautiful and have been past on the train before during sakura season!
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I love the second shot over the water! I don’t quite know why that one specifically, all your photos are fabulous
I hope I’ll get to see the sakura one day, it’s so pretty, and unique.
Thanks Amanda! I like that shot too! I also like the shot of the boy and girl in the row boat because the girl is rowing….I find that hilarious! ALthough it happens all the time here, the women row while the men sit around relaxing!!!!
They have sakura in America, Germany and other places too, but not to the same magnitute as Japan. They have made a whole culture out of it. I am thinking I might have a sakura theme at my wedding because I want to try an incorporate a Japanesy feel the wedding despite it happening in Australia!
congratulations laura!!!!
i love there cherry blossoms – i wanted to go to japan to see them but i havent worked out a trip that works in the actual time they’re blossoming.. bugga
you look stunning.
have a wonderful day my dear
nes
Your pictures of the sakara are so beautiful!!! I especially love the picture where you have captured the couple in the boat! It is just lovely! To be honest, I have never really sakara somewhere nice to take pictures!! Living out in the bush (or so it feels) means actually being in the right place at the right time to see the sakara is quite difficult. But it is on my 101 things list, so hopefully I will one day be able to see them!
Wow… beautiful pictures!!!!
Hey I’m all for coming down to Tokyo for a Hanami party in Spring 2010.
You have gorgeous blue eyes Lulu!!!
Beautiful glorious photos – you should link to Wordless Wednesday so others can see them.
Thanks for visiting my blog – life in Japan must be so interesting.
I can’t imagine the diet changes and logistics of shopping but I guess it is the same in any place you call home eventually.
My Little Drummer boys
Simply beautiful. The photo of the blossoms over the water is stunning!
My goodness – I love those pictures! Do they have sakura in London do you know by any chance? Because we have trees with pink blossoms in the streets that are EVERYWHERE at the moment…but I think their petals are somewhat different to those in your pictures. When I make a new 101 List in 2010, I think Hanami will definitely be on on there!
You look really great at the moment hun! Not long before take off now is it? How are you feeling?
Also, would you mind maybe that when we get into our new place – if I get print off one of your sakura pictures to put on our wall? It would looks so nice I think!
xxxxxxx
Nes: I am glad you stopped by! I so think you should start a blog about your adventures in Holland! Maybe they bloom somewhere in Holland! You should check it out!!!
Nay: Well I think in 2010 we will definitely have to organize hanami in the kanto prefecture somewhere! They are everywhere in Tokyo at the moment and there are some great places to go! I didn`t get out of the house today to see some others but maybe later in the week! I think they will all be gone by the end of the weekend though…..It is a shame they don`t last longer
Sara: Thank you! The blue eyes usually means though that unless photos are taken outside that my eyes come up red! hehe! Hanami 2010 it is!
Trish: I have thought about signing up for wordless wednesday! Maybe once I get back to Australia….although I know the year I was back in Australia a couple of years ago I think I only took 500 photos the whole year….Instead of like the 5000 I seem to take a year in Japan! Will have to make the effort!
Clea: Thanks! I meant to tell you that since they are blooming now that if you had come over Easter then they would of just been beggining and it probably woudn`t have been the best time to see them! So you are lucky! hehe. Maybe next year?
Mandy: Thanks babe! I am not sure if they have them in London….Maybe ask a Londoner what the pink flowers are and they will know. It could be Sakura? Or maybe some kind of plum or apricot blossom! Tell me which photo you want and I can send you the original file so that you can print it out.
Wow. Now I know why they make such a big fuss over cherry blossom season.
CB
Thank you Lulu, you’ve made my day!
How long more does the cherry blossoms last? I’m coming on Wednesday, hope to be able to catch it! Your photos are beautiful!
Cheers!
Joy
So so soooooo beautiful! I’m completely envious – here in Germany it’s been gloomy & overcast so I’m off to stare at your photos and sigh heavily.
They’re beautiful!
I wish I’d been able to see the proper ones last year!
Lovely photos! We kind of missed hanami in Tokyo this year since we were away last week and they had only just started blooming down in Kansai although we did see some, and I’ve been sick this week so haven’t got out anywhere. There are still some trees in full bloom around here but not for much longer. Hopefully we’ll get out on the weekend.
Cheers to your Blog namesake, Cherry Blossoms season
Thanks for dropping by my blog.
You can catch me here as well:
http://gorgeoustraveller.blogspot.com
http://www.corianderdreams.com
http://www.gorgeoustraveller.com
I think your current life in Tokyo’s quite interesting.
Hope to read more of your adventures!
Cheers,
Marie
I love these photos!
Oh and I am tagging you for a meme!