Visited Honshu in 9 days for sakura around mid-April targeting some of the late blooming sakura varieties in Kyoto.
After Kyoto, we visited Takato castle-ruins, 2000-year old Jindai Sakura, Fujigoko, Fujinomiya areas before returning to Tokyo.
However, it turned out that the actual peak blossom dates in 2017 were roughly back to yearly average or few days later than normal in some locations.
Maruyama Park (円山公園)
Headed straight to the park right after hotel checkin. Sakura was in peak blossom while many locals and foreigners were wandering around taking shots, or having snacks/drinks in the park enjoying “Hanami”. It’s always nice watching sakura while soaking in this ambience, and to visit our old friend – the tall Shidare-zakura tree in the centre of the park.
locals and some foreigners were having a good time for Hanami
Nijo-jo (二条城)
Visited World Heritage Nijo-jo on next morning, including the Ninomaru Palace and beautiful landscape gardens with mainly the pink Yaesu and Yaebeni-Shidare-zakuras in peak blossoms.
Stayed in this onsen ryokan in Shin-hotaka onsen – the innermost onsen in Oku-hida, while visiting koyo in 2010.
One special feature of this onsen hotel is that the huge rotenburo can only be accessed by its own cable car down to valley bottom where fresh onsen is gushing out continuously ! The rotenburo is next to a mountain stream and Yarigadake can be seen in the distance on clear days.
Visited these two onsen ryokans during Sendai sakura trip in 2009.
Sakan (伝承千年の宿 佐勘)
Stayed in this historical onsen ryokan in Akiu onsen town not far from Sendai.
Took free shuttle bus from Sendai station. Enjoyed in big rotenburo and sumptuous meals.
From its website, looks like some rooms have been renovated into modern style. Besides, it was the venue of the G7 meetings of Finance ministers and Central Bankers in 2016.
view from room
Ichinobo
Stayed in this onsen hotel in Matsushima onsen, about 30min by express train from Sendai. It has quite a huge premise with a garden overlooking into the Matsushima Bay.
There are many beautiful estuaries in Ago Bay which can be viewed from various spots such as Tomoyama park, Mediterranean village. When we went up to the Yokoyama Observatory it snowed briefly.
viewed from Yokoyama observatory when it snowed
Tomoyama Park
Shima-sato
Mediterrean village
Oharai-machi
Before returning to Nagoya, dropped by Oharai-machi shopping street.
Visiting Ise-Shima for the first time by car. Nagoya > Matsusaka > Ise > Toba > Shima and return.
Ise (outer and Inner) Shrines
on the way to Inner shrine
entrance to Inner Shrine – no photo inside
approaching Outer Shrine
no entry allowed
Ise => Toba => Shima
Visited Meoto Iwa (wedded rocks) in Ise coast. Skirted along beautiful coastlines. Sea was deep blue as in Cote d’Azur in France.
Meoto Iwa
World’s biggest sea-shell from Okinawa
Coastline b/w Toba and Shima
Toba Mikimoto Pearl Island
Visited famous Mikimoto Pearl Island for the museum and watched a live performance by “sea-lady” diving for big clams as in the old days. It was cold that day around 10C during daytime.
Stayed in Mizu-no-Uta of the Tsuruga group in Oct 2013 while visiting Hokkaido right after landing.
Have stayed in onsen hotels operated by the Tsuruga group few times in Hokkaido. Picked a spacious modern room of more than 50 sqm, plus an outdoor garden with rotenburo. Selected meals in buffet style which was sumptuous with fresh seafood served in both Japanese and western styles. Dessert was generous as well.
Mizu-no-Uta literally means song of water. Have stayed in Shikotsu-ko 4 times till 2016 and this onsen resort was the best.
Ginrinsou is a premier onsen ryokan in Otaru. Stayed in Oct 2013 while visiting Hokkaido for koyo.
It was refurbished from an ex-entrepreneur estate and designated as one of Hokkaido’s 100 most important cultural properties. It has less than 10 rooms. Our room is equipped with a huge bathroom with in-room onsen. The public onsen area is well decorated while the rotenburo is huge and with a nice seaview.
Needless to mention was the sumptuous meals served and meticulous service.
