As sakura in Tsuyama castle ruins park had almost finished, we drove to Miyasumi Koen in the outskirts. To our surprise, the purple/pink azaleas were blooming along the hillside.
Miyasumi Koen (三休公園)
Somei Yoshino sakura
After staying in Tsuyama for 2 nights, car was returned and train to Okayama city. Visited the Okayama Museum of Art as sakura had finished in Korakuen.
Bumped into an exhibition by the late Wada Makoto, who had drawn numerous illustrations for books, magazines and journals. Some of those are fairly easy to identify.
Okayama Museum of Art
PicassoBeethoven, Monroe, ChaplinTitanic
After lunch took Shinkansen to Himeji and transferred to Shioda onsen ryokan in the northern outskirts of Himeji via shuttle bus.
The ryokan was established in the Meji-era and thus it’s well over 100 years old. It has a fairly large premise along the hillside, including its rotenburo.
The Kaiseki dinner was sumptuous and delicious. Checked out on the next day and headed to Kyoto.
Drove to Matsue Castle after checking out of onsen ryokan on next morning. Luckily it was a sunny day while sakura was also in peak blossom. Though the sakura matsuri (festival) was on, not many hawkers were open on weekday.
After staying for about 1.5 hours, drove to a 100-year old unagi (eel) shop for lunch. Eels are sourced from Aichi Prefecture directly. It’s a favourite shop of Koizumi Yakumo in the Meiji-era.
weeping Yaebeni-shidarezakuraShogetsuYamamiseKoizumi Yakumo in Meiji-era used to visit this shop
Adachi Museum of Art
Drove to this museum whose garden is famous. It has a wide collection of paintings, carvings and ceramic. However, photography is not allowed for the collections.
Stayed for 2+ hours and checked into another onsen hotel overlooking Shinji-ko, Matsue.
no. 1 garden for 20 years since 2003Shimane Museum of Art
Embarked on the first sakura visit from early April 2023 since the covid travel ban has been uplifted for foreign tourists since Nov 2022.
Main theme of the trip involved visiting the Sanin area for the first time – Shimane and Tottori Prefectures followed by Okayama and Kyoto before returning to Fukuoka in 13 days.
Took a super-early domestic flight from Fukuoka to Izumo in 1 hour by a propeller. Picked up rental car and drove to Izumo Taisha in less than 30 min. As the latter is famous for courtship amongst locals, the Izumo airport is nicknamed as “Musubi” airport.
Izumo Taisha (出雲大社)
Izumo Taisha is one of the oldest and most important shrines in Japan. The current shrine was built in 1744 and is designated as a national treasure. Its grand scale is compatible to the 3 Kumano Taisha and in Suwa-ko that we had visited before.
It was lucky that we bumped into peak sakura blossom there
rabbit and snake kissIzumo Musubi airportJAL propeller
Next we drove to the coastal area for the Izumo-himisaki lighthouse and Inasa-no-hama before heading to Shimane Museum of Art, along the lake rim of Shinji-ko, Matsue.
Inside the museum, there was an exhibition of calligraphy in traditional Chinese characters. Most were beautifully written and adorable. We stayed for an hour and drove to our first onsen ryokan nearby.
Izumo-himisaki lighthousehabitat of numerous seabirdsInasa-no-hamaShimane Museum of Artoutdoor sculpturesShinji-ko
Tamazukuri onsen
Strolled along the onsen town where sakura was also in bloom after hotel checkin. Dinner was sumptuous and delicious using local produce – asari. Service was excellent
From Tokyo we took Tohoku Shinkansen and alight at Koriyama station in Fukushima Prefecture. Picked up rental car and visited Miharu Takizakura and Nihonmatsu in a day.
Miharu Takizakura (三春滝桜)
It took less than 30min to arrive at the huge parking lot (free), via national roads in light traffic. A top 100 sakura spot and one of three most famous sakura trees in Japan. It is a Benishidare-zakura (ベニシダレザクラ) belonging to the Edohigan (エドヒガン) family.
It was estimated to be more than 1000 years old, at a height of 13m+ and span over 25m. Taki in Japanese means waterfall and indeed it looks so.
Though it was crowded, everything was in good order. We stayed for an hour and on the way back to the parking lot bought some Okashi (sweets) and somen (noodles) made of sakura ingredients.
closeup
stone inscription re Miharu Takizakura
Okashi that we bought
colourful car at the entrance
Uchidenosakura (内出のサクラ)
Next we headed north to Nihonmatsu in less than 30km away. Dropped by this Uchidenosakura, of 220 years old, at a height of 19m. It belongs to a rare variety of Ubahiganzakura.
There were no other visitor when we arrived. Stayed for about 15 min.
Nihonmatsu Kasumigajo Park (霞ヶ城公園)
arrived at the final top 100 sakura spot of this trip – Kasumigajo in Nihonmatsu city. Had lunch in local restaurant serving lunch sets opposite to park.
It’s famous for its 2500 sakura trees – akin to a sakura forest when viewed from a distance. Luckily they were in full bloom.
entrance
Rengeji Shidarezakura (蓮華寺 シダレザクラ)
There is a small visitor centre in the parking lot of Kasumigajo. The friendly lady handed some printed info on nearby sakura trees. So on the way back to Koriyama we dropped by this temple for this Shidarezakura of 300 years old, also belonging to the Edohigan family.
Dinner in Komakata Dozeu (駒形どぜう)
Upon returning to Tokyo/Ueno by Shinkansen, headed to nearby Asakusa for this 200-year old shop (from Edo era) serving Dozeu (pond loach). While seats were on the floor (by tradition) on 1F, we preferred table seats and were led downstairs, where there were more diners.
We ordered 2 portions of どぜうさきなべ (dozeu stripped of bones). The dozeu were served on nabe (heated plate on charcoal). On the side came plenty of chopped spring onions. It was delicious with spices like Sansho to serve with rice, while lighter than Unagi (river eel). On top I ordered a dozeu-jiru (soup) to try, it was quite thick.
Though whale meat (くじら) is on the menu, we always avoid it.
seats on the floor on 1F
Dozeu-jiru (soup)
cold tofu – ordered on top
On the next day we returned home in Hong Kong. That was the end of another fabulous sakura trip
From Tokyo, went for a day trip in Gunma Prefecture for sakura. Took Joetsu Shinkansen and arrived at Maebashi via Takasaki. Bought a (temporary) retro bus day pass to Akagi Senbon zakura and Gunma Flower Park. Took about 50 min to arrive at former.
Akagi Senbon zakura (赤城南面千本桜)
Another top 100 sakura spot in southern Mt Akagi with thousand sakura trees.
When we arrived it was almost 11am and crowded as expected (on Sunday). The sakura tunnel was more than 1km and on either side there were plenty of food stalls. In an open area there were fields of rapeseed flowers which was photogenic. Stayed for about 30 min and took retro bus to next stop.
Gunma Flower Park
A fairly large flower park in southern Mt Akagi. Entrance fee of JPY700 was included in the bus pass. Not crowded.
Apart from tulips, there were some late sakura bloomers including the pink Yaebeni-Shidarezakura and a rare reddish Yohohamahizakura (ヨコハマヒザクラ).
Entrance
Mt Akagi to the north
Had soba noodles for lunch inside a Japanese landscape garden. Returned to Tokyo afterwards.
Japanese landscape garden
pinkish-red Yohohamahizakura
Yaebeni-shidarezakura
Wooden characters inside JR Takasaki station
Gunma-chen and Daruma
Daruma
dragon ball heros and Ninja
4 famous onsen in Gunma Prefecture – Ikaho, Shima, Kusatsu, Minakami
On next morning it was a sunny day with Mt Fuji showing up over Kawaguchi-ko :))
viewed from balcony
viewed from heart-shaped ensuite bath
Arakurayama Sengen Park (新倉山浅間公園)
Checked out hotel after quick early breakfast and drove to parking lot. As it was a Saturday the closest parking lot at base was full (at 8am+) and were told to park in another lot (about 2km away) and change free shuttle bus (or on foot).
Despite long (but orderly) line for shuttle bus we finally arrived at the Sengen Park (after climbing almost 400 stairs) at 9am+. Ultimately, our efforts were rewarded with sakura in full bloom, with blue sky and Mt Fuji as backdrop.
Chureito Pagoda
Had to line up for 75 min but worthy – sakura in full blossom + Mt Fuji + blue sky
local residence along the way to shuttle bus
Kawaguchi-ko
Back to the photogenic spot for Mt Fuji over Kawaguchi-ko. Sakura was around 10-30% along the northern lake rim wheras those along the food stalls were around 50-70%. Overall, it was much better than 2 years ago and we were grateful
Ume
After lunch, returned car in Otsuki and took JR express train back to Shinjuku in 1 hour.
Had dinner in one of our fav izakayas and most fav sake. Stayed in Tokyo for the next 3 nights.
2nd visit since 2017 when sakura started blooming when we visited 2 years ago.
Though I had timed my visit (in this season) based on the local sakura forecast in early March, it was a few days – probably 3 to 4 days prior to full bloom.
Checked out from onsen hotel in Suwa-ko and headed to Takato Castle by car. It was a sunny day (after the low depression system had moved away), though with snow on roadside.
After about 30min we arrived at a dyke in Ina city – 六道の堤 . It was grateful to be back after 2 years with sakura in bloom
Finally, in another 20min arrived at the Takato Castle at around 10am. The closest parking lot was almost full. Loads of tourists were subsequently ferried in by tour buses after our arrival.
There were 1500 sakura trees of Takato-Okohiganzakura (タカトオコヒガンザクラ). A top 100 sakura spot. In the featured photo was the famous Ounkyo (桜雲橋) – literally Sakura cloud bridge, at around 30-50%. Due to snow, entry was forbidden beneath the Ounkyo.
Takato-kaku at the northern gate
新城藤原神社 Shinjou-Fujiwara Jinja
桜雲橋 Ounkyo – literally sakura cloud bridge
太古櫓 Taiko-yakura
To our surprise, the sakura outside the southern gate were almost at full bloom, as reported on its website. And there was a sakura tunnel beneath the Takato Arts Museum.
sakura tunnel outside Takato Arts Museum
Sculptures outside Takato Arts Museum
Though there were other famous sakura spots and trees around the Castle Park, most were less than 50%. Sticking to my original plan, we headed to Fuji 5-lake. Picked up a car in Kofu. Dropped by Takeda Jinja before heading to onsen hotel in Kawaguchi-ko.
Takeda Jinja (武田神社)
Sakura had passed peak and petals were falling inside the Jinja, though the sakura boulevard in front of the entrance looked gorgeous from a distance.
Matsumoto Castle and Takato Castle Ruins Park by car from Suwa-ko.
Arakurayama Sengen Park and Kawaguchi-ko by car
Akagi Senbon-zakura, Miharu-Takizakura, Nihonmatsu as day trips from Tokyo.
Matsumoto Castle
Right after landing in Tokyo/HND, headed to Suwa-ko by JR express train via Shinjuku. Prior to our arrival, snow was forecasted in Nagano Prefecture, apart from Tohoku etc on that night. Indeed, it had been snowing the entire night and on the next morning, the lake rim was covered in snow.
The Matsumoto Castle was not in my original plan. Due to sunny day being forecasted on the next day, decided to postpone the Takato Castle Ruins Park till then.
Visited the former after picking up car from Suwa-ko and drove very carefully – less than 50km/h and kept longer distance away from vehicles ahead. It took about 1 hour while snowing along the way.
Luckily some sakura trees were already in full bloom inside the castle park, including Shidare-zakura (weeping sakura) trees. While this was our 3rd visit to this castle, it was the first time when it was covered in snow – together with sakura
views from castle
Apart from sakura, Ume (plum) flowers too were covered in snow.
It’s good to have warm soba noodles for lunch after leaving the castle park when temperature was around 1-2C.
Snowfall had stopped and on our way back we dropped by the Harumiya (Spring Shrine) – one of two Shimosha and nearby Manji stone buddha in Shimosuwa town.
ps. visited the Akimiya (Autumn Shrine), the other Shimosha 2 years ago in another sakura trip.
Had a coffee break with nice macha (green tea) roll cake in a small local cafe – we were the only customers. Headed back to onsen hotel and dropped by one of my fav local sake brewery – Masumi (真澄) from Suwa. Though sake tasting was offered, had to pass due to driving.
Masumi sake brewery
Stayed in a 100-year old onsen hotel on the lakeside. Ordered Masumi (sake) for 2 nights during Kaiseki dinner
On the next morning, picked up a rental car and headed to Matsumae Castle about 100km away from Hakodate. As there was no expressway, it took about 2 hours to reach there. Dropped by Cape Shirakami (白神岬) at the southern tip of Hokkaido. Had lunch in Matsumae road station which was crowded with locals visiting the same destination
Another top 100 sakura spot, the Matsumae Castle was renowned for having 10,000 sakura trees in over 200 sakura varieties. Most of the sakura in full bloom was pinky Naden (南殿), which is an early blooming species, with many other sakura trees yet to be blooming.
Cape Shirakami – the southern tip of Hokkaido
Matsumae road station
Matsumae castle
The huge park extended slightly uphill. We walked around it and arrived at the northwestern corner where there were temples with 300-year old sakura trees.
Sakura park
sakura boulevard leading uphill
small patch of Shibazakura
Matsumae Jinja
Kozenji (光善寺) with early blooming 300-year old Ketchimiku-zakura (血脈桜), and Meoto-zakura (夫婦桜) literally husband-and-wife – a pinky Naden sakura fused with Somei Yoshino.
entrance to Kozenji
300-yr old Kechimiku-zakura
“husband and wife” sakura
Left after 3pm. Heading to Shiriuchi onsen ryokan for overnight stay.
