Revenge on the pink

My last blog entry saw me in a sad state of affairs: a sakura season without sakura. But if there is a good for every bad than it was definitely worth the rain and the lack of blossoms to have the first weekend of golden week be as magnificent as it was! But first a peek into the previous week:  Iwadonosan and its little castle site in all its pink glory, a beautiful pink and white tree of flowers at the side of the road and my new car under the sakura at school (its name is Kei… it’s very new and doesn’t yet have a personality.)

Anyways, that weekend a had a late night phone call and things got a bit rough after already worn down by my new work load I received sad news from home that grandpa had passed away, a cold and some rain followed this so by the time golden week came I was ready for a break. At first, I tried to fly home and be with my family, but as this became impossible I was glad that I had a trip coming up with Sheena to Tohoku. The purpose of said trip was to see the three famous spots for sakura in northern Honshu but the weeks leading up to this were cold and bleak and it appeared as if a second weekend without sakura was upon us. I don’t know how it happened, it should have been impossible, but a miracle happened: the last few days before our trip were not just warm they were hot and the sakura bloomed! It was a gift not wasted, but first I will talk about Saturday.

 

So Saturday I awoke to the first clear sky in weeks and rushed to Fujiyoshida to capture the iconic image of the pagoda, the sakura and Mt. Fuji, somewhat of the triple threat in the Japanese photography world. It was the perfect morning and everyone was so friendly because it was clear and warm and sakura is gorgeous! 

Then I met up with Sheena and we took our revenge on Nagano but returning to see the sakura at the Takato castle ruins. Last time were there it was cold and rainy and there was not a blossom in sight so miserably I couldn’t even manage a photo. This time, while a bit past peak, it was warm and sunny and very pink! It was so lovely with a warm spring breeze that brought down a shower of pedals around us as we strolled about taking pictures, gazing at the pond of petals and tree shadows and eventually resting under a big tree to eat sakura ice cream and watch it rain pink on us; it was magical!

Then we went to this cool temple at the foot of these mountains and I found the prettiest little pond that reflected the sakura back at us like it was a shadowy mirror! Captivating!  We finished the day with finding some daffodils and taking pictures of that before going out for dinner of the regions specialty: sauce katsu! It was delicious!

 

At the end of the day I was content and warm and happy and it was only the first day! After we went to Tohoku by shinkansen for two days of more perfect sakura! The miracle sakura! And eventually finished the week off with a day in the flowers and a day at a festival where gigantic kites were flown in honour of first born sons! I began to remember why I loved Japan and slowly the homesickness washed away.