Ohanami Season 2008

Celebrating ohanami season (sakura or cherry blossom viewing) is much a part of Japanese tradition and culture, as is any other matsuri (festival) such as natsu matsuri (summer festivals). Once again, we were more than happy to be in Tokyo for another year of splendid cherry blossom viewing this spring.

You can find sakura at just about every park in the city. If you're lucky, you might even find yourself driving down some side streets with the cherry blossoms lined up along both sides, creating one of the most beautifully picturesque canopy of trees you can ever see. The photo left was taken alongside of Wako Jurim Koen. These photos really don't do it justice.

In Tokyo, it becomes one big, week-long excuse of partying, eating, and drinking sake while viewing the blossoms. Usually after a little over a week, the velvety petals fall to the ground creating a snowy effect.

Our great friends, the Wakayama Family invited us to join them once again at Wako Jurim Koen in Saitama Prefecture for a fun family picnic. We were fortunate to have the company of Mom (Frijas) and Tita Jasmin visiting Tokyo during such a joyful time. It turned out to be a chilly and overcast day in the park that Sunday, April 30th, thus we still enjoyed the afternoon having wonderful food and strolling through the park admiring all different varieties of sakura trees. Markus of course, always has a blast hanging out with his two best older buddies, Naoki and Junki! They played catch, climbed the trees and they also taught him how to use a tennis racquet. Once he got the hang of hitting the ball, he didn't want to stop!

Hangin' around

PEACE!

Because of the warmer than usual climate, the cherry blossoms bloomed a week earlier in Tokyo this year. Our sakura viewing continued with another sunny afternoon of picnicing at Heiwa Park in Kamiitabashi with many friends from Jidoukan on April 1. This would be the last time seeing many of Jidoukan friends before many begin yochien (kindergarten) classes the following week. Markus had a great time running around and reunting with his friends.

(L-R)-

Yukiko-san, Sae-chan, Emi-san, Yagi-san, Hiromi-san, me, Sayaka-san, Yagi-san's baby, Markus and Sora-chan

Our good friends, Hiromi-san and Taro-kun, who recently moved to Suganami (about an hour away from Kamiitabashi), were able to join us back in our town.

With Ayumi-chan, Arisa-chan, her mom and sister, and Yoko-san

Markus and Kota taking turns on the Anpanman bike

A fine day in the park

The following day, on April 4th, we met with Keiko in Meguro to one of the sakura viewing hotspots along Meguro River.

Simply gorgeous!

Soon after, we headed next door to Meguro Gajoen to give Tita Jasmin a tour of the wonderful hotel/convention hall and courtyard. Markus was fired up to see the dozens of coy swimming in the courtyard. It's definitely one of his favourite places to see when our visitors come to Tokyo.

Inside Meguro Gajoen, the halls were decorated with stunning sakura theme.

Over the week, seeing the beautiful sakura made me think of how blessed we are to have lived through these wonderful experiences in Japan. I'm certain I'll be thinking about my memories of the ohanami season this time, next year, where ever I may be.

....more of ohanami season 2008 to come