In the Deep North

Although I was in time to see a fair bit of sakura in Tokyo and Osaka, the blossoms having lingered longer than usual in the unseasonably cold spring air, I wasn't able to catch them at their finest. For that I had to travel north, overtaking the ebbing sakura tide in Aomori Prefecture in the northernmost tip of Honshu - a place that has intrigued me for a while now. For this part of my trip I was joined by Mami, with whom I stayed in Gunma Prefecture last year when visiting Lockheart Castle. We began our stay in Hirosaki, where the local castle was about to begin its annual cherry blossom festival. Officially it wouldn't start until the following day, but that just meant that we were able to wander into the castle grounds without paying. It was beginning to get dark by then, but that of course is no impediment to the enjoyment of cherry blossom in Japan, where "yozakura" or "night cherry blossom viewing" is an established custom, and lights are set up to show everything to advantage.

( Blossoms, Floats and Tombs )