Spring Flower Festivals

So this year for some reason, I hopped on the flower train (almost literally) and decided to go to many of the major flower festivals while spring was in session… it might have started with a travel company e-mail which is where I got the ideas from, but the planning and travels were by myself for the most part.  New year in Japan, try seeing new things I figured… starting with sakura season! Kind of group the sakura as it’s own season and the other flower festivals as a second season.  Won’t be much talking in this post since it doesn’t take much explaining to enjoy flowers…  These are in no particular order…

Sankeien Garden & Yokohama Sakura

Just a short bus ride over to this local garden... always nice to come visit... also came here for fireflies last year.
Along the road back to Minatomirai area
Cup Noodle Museum park
Ooka River

Ueno & Shinjuku & Yoyogi Park Sakura

This one photo is actually outside of my apartment at Yokohama Park... they didn't last long this year though....
Ueno Park
End of the season already...
Shinjuku National Garden
Flowers over water...
Yoyogi Park

Naka Meguro Sakura

Hitachi Seaside Park Nemophilia

Other than the sakura days, these other trips averaged 3-4 hours each way and some more expensive train rides than others... just have to get lucky with blooms and weather sometimes...

Ashikaga Flower Park Wisteria

Hitsujiyama Flower Park Shibazakura

Hardly any left...

Fuji Shibazakura

Even with a full month left in the festival, the flowers were already kind of disappearing... they were only at 60% bloom when I went and unfortunately Mt. Fuji was hidden by clouds...
Almost four hours each way to get to this one...
Only part of Fuji-san showing...

If I had to recommend/rank the flower festivals (not including sakura) in order of awesomeness, I’d say Ashikaga, Hitachi, Fuji, then Hitsujiyama.  Definitely have to go at the very beginning of the season to get the most out of it… Those long train rides really make you tired for some reason… even if just sitting… four festivals was a bit much.  Next up, summer!

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