Night Sakura at Ueno Park

 If there's one thing more spectacular than the Sakura (Cherry Blossoms) in full bloom, it is seeing them lit up at night - "Yozakura" in Japanese.  Ueno Park is one of the most popular spots in Tokyo for Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing or Picnic-ing), and is buzzing each night of the season with thousands of Hanami picnic partiers.

 Illumination is generally from the end of March to around the first two weeks of April, to co-incide with the height of the short-lived Sakura blossoming.  Dates vary from year to year.  These are a few of the pictures I took April 12th last year at Ueno Park.  Illumination is from 5:30 until 10pm.

Other top spots in Tokyo with Sakura Illuination include Chidorigafuchi (part of the moat around Chiyoda, the location of the Imperial Palace) and Sumida Park (along the Sumida River).  That's where I'm planning for my Yozakura outing this year.  (very excited)

 I thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful Yozakura as I walked through Ueno Park, but unlike places such as Shinjuku Gyoen, (see link for last year's photos) Ueno Park is not the most family-friendly Hanami picnic spot as it is quite crowded, and the large majority of picnic-ers are consuming (substantial amounts of) beer.  They are otherwise well-behaved, however, and I did see one or two other young families like ourselves enjoying the evening.

The end of March to the first half of April is definitely a good time to visit Japan.

Happy Hanami 2013!

^_^

Sakura at Shinjuku Gyoen 2012

There are many beautiful Hanami (Sakura viewing) spots in Tokyo, and Shinjuku Gyoen is possibly at the top of that list.  In any case, it was definitely the most fun to photograph!!

Shinjuku Gyoen is the Imperial Gardens in Shinjuku.  

58 hectares of beautifully kept formal gardens including 1500 Sakura trees.

Aren't the colours delicious?  Turn this into gelato...I could eat this one~

...actually I did have a Sakura gelato that day! There was a van selling crepes and gelato just outside the Shinjuku gate.

 

There are many wide spaces of lawn with huge sakura trees whose branches reach almost to the ground.  Perfect for a hanami picnic!  Alcohol is prohibited so it's great for families.

(It was hard to get a good shot of this area without including faces.  It is illegal to take photos of people without their permission in Japan.)

Be careful because the gates close at 4:30pm! 4:00(Sendagaya Gate and Okido Gate)/4:30pm (Shinjuku Gate)   Each gate can be accessed from a different subway station.

See this link for access details.

The 200 yen entrance fee was negligible in comparison to the amazing spectacle!

(I took this shot at closing time!)

Sakura 2012 ＊Happy Easter!＊

The Sakura are in full bloom here in Kawasaki.  Now is the season of new beginnings.  New school year, new jobs start, and this year for our family, the start of a new life and new home in Japan.  

♡Happy Easter Everyone♡

I couldn't pick which of these three shots I liked best, so included them all.  Which is your favorite?

 

There are pink sakura trees and white sakura trees, but the blossoms on this sakura tree were half white, half pink.  So pretty...
 

Ochibi loves the cute ducks♡

 Can you see the golden carp swimming in the stream?

Thanks for your patience while we were moving!♡










hmmm...
what's next on the menu...?