The weather has been getting warmer, if only slightly and everything is getting a little greener. Lately there have been more and more blossoms appearing around Himeji. To begin with it was pink blossoms which are “only” plum blossoms not the much talked about sakura – cherry blossoms!
Plum blossoms.
In Japan sakura are loved – it's the only word to describe it. People are talking about them, have parties under them, make cakes and sweets with them in it and talk in percentages about how much they are in bloom!
Cherry blossoms - Sakura 桜
This week is one of the main weeks for cherry blossom viewing (the first two weeks of April.) There are 1000 cherry blossom trees around the castle, so it’s the best place for viewing the cherry blossoms. The other night I went to my first hanami party! (cherry blossom viewing) We met at the castle gate at 6pm and were prepared with rugs, tarps, food and of course drinks (a hanami party requires drinks)! We met up with some Japanese friends and found a spot under the cherry blossoms. There were some very prepared parties there – all business men in suits with their dinner set out with a beer all in a circle. As it got dark the lanterns around the park lit up and it was just so pretty. During this week only you are able to go in the castle grounds at night. We went and looked around and it was just beautiful. More cherry blossoms with coloured lights – it was amazing!
First Hanami party!
Day time Hanami parties.
On Saturday it was the Kan-o-kai festival which is held annually at the castle. During the day 100 women in kimono play the koto (traditional Japanese instrument), there is a lion dance performed on a wooden A-frame and taiko drumming. This is all on a stage with the castle in the background and cherry blossom trees surrounding the park. We sat in front of the stage with our tarps, rugs, food and drinks. We even had a visit from the mayor of Himeji and he sat down with us for a bit and we gave him some Australian chocolate and the Americans gave him some brownies! It was just an amazing day! Special sake was being sold in square lacquer cups which I just had to have and the sake was quite good too! I may be getting a taste for it!
Koto players in Kimono - what a background!
Koto players with Sakura!
All of us with the Mayor of Himeji and the Mayor of Tottori!(and some random guy!)
Lion dance.
Taiko!
Most days on my way home I have to stop to take more photos of sakura as it is just so beautiful and they only last for 7-10 days. We have been to the castle 3 times now at night to take photos too. This is definitely the best time to visit Japan and its official I love sakura too!
These are my two favourite photos!(P.S. I took them too! and if you click on them they will enlarge!)
2 comments:
Your pictures are sooo pretty! I wish I could take such nice pictures of the castle and the sakura! I loved the Himeji Festival too. My favourite part was listening to the taiko and the koto players!
I love this time of year - it is soooo beautiful, just like in all the pictures. Now we have our own pictures too!! The taiko drums were just amazing.
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