05 April, 2010: Cherry Blossoms in Kannai (Yokohama)
Tore my calf muscle recently and haven’t been able to get around recently. Still can’t walk well, but hobbled around the Kannai area of Yokohama last weekend to view the cherry blossoms along the Ookagawa river, eat festival food, and view street performers.
The weather was dreary, but the cherry trees are in full bloom now, the first festival food of the year was great, children were able to make mochi (pounded rice cakes), and the live music was a nice touch.
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27 February, 2010: Ume (Plum) Blossoms
Every year the pink and white ume (plum) flowers precede the sakura (cherry) blossoms across Japan and their arrival marks the final cold weeks of winter here in the Yokohama and Tokyo areas.
As they are some of the first colors seen each spring, they are often associated with the start of spring and, as such, the event is marked with festivals (ume matsuri) in gardens, parks, shrines and temples where vendors will set up stalls selling traditional festival foods and artisans playing traditional music on the samisen and koto.
Plum Blossoms at Sankeien Garden in Yokohama:
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Plum Blossoms at Sumida Park in Tokyo:
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