Sakura Fever
This is my first time staying more than one year in Japan. And the first time I'm able to watch sakura blooming (both in 2005 and 2007 I arrived during full bloom and some procedures I had to do upon arrival kept me a little busy to really enjoy). Therefore, this year I was taken by sakura fever and went around taking pictures at various places in Kyoto.
Kyoto University is where I'm currently enrolled. One of the major universities in Japan, it also has good places to see sakura. Some clubs organize hanami inside the Yoshida campus itself.
Takanogawa is one of the rivers that run across Kyoto (well, mostly as part of Kamogawa). During sakura season, the path between Demachiyanagi and Shugakuin is very beautiful.
Tetsugaku no Michi, or Philosopher's Walk is one of the free touristic spots in Kyoto, famous for its beauty during sakura season. Its name comes after a Japanese philosopher who used the place to meditate.
Heian Jingu is a Shinto shrine located next to the Municipal Art Museum and the National Modern Art Museum. More information can be found in Kazu's blog. The place is also a hot spot during spring, but the sakura there take a little more to bloom. I went a little too early...
Maruyama Koen is one of the most popular places for hanami. Therefore, the place gets crowded. It's not uncommon to find university club members or even company employees "reserving places" before a celebration... sometimes days before the actual event.
Kamogawa is one of the most famous rivers in Kyoto, crossing the city North-South. It's usually possible to find couples along its banks and it has good places for hanami as well.
Kyoto Gosho has guided tours and it opens its doors twice a year, one of them being during spring. Unfortunately, I couldn't enter (went on a different day), but the public place also has beautiful places all around.
Daigo-ji is also one of the famous places to see sakura in Kyoto. And, really, it's well worth the visit!! There's an area that only opens during spring (and maybe fall) and even a place to enjoy sakura while sitting and drinking tea... Be warned that it's a little far away from downtown, though.
Momoyama-jo is more used as a park nowadays as many families from the neighborhood go there. Or that's the impression I had. Another option away from the center, but it's not so easy to find the path from the station... Maybe it's just me...
Ninna-ji is another of the places that weren't in full bloom yet... Pity, because there seems to be a place that looks beautiful in full bloom...
Well, and after going to Momoyama-jo I was missing Himeji-jo. So I decided to go to Himeji for something I hadn't seen yet: Yozakura (night view of cherry blossoms) at the castle. With a group that mixed old and new friends from Himeji and friends from Kyoto (ok, I won't forget Takatsuki... ^^) I went there for the last sakura hunting of the year.
Crowded as expected, but maybe not so crowded as Kyoto might have been on the same day. Still, it was a scene I have never seen, even though I've lived for almost one year in Himeji; and with good company after going solo to all the previous places. Nice ending to the first spring I spent entirely in Japan...
To avoid making this post too large, I limited the number of pictures. Those who want to see some more, check my Picasa album.
Kyoto University is where I'm currently enrolled. One of the major universities in Japan, it also has good places to see sakura. Some clubs organize hanami inside the Yoshida campus itself.
Takanogawa is one of the rivers that run across Kyoto (well, mostly as part of Kamogawa). During sakura season, the path between Demachiyanagi and Shugakuin is very beautiful.
Tetsugaku no Michi, or Philosopher's Walk is one of the free touristic spots in Kyoto, famous for its beauty during sakura season. Its name comes after a Japanese philosopher who used the place to meditate.
Heian Jingu is a Shinto shrine located next to the Municipal Art Museum and the National Modern Art Museum. More information can be found in Kazu's blog. The place is also a hot spot during spring, but the sakura there take a little more to bloom. I went a little too early...
Maruyama Koen is one of the most popular places for hanami. Therefore, the place gets crowded. It's not uncommon to find university club members or even company employees "reserving places" before a celebration... sometimes days before the actual event.
Kamogawa is one of the most famous rivers in Kyoto, crossing the city North-South. It's usually possible to find couples along its banks and it has good places for hanami as well.
Kyoto Gosho has guided tours and it opens its doors twice a year, one of them being during spring. Unfortunately, I couldn't enter (went on a different day), but the public place also has beautiful places all around.
Daigo-ji is also one of the famous places to see sakura in Kyoto. And, really, it's well worth the visit!! There's an area that only opens during spring (and maybe fall) and even a place to enjoy sakura while sitting and drinking tea... Be warned that it's a little far away from downtown, though.
Momoyama-jo is more used as a park nowadays as many families from the neighborhood go there. Or that's the impression I had. Another option away from the center, but it's not so easy to find the path from the station... Maybe it's just me...
Ninna-ji is another of the places that weren't in full bloom yet... Pity, because there seems to be a place that looks beautiful in full bloom...
Well, and after going to Momoyama-jo I was missing Himeji-jo. So I decided to go to Himeji for something I hadn't seen yet: Yozakura (night view of cherry blossoms) at the castle. With a group that mixed old and new friends from Himeji and friends from Kyoto (ok, I won't forget Takatsuki... ^^) I went there for the last sakura hunting of the year.
Crowded as expected, but maybe not so crowded as Kyoto might have been on the same day. Still, it was a scene I have never seen, even though I've lived for almost one year in Himeji; and with good company after going solo to all the previous places. Nice ending to the first spring I spent entirely in Japan...
To avoid making this post too large, I limited the number of pictures. Those who want to see some more, check my Picasa album.
2 comments:
muito bom o guia igao!!!
Vou ler com calma em casa! Só vi as fotos e li o comecinho do post, mas parece interessante!
Sempre lembro de passar no seu blog aqui, Igor!=)
A gente se fala! Fica esperto que qualquer dia desses eu te mando um e-mail pra gente trocar umas idéias, ok?
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