The Plum Blossom Festival is now in progress at Kairakeun, one of Japan's three great gardens. About 3,000 plum trees of about 100 varieties are planted in the vast garden, and the feature is that you can enjoy the plum blossoms for a long period, with early blooming, middle blooming, and late blooming. Currently, 70% of flowers are bloomed. Beautiful night illumination also happened last weekend.

Today’s 2nd recommended place is yokohama . This gorgeous city has all those things that can attract any traveler. It has magnificent skyline, green and beautiful gardens, historical places and museum, amusement destinations, shopping areas and what not! and a great ocean beauty too. This port city has variety things to offer. But the best part of it is to enjoy the sunset from the deck area while the sky changes its color and city lights blinks like stars.

My today’s recommended place is Kawagoe’s Shingashi river side cherry blossom viewing spot. Though this place is really very close to #tokyo yet very few travellers actually know about this place. I’m not telling that it is a offbeat destination but not as much popular as it should be. Beautiful cherry blossom tree both side of the river and the falling petals all over the water made it so beautiful. Just imagine a boatride on a river of petals. surely it would be a unforgettable experience.

It's as if God has descended Saw the sight. Location Torii ⛩ gate of Kamiso

[English/Japanese] The most famous gourmet cuisine in Hachioji is ramen. So well known among ramen fans that a style called Hachioji Ramen even exists, it differs from other ramen by using a generous amount of onions in the broth. In Nishi Hachioji, there is a Hachioji Ramen shop called Goemon that often has a line. It is a three-minute walk from Nishi Hachioji Station, so it is very close to the school. I tried it for the first time the other day! True to Hachioji Ramen, it was a very tasty bowl with the sweet flavor of onion. The international students at the Japanese language school love ramen. Some male students in particular eat it every day, to the point that it is one reason they gain weight. By the way, many female students tend to gain weight from eating bread. Hachioji’s most famous gourmet is ramen. So well known that there is a type called "Hachioji Ramen," it is familiar among ramen lovers. Unlike other ramen, Hachioji Ramen uses a large amount of onions in the soup. In Nishi Hachioji there is a popular Hachioji Ramen restaurant called Goemon that draws queues. It is a three-minute walk from Nishi Hachioji Station, so it is very close to the school. I tried it for the first time the other day! It was a very delicious ramen with the sweet taste of onion, just like Hachioji Ramen. The international students at the Japanese language school really like ramen. Especially male students sometimes eat it every day, which is one reason they gain weight. (By the way, many female students tend to gain weight from bread.)

Spring in Japan means cities surrounded by rows of cherry blossom trees, but whenever we imagine we think about light pink or white flowers and their fragile petals fluttering in the breeze. But these dark pink cherry blossoms are also gorgeous and they bloom much before than common sakura. These flowers are called Kawazu zakura and you can see this grand view if you visit this town from late Feb to early march.

After photographing the sea of clouds at Mt. Daikan When I jumped into the sea of clouds, it was ⛩ a different world. From 📷 Lake Ashi

Mt. Fuji seen at sunset from Manase Port in Hayama over Sagami Bay. On a sunny evening, Mount Fuji seen from this place really looks golden and large.

A rocky area near Hayama and Chojagasaki. The sunset just before setting and the reflection in the puddle are beautiful. For a moment, it feels like it's not Japan, but there are many places like this near the city center.

The moment when the blue sky is reflected in the lake of Moominvalley Park and the world expands.

You can also see Decca Mt. Fuji from Tokyo.

Shin-Okubo at nightfall

Hie shrine is a very popular tourist spot in Tokyo metropolitan nagatacho area. The god enshrined here is believed to be guardian deity of the Tokugawa family. Just outside the temple area there are several torii gates which looks very beautiful. So, my today's recommended travel spot is Hie shrine.

A stone step festival held every other year at Atago Shrine in Tokyo. The scene of carrying a mikoshi down the steep stone steps is truly a masterpiece!

My today's recommended tourist spot is Fukaya green park. Cherry blossom season is coming soon and here I want to recommended this place. The overall area of the park is not very large but its well organized. A combination of tulip and cherry blossom can be seen here at the same time.

Today's place is 昭和記念公園. Spring is one of the best times here in Japan. In Tokyo, this park is the perfect place to find almost all kinds of spring flowers.

Tomorrow, February 22nd, is Cat Day. So, I would like to introduce one place related to cats. It is Gotokuji Temple located in Setagaya Ward. Gotokuji Temple is the birthplace of Maneki-neko. There are many beckoning cats. If you have time, please go. Nearest Station Setagaya Line Miyanosaka Odakyu Line Gotokuji

[English／日本語] Tomorrow, February 22, is Cat Day. As previously mentioned, Hachioji is also a cat-friendly town. There are shelter cat cafes around Hachioji Station and nishi hachioji station. There are also many cats in the Hanamachi area, which I introduced earlier, and they are loved by the locals. Today we will introduce you to "shutters with cats painted on them" in Hachioji, the first of which is located in Hanamachi. The second one is a Nepalese curry restaurant located a 2-minute walk from nishi hachioji station. Both have great designs! Tomorrow, February 22, is Cat Day. As mentioned before, Hachioji is a cat-friendly town. There are shelter cat cafes near hachioji station and nishi hachioji station. The Hanamachi area I introduced earlier is also home to many cats loved by locals. Today I will introduce shutters painted with cats in Hachioji. The first is in Hanamachi. The second is a Nepalese curry shop a two-minute walk from nishi hachioji station. Both have lovely designs!

It is the cherry blossom of Kodama District, Saitama Prefecture, "Kodama Senbon Sakura". It is famous in the northern part of Saitama Prefecture. Beautiful cherry blossoms bloom every year. I'm looking forward to it again this year.

I took this photo at "Aqua Park Shinagawa" near Shinagawa Station in Tokyo! !! I visited to take pictures with a friend from the photography club. A dolphin parade is being held, and dolphins fly coolly in time with the light and sound. There is no doubt that you will be attracted by the cuteness and coolness of the dolphins!!! In addition to the parade, you can also see a jungle zone and sea animals such as penguins, seals, otters, and sharks! Please visit when you go to Shinagawa Station!

It is a building near Nogizaka Station in Tokyo. I was attracted by the buildings and the blue sky that made me feel like I was abroad, so I clicked the shutter. To change your mood a little, it is recommended to look up at the sky.

This is a night view photo taken from Manhattan Hills already closed of the Odakyu Department Store main store. There is Tokyo Mode Gakuen in front and there is a bus stop on the Four Main Line.

My today's recommendation is Hakone. From where one can see several things, like lake ashi, mount fuji, owakudani volcano and many more. But I thing the best part is ridding the pirate ship over the lake ashi and enjoy the breath taking view of mount Fuji from the lake and also the view of Heiwa no torii. This red color torii gate is very famous tourist spot in Hakone.

This photo was taken when I went on a trip to Hakone on New Year's Day. I took this photo in front of Yumoto Fujiya Hotel, at Hydrangea Bridge. Kanagawa Hakone

[English/Japanese] The other day I had lunch at Hokkaido Soup Curry Workshop Seven West, a three-minute walk from Nishi Hachioji Station. I chose the mild curry, but it was surprisingly spicy and offered a complex blend of spices. The best part was the bone-in chicken, cooked until it fell apart at the slightest touch of chopsticks. Most of the students enrolled at our school come from Southeast Asia. Nearly every one of their countries has a version of “curry.” When I show them how to make Japanese home-style curry, they are surprised at how different it is from what they know. They are even more amazed to learn that, within Japan, there is another style called Hokkaido curry. The other day I had lunch at Hokkaido Soup Curry Workshop Seven West, a 3-minute walk from Nishi-Hachioji Station. I chose the sweet curry, but it was quite spicy and I could taste a variety of spices. The chicken on the bone, which was cooked so well that it fell apart when touched with chopsticks, was the best part. Most of the students enrolled in our school are from Southeast Asia. Almost all of them have "curry" in their countries. When I show the students how to make Japanese home-style curry, they are surprised at how different it is from their own country. And they are even more surprised when they learn that there is another type of curry in the same country, Hokkaido Curry!

Kanagawa's Jogashima island is a great weekend destination. The view from the island is beautiful but during the sunset hour the views are outstanding and scenic. It is hard to select one out of them. Till I select this one where the light house is the prime object. I remember when the sun almost set down and I was crossing this place the dramatic sky behind the light house made the view so thrilling.

It is a local sunset view. It is a piece after rain.

Statue of Nio at Sensoji Temple in Asakusa

Shibuya at night in cyberpunk. As Shibuya development progresses in the future, it will become more and more futuristic. I shot while imagining such things. Also, because Shibuya has many IT companies, I thought that the cyberpunk atmosphere would be a good match. The scramble crossing is always lively. I guess it will become more and more Shibuya and futuristic from now on. I'm really looking forward to that.

This time I want to recommend Kawagoe. This small town of kawagoe is known as condo little edo because till now this place offers the old days feeling. Its kind of time traveling. A great experience indeed. Yesterday I went once again because I was hoping to see another interesting part of this place and I was right. It looks like a place coming out of fairytale.