I visited Osaka Prefecture and Expo Commemoration Park. The cherry blossoms, canola flowers, and tulips in the Japanese-style garden against the blue sky were beautiful in spring colors, and everyone visiting seemed to be having a great time. The Tower of the Sun also shouted, 'Art is an explosion!' (I don't really know though...)

Tsubosaka-dera Temple's Sakura Daibutsu April 4, 2026 It was rainy, so there were reflections. This time, parking at Tsubosaka-dera was completely reservation-based, eliminating traffic, and we were able to smoothly reach the parking lot at the reserved time.

Matsuyama Castle in Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture An airplane takes off just behind Matsuyama Castle, where cherry blossoms bloom in spring. The Seto Inland Sea spreads out behind, creating a beautiful moment.

Photographed on April 1, 2014. This is Homarezakura along the Shingashi River, behind Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine.

Spring Has Arrived This is a view of Suijin Shrine from the back. It looked beautiful no matter which angle I saw it from~~♪

Peeking at Spring I took a quick peek at the cherry blossoms on Nakasu, a short walk from Suijin Shrine.

It is precisely because of the cloudy sky that the delicate pink of the cherry blossoms stands out 🌸 the deep green of the willows 🌳 their reflections on the water seem to weave a story…

[Fukushima’s Peach Blossom Paradise] This is "MtHanamiyama" in Fukushima. It is private land owned by an individual, but it is open to the public and feels as if you are in a utopian peach-blossom land.

Mannen-zan Ankokuji Temple is located in Oodaracho, Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture. A large weeping cherry tree on the temple grounds was lit up, and its reflection in the water spread across the stone path at the gate, creating a very magical scene. (୨୧❛ᴗ❛)📷🌸

Spring that seems within reach but never quite arrives. When you stretch out your hand it feels close enough to touch, yet it seems it would spill away the moment you did. I quietly preserved this fleeting moment.

Spring arrives quietly in Toyama… not with noise, but with fresh breath. In the blue hour, when day surrenders to night, the cherry blossom avenue awakens in soft golden light. Lanterns glow gently beneath blooming canopies, and people walk slowly, as if afraid to disturb the moment. Behind it all, the snow-capped Tateyama Range stands in silent majesty — timeless, unmoving, watching spring unfold below. The mountains hold the last light of the evening, their white peaks glowing softly against the deepening sky. In the foreground, the lake refuses stillness. Wind brushes across its surface, rippling reflections of blossoms and lights into fleeting fragments. The air turns colder after sunset, and yet the warmth of spring lingers in every step, every breath, every quiet glance. This photograph captures the delicate balance of spring — warmth and chill, movement and stillness, fleeting beauty and eternal mountains. A moment where nature whispers, and time gently pauses.

The Great Cherry Blossom Buddha at Tsubosaka-dera Temple It was a day of on-and-off rain, but I enjoyed the cherry trees in full bloom. The cherry blossoms looked beautiful lit up at night. At Tsubosaka-dera Temple, there was a temporary observation platform—apparently only for this season—that let visitors enjoy views of the Cherry Blossom Buddha. I’m grateful for it. This year, the parking lot required a full reservation in advance.

Farewell came on a warm day. On my graduation day, I hugged my beloved teacher tightly and tears unexpectedly overflowed. Feelings of gratitude, a touch of sadness, and the excitement for what lies ahead. My teacher gently took in all the things I had held close in my small arms. When spring arrives, I feel like I’ll encounter this kind of warmth again. #Photo Contest #Spring #Spring in Japan #A Child’s Growth #Thank You

Twin Arch 138 with the morning glow and a row of cherry trees The hazy morning sun painted the scene in a soft orange light. Ichinomiya City, Aichi Prefecture April 4, 2026

On April 3, on the second day of a business trip to Toyama, I stopped by Matsukawa, where the cherry trees were in full bloom, just before returning home to Chiba. The setting sun sank into the valley lined with cherry trees covering Matsukawa, blending with the blossoms to create a mysterious gradient. Moved by the fleeting changes in the light, I kept pressing the shutter.

Having studied in Japan for two years, I visited Chidorigafuchi for the first time and met the night cherry blossoms for the first time as well. Under the lights, the sakura no longer seemed merely soft in daylight; they quietly glowed in the night like stars overhead. Layers of blossoms reflected on the water as small boats drifted through, and time itself seemed to slow. In that moment, I only wanted to keep this tranquil, flowing spring in my memory.

In Japan there is a ceremony called omiyamairi in which people pray at a Shinto shrine for a baby’s healthy growth. Since it takes place about one month after birth, it is not limited to spring, but my grandchild born last November had their omiyamairi in March after several postponements when the weather warmed. Held by my wife, the child’s paternal grandmother, the baby received a blessing from the Shinto priest. On the same day we also celebrated the older sister’s Shichi-Go-San, for which she was dressed up. It is rare for grandparents from both the father’s and mother’s sides to gather, so we had a catered meal at our son’s home. The children’s bento was especially lavish. In rural Japan, these old-fashioned customs still remain.

I gave up on the famous cherry blossom spot a ten-minute drive away because its parking lot was full, so I took photos along an ordinary roadside on the way back home. In Japan, spring means cherry trees line the streets everywhere, not just at famous sites.

At a park near Mount Fuji filled with blooming flowers, I took photos with my wife and our beloved dog. It was extremely crowded, and I contracted COVID-19 after returning home, but since it became a pleasant spring memory, I’m okay with it 🤣

[Spring Stop] Cherry blossoms in full bloom decorated the stops (stations) along the TodenArakawaLine (Tokyo Sakura Tram). The tram offers an all-day ticket for just 400 yen, making it very affordable, and there are many sights to see from Minowa Station to Waseda Station. Lately I have been photographing it as a lifelong project. At night, when the nightscape takes over, the overhead wires seem to disappear and a different scene appears.

"Spring Reflections" This is Suijin Shrine in Toride. A little promontory juts out by the river, creating a postcard-perfect scene.

Spring Corridor This is Shimizu Park in Chiba. It is famous for its field athletics course, and in spring cherry blossoms and yamamomo (Japanese bayberry) bloom in profusion, creating a beautiful scene. The autumn foliage is also striking.

The cherry trees in the garden of the Sakura no Mon Elderly Center bloomed every time. Two cherry trees welcomed us like a gate.

"To the ends of the earth! To the ends of the earth!" Along the nearby Edogawa embankment, fields of rapeseed flowers stretch for many kilometers each spring, dressing the banks in yellow. Many people visit on holidays to take commemorative photos. The blooms last a long time, so please come by if you can~~♪

The soft breeze swayed the fields of spring color stretching as far as the eye could see. It was a scene that made me pause, a sight like that. I was captivated by the gentle hues spreading across this lovely world. 🌸🌷

This photo was taken at Kansui Park in Toyama on April 2, when I traveled to Toyama on a business trip. It feels like a scene from somewhere that isn’t quite a photograph.

Meguro River Night cherry blossoms and the Meguro River, lit crimson by lanterns. The cherry trees in full bloom are still vibrant. In a week, the river will take center stage as petals drift like a floating raft of flowers.

Sumida Park A row of cherry trees at dusk caught my eye, and I stopped at a particularly dark patch among them. Looking more closely, countless pigeons perched on a black tree of twisted branches, with no flowers or leaves. At first glance, it was a little bit like a horror scene. Beneath my feet, fresh green shoots; above, a canopy of pink cherry blossoms; in the distance, the Skytree gleaming in the sunset—and so many pigeons. Although the composition should have felt lively, the image took on an eerie quality, producing a strangely contrasting shot.

Shinobazu-ike Bentendo Temple After the rain, the sky is a striking blue. The cherry trees around Shinobazu Pond are blooming a little later than elsewhere in Tokyo; many blossoms that withstood the wind and rain remain as buds, so they are about 90 percent in bloom. Though the spring breeze shakes the branches, the petals remain strong and vibrant. It’s a scene of spring in full bloom.

Kawayu Onsen website 'News' updated 📝🆙 We introduce the Lake Mashu Ice Formation Project for fiscal 2025 and an ice formation forecast report‼︎ Please take a look✨ ※Teshikaga Town Promotion Corporation runs an annual Lake Mashu ice formation forecast campaign. This year’s campaign has ended. Please consider joining next year. https://www.kawayu-onsen.com/news/1134/...