Cherry blossoms in Yoshino, Nara. A thousand trees and a palm are beautiful.

Cherry blossoms in Yoshino, Nara. The view is superb!

Cherry blossoms in Yoshino, Nara. The wooden stairs and cherry blossoms are emotional.

Cherry blossoms in Yoshino, Nara. The contrast with the fresh green is beautiful.

Kinpusanji Temple in Yoshino, Nara Prefecture. The curtain fluttering in the wind is dramatic!

Beautiful stone pavement surrounded by the earthen wall of Nigatsu-do in Nara Prefecture. The cherry blossoms invite you to a quiet world.

Cherry blossoms in Nara Park. The backlight is also impressive!

Cherry blossoms in front of Mt. Wakakusa in Nara Park. Dramatic cherry blossom blizzard!

Cherry blossoms in front of Mt. Wakakusa in Nara Park. The deer will pose for you!

Koriyama cherry blossoms at the ruins of Koriyama Castle in Yamatokoriyama City, Nara Prefecture, which have been selected as one of the Japan"100 best cherry blossom spots". About 800 cherry trees are planted, and you can overlook the cherry blossoms of the castle ruins from the castle tower observatory.

Koriyama cherry blossoms spread out in front of the ruins of Koriyama Castle in Yamatokoriyama City, Nara Prefecture. The view from the window of the Kintetsu train is superb.

Senbonzakura on the banks of the Takada River in Yamatotakada City, Nara Prefecture. It heals the heart.

Senbonzakura on the banks of the Takada River in Yamatotakada City, Nara Prefecture. The view from the window of the Kintetsu train is superb.

Senbonzakura on the banks of the Takada River in Yamatotakada City, Nara Prefecture. The fantastic tunnel you look up at is superb.

Senbonzakura on the banks of the Takada River in Yamatotakada City, Nara Prefecture. The view from the window of the Kintetsu train is superb.

It is the Yasaka Shrine West Tower Gate where you can see the scenery of Kyoto Shijo Street. It is a road that leads from a shrine that is over a thousand years old to Kyoto's largest downtown area.

This is the entrance of Maruyama Park. Maruyama Park is a green space famous for its outdoor music hall, statues, and colorful cherry blossoms that bloom according to the season.

It is a figure of Kyoto Shinsho Gokurakuji Temple with a quiet landscape. This old Buddhist temple is famous for its autumn foliage and spring cherry blossom viewing.

It is a figure of Kyoto Shinsho Gokurakuji Temple with a quiet landscape.

It is a quiet residential area located around Kyoto Philosopher's Road.

Honkoji Temple in Kyoto with cherry blossoms in full bloom. It is located in a quiet residential area, so you can enjoy spring in a quiet atmosphere.

Bird’s-eye view Cropped ✂ vertical composition

It was Mt. Yoshino under a cloudy sky. Cropped ✂ vertical composition

The other day (around mid-April), I photographed the flowers of the otome camellia (otome tsubaki) in the Mt. Rokko of Kobe. This Mt. Rokko area has been designated as the Setonaikai National Park and has been a suitable place for recreation and summer retreat since the Meiji era. Mountain villas and recreation centers have been built here and there in the mountains, and there are sightseeing spots such as Rokko Ranch, which is inspired by a mountain ranch in Switzerland, and Arima Onsen, which is counted as one of the three famous springs of pillow grass. The mountains opened by foreigners in the Kobe Settlement have many katakana names such as Cascade Valley (a valley of many small waterfalls) and Twenty Cross (20 mountain trails), recalling the history of foreigners opening the mountain. By the way, this time the otome camellia was taken at the place of the Japanese name, Otter Pond in Viper Valley. Aside from the Mt. Rokko area where many names from the Edo period remain, such as the Shojo Pond introduced here last year, Otter Pond is ... I wonder if the pond used to be full of otters, and I still look around for signs. The camellia blooming season is almost over, but now the azalea flowers are brightly colored all over the driveway. Animals and plants are rich in nature, Mt. Rokko how about ? hiking?

At Kujinji Temple, Nara Prefecture. Moss-fumigated approach.

The morning sun shines from the fresh green of spring... Mt. Rokko in Kobe has been redressed! !! The photo is a morning scene taken near the ridge of the Omote Rokko Driveway in mid-April. I climbed the hill on a road bike, but it was a pleasant cycling that felt moderately sweaty (I climbed slowly). Mt. Rokko was opened as a leisure mountain by foreigners in the Meiji era, and Arthur Herkes Groom, who built the first mountain villa, is called the "founder of Mt. Rokko." The first mountain villa was built at a place called Mikuni Pond after climbing the driveway in the photo to the ridge. From there, foreigners and Japan people built mountain villas one after another, forming a village. It seems that there are no mountain villas left from that time now, but you can still see many recreation centers of various companies in the vicinity. Even if you actually climb on a road bike, you can meet foxes, raccoons, woodpeckers, squirrels, moles and monkeys, and you can feel that you have come to nature in a different world from the city. How about ? forest bathing for a mental retreat this spring?

Arashiden Ryoanji Station with cherry blossoms in full bloom. There are many famous cherry blossom spots along the Arashiden Line, and many tourists visit here in spring. You can enjoy cherry blossom viewing with the tranquil scenery of Kyoto in the background.

★ The 16th COOL JAPAN VIDEOS Photo Contest is currently being ★ held under the theme of "Sightseeing spots Japan to visit in spring" We look forward to receiving many applications from you! This time, we will introduce the post of "Penter"! It is a piece that captures the vivid Kasuga Grand Shrine and spring pattern. Kasuga Taisha Shrine, located in Nara City, Nara Prefecture, is the general headquarters of Kasuga Taisha Shrine nationwide, which is registered as a World Heritage Site. Benefits include marital harmony, good luck, and marriage. There are many highlights unique to Kasuga Grand Shrine such as "deer lottery" and "shamoji dedication". About 300 species of plants are planted in the "Kasuga Taisha Manba Botanical Garden" in the precincts, and beautiful wisteria blooms in spring. ◆Kasuga Grand Shrine◆ 【Address】〒630-8212 Nara-ken, Nara-shi, Kasugano-cho 160 【Access】 From JR Yamato Line / Kintetsu Nara Line "Nara Station", take the Nara Kotsu Bus for about 15 minutes→ get off at "Kasuga Taisha Shrine Honden" immediately 【Parking lot】Available (charged: 100 cars for buses and cars)

This is the scenery of Kyoto Arashiyama with cherry blossoms in full bloom. I was able to see citizens enjoying the warm sunshine on a spring day.

This is the scenery of Kyoto Arashiyama with cherry blossoms in full bloom. I was able to see citizens enjoying the warm sunshine on a spring day.