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.

Minami Shinshu weekend outing info 🚗💨 The katakuri (dogtooth violet) at Katakuri no Sato in Oosegi, Iida City, is in full bloom! A pale purple carpet stretches as far as the eye can see — a once-in-a-season spectacle. It’s perfect for photos 📸✨️ Plus! On Sunday, April 12, the Katakuri Festival will take place. Come enjoy a spring stroll with family and friends. ⁡ 📸: Friday, April 3, 2026 📍 Katakuri no Sato (2609-27 Oosegi, Iida City, Nagano Prefecture) Best time to visit: Now in peak bloom! Event: Katakuri Festival on Sunday, April 12 ※ Sakura-sama Cherry Blossom Festival held at the same time! ※ Check Minami Shinshu Navi for details 👀

A spring scene in Reihoku: a photo of the cherry blossoms along the regional agricultural road! They looked to be in full bloom last weekend, but some may still remain. If you pass by, be sure to take a look! 📍 Location: Northern regional agricultural road on Amakusa Shimojima (the Reihoku to Amakusa City area) If you’ve driven this way before or think it’s beautiful, tell us in the comments 🌸

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

Photographed on April 4, 2026. This is LEC COFFEE’s Sakura × Espresso Latte and a matcha Basque cheesecake topped with sakura.

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

This week's cherry blossom viewing guide! Cherry blossom bloom report from April 5th to April 6th🌸 1. Chausuyama Dinosaur Park Entrance At the entrance of Chausuyama Dinosaur Park, about 80 cherry trees line the embankment. During full bloom, you can enjoy a tunnel of cherry blossoms. The varieties include Somei Yoshino and Higan Zakura. Cherry blossoms also bloom within the Chausuyama Mallett Golf Course. 【Bloom Status】Full bloom *Photo taken on April 6th 【Location】2358 Shinonoi Okada, Nagano City 【Parking】Available 2. Kourinji Temple There is a weeping cherry tree approximately 300 years old, and you can also enjoy Somei Yoshino. Many people are photographing the splendid cherry blossoms and the temple. 【Bloom Status】Full bloom *Photo taken on April 6th 【Location】2329 Komatsubara, Shinonoi, Nagano City 【Parking】Available 3. Matsushiro Castle Ruins Matsushiro Castle, the residence of the Sanada clan. About 100 cherry trees bloom beautifully in the castle's Edo-period space! 【Cherry Blossom Light Up】April 4th (Saturday) to April 13th (Monday) 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM 【Bloom Status】Full bloom *Photo taken on April 6th 【Location】44 Matsushiro, Matsushiro-machi, Nagano City 【Parking】Available City-operated Donomachi Tourist Parking: 7 large buses, 50 regular cars, 2 disabled spots Matsushiro Castle North Parking (north side of Matsushiro Castle, 5-minute walk): 10 large buses, 60 regular cars, 2 disabled spots 4. Kawanakajima Battlefield Historic Park This is a famous battlefield known for the battles between Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin. A cherry blossom viewing spot with about 100 Somei Yoshino trees! 【Cherry Blossom Light Up】After blooming to April 11th (Saturday) 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM 【Bloom Status】Full bloom *Photo taken on April 6th 【Location】1384-1 Oshimada, Nagano City 【Parking】Available (Expect congestion in the park's parking lot. Please refrain from unauthorized parking at nearby facilities.) 5. Shiroyama Park This is one of Nagano City's top cherry blossom spots located next to Zenkoji, with about 470 Somei Yoshino trees in full bloom. The cherry blossom tunnel during full bloom is very beautiful! 【Bloom Status】Full bloom *Photo taken on April 5th 【Location】Hakoshimizu, Nagano City 【Parking】Available First parking lot (155 spaces), second parking lot (123 spaces), third parking lot (155 spaces) 100 yen for the first 20 minutes + 100 yen added every 20 minutes *Those using the park or zoo with a Nagano City Childcare Passport can park for free for up to 2 hours 6. Saijo Mountain One of the "100 Sunset Points of Shinshu." It is also known as a cherry blossom spot. During the 4th Kawanakajima battle, the Uesugi army camped at the top of this mountain on the southern bank of the Chikuma River, watching Shingen's movements. 【Bloom Status】Full bloom *Photo taken on April 6th 【Location】Iwano, Matsushiro-machi, Nagano City 【Parking】Available *Due to the narrow road from the Saijo Mountain Observatory entrance to the observatory, large vehicles cannot pass. *The "Nagano Tourism Net" web page is currently sharing cherry blossom bloom information for Nagano City! 🌸Please make use of this for your cherry blossom viewing!🌸 #Cherry blossom #Cherry blossom viewing #Bloom #Nagano City #Nagano tourism

Azumino Cherry Blossom Update The cherry trees at Ryugamonbuchi Park in Akeina are about 80% in bloom Still, with a forecast for summer-like temperatures today, they might reach full bloom… It’s a pleasant park. Visit with a picnic spirit!!

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

April 6th Spring has arrived in Azumino, and plants are bursting into new growth all at once!! Wasabi flowers, cherry blossoms, and even the ridges… After a long winter, Azumino is at its most radiant right now♪

April 5th Azumino Cherry Blossom Update The Hyakuraku Cherry tree in front of the Yukio Tabuchi Memorial Museum is in full bloom This is an Edo-higan cherry, and its pale pink petals are beautiful!!

April 4th Azumino Cherry Blossom Report The weeping cherry tree at Anyouzan Seigenji Temple, located along the foothill road in Azumino, has begun to bloom Two large weeping cherry trees stand beyond the moss-covered approach This Soto Zen temple is also notable in summer for the lotus flowers beside the temple grounds!!

April 4th Azumino Cherry Blossom Report The weeping cherry tree at Hodakasan Soutokuji Temple near hotaka station in Azumino is in full bloom!! You can also enjoy a zazen meditation experience here♪ For details, check the official site of the Azumino Tourism Association

Photographed on April 4, 2026. This is LEC COFFEE’s matcha Basque cheesecake with cherry blossom topping. It smells of cherry blossoms. 😊🍵🌸

Would you like to visit Komu during Golden Week? At the Forest Museum Komu, we are holding the Golden Week Festival again this year🎉 The festival runs for three days from Sunday, May 3 to Tuesday, May 5. Activities change each day! - May 3 (Sun) Naruko (wooden clapper) workshop 🪚 These are the naruko used by dancers in the Yosakoi Festival. You will use a coping saw and hammer to make them, so please participate with a guardian. ① 11:00 AM / ② 1:30 PM Duration: about 30 minutes Capacity: 4 groups per session Fee: 500 yen; register on the day Location: Komu woodwork room - May 4 (Mon) 11:00 AM – Kihako Live♪ Location: Kim no Shima Kihako, who visited Komu in December 2024, returns! They plan to perform children’s songs and original pieces. You’re sure to be enchanted by Kihako’s gentle tones. - May 5 (Tue) Setoushi-kun coloring experience 🖍️ We offer several coloring sheets featuring Nishiokoppe Village’s character Setoushi-kun. The first 100 children (ages 3 to elementary school) will receive an original Setoushi-kun crayon as a gift! ① 10:00 AM–12:00 PM / ② 1:00 PM–2:00 PM A coloring area will be set up somewhere inside the Komu building. Entry and exit are free, so feel free to join anytime. - We look forward to your visit. - Forest Museum Komu Opening hours: 10:00 AM–5:00 PM Closed: every Tuesday *During Golden Week the museum is open through Wednesday, May 6. It will be closed on Thursday, May 7. Admission fees: High school and older: 500 yen 4th grade to middle school: 300 yen Ages 3 to 3rd grade: 100 yen Under 3: free Inquiries: 0158-87-2600 #Forest Museum Komu #GW Festival #Komu

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.

Photographed on April 4, 2014. This is LEC COFFEE’s Cherry Blossom × Espresso Latte. It features espresso, milk, and cherry blossom sauce, topped with cherry blossom chocolate. The latte art shaped like a cherry tree is truly lovely. 😊☕️🌸

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.