Yesterday, April 5, we went to the “Ashiya Sakura Festival,” “Hanami Picnic,” and “Former Miyazuka-cho Residence Renewal Event”.
Along the Ashiya River: “38th Ashiya Sakura Festival”
↑The venue and the surrounding area were packed again this year.
↑Of course, the areas in front of the food stalls were extremely crowded!
↑You can really see how crowded it was from the opposite bank of the Ashiya River.
↑The lines for each stall were incredible, too!
↑There was a wide range of unique stalls, from classic festival foods to stylish Ashiya-style offerings and dishes made with specialties from around Hyogo Prefecture.
↑Matsunouchi Ryokuchi, where the stage events had been held until last year, had become an area mainly featuring festival games for children.
↑The cherry blossom-lined path north of the “Ashiya Sakura Festival” venue was also quite crowded, so the sidewalk had been temporarily expanded and traffic control was in place.
↑Although it was outside the festival venue, there were also several stalls in front of “Ashiya Palais Elegance.” The baby stroller and pet cart store “Nuna Baby & Tavo Pets Ashiya” had opened the day before, and they were handing out balloons.
↑There were also lots of people enjoying hanami along the Ashiya River and in nearby parks, making the most of a perfect Sunday for cherry blossom viewing.
Chaya Sakura-dori: “Hanami Picnic”
↑On Chaya Sakura-dori, an event called “Hanami Picnic” was held, turning the road into a pedestrian zone for one day only and covering it with artificial grass.
↑There were lots of stalls run by nearby shops and businesses!
↑The “Kids Dream Stalls,” planned and operated by children, were lively as well.
↑On a road where you normally can’t stroll this leisurely, everyone enjoyed a once-a-year experience, taking commemorative photos and relaxing under the cherry blossoms.
Former Miyazuka-cho Residence “Renewal Event”
↑At the “Former Miyazuka-cho Residence” in Miyazuka-cho, a renewal opening event was being held.
↑The event showcased the “Former Miyazuka-cho Residence,” which had been renovated since last October, with 7 of its 8 shops replaced.
↑Each shop hosted events such as workshops, exhibitions, and tea gatherings.
↑There was also a marché held on the grounds, selling bread, sweets, drinks, plants, and more!
It looks like marché events will continue to be held occasionally at the “Former Miyazuka-cho Residence.” It’ll be exciting to discover shops you wouldn’t normally come across!
Finally
The rain from the previous day had stopped, the cherry blossoms were opening beautifully, and Sunday turned out to be just the right kind of day for hanami. All three events in Ashiya City were bustling, and even outside the event venues, many people were out enjoying cherry blossom viewing and shopping.
