Here’s a look at the cherry blossoms (Somei Yoshino) around Ashiya City, photographed yesterday, April 5〜
Kawanishi-cho: Sakura-dori and the Cherry Tree-Lined Naruo-Mikage Line
↑The west side of the Naruo-Mikage Line was especially quick to bloom, and it looked almost in full bloom〜
↑The branches hang fairly low too, so it’s fun to take photos here〜
↑It’s finally starting to feel like we can enjoy cherry blossom viewing, which is exciting!
↑It really feels like spring has arrived!
↑However, the cherry trees along Sakura-dori (Kawanishi-cho) still looked about half in bloom?〜
↑This side of the Naruo-Mikage Line also looked around half in bloom, maybe?
↑But some trees looked nearly in full bloom〜
↑Flowers blooming directly from the trunk like this are cute too, aren’t they?
↑Why not have fun photographing all kinds of cherry blossoms?〜
Omasu-cho: Cherry Blossoms at Omasu Park
↑From a distance, the cherry blossoms at Omasu Park looked about half to 70% in bloom?
↑But once you got under the trees, they were blooming enough to fully enjoy hanami〜
↑As you gaze at the flowers, the voices of children playing in the park and the chirping of sparrows are so soothing〜
↑It seems the sparrows are drinking the nectar from the flowers, though, and the blossoms are dropping to the ground one after another… so it might be best to go see them before too many fall〜
Chayanomachi: Cherry Tree-Lined Chaya Sakura-dori
↑Chaya Sakura-dori is also starting to look quite close to full bloom〜!
↑Especially in the area with lots of shops on the north side, it felt almost fully in bloom!〜
↑The branches hang low here too, so it looks easy to take great photos〜
↑It’s later than usual this year, but we can finally enjoy the cherry blossom tunnel!
Miyazuka-cho: Cherry Blossoms at Miyazuka Park
↑The cherry blossoms at Miyazuka Park might also be pretty close to full bloom〜
↑Branches stretching out over the sidewalk create a little cherry blossom tunnel〜
↑We also got to enjoy the combination of fading almond blossoms and nearly full-bloom cherry blossoms!
Koumitsu-cho: Cherry Blossoms at Koumitsu Park
↑The cherry blossoms at Koumitsu Park were also blooming beautifully, roughly in full bloom〜!
↑These full, beautiful cherry blossoms even spill out beyond the fence〜
Along the Ashiya River: Cherry Blossoms on Narihira Sakura-dori
↑The cherry blossoms along the Ashiya River, which are blooming a little later, have also reached about half to 80% bloom〜!
↑Tomorrow, April 7 (Sunday), the “Ashiya Sakura Festival” will be held around this area〜
↑The cherry blossoms at dusk have such a nice atmosphere〜
↑It’s easy to get completely captivated by the beauty of the blossoms〜
↑Along the Ashiya River, there are cafes with terrace seating such as “Terrace Daniel” and “Casa Bellini,” so if you get tired while strolling around the cherry blossoms, it would be nice to take a tea break and enjoy hanami from there!
↑On the east bank of the Ashiya River, the night cherry blossom light-up begins after sunset!
↑With the light-up, you can enjoy a whole different look of the cherry blossoms〜
↑The atmosphere keeps changing depending on the time of day and the weather!
↑The flowers change day by day as they bloom, so you can’t take your eyes off them〜
↑Under the illuminated cherry blossoms, several hanami gatherings were taking place! Nighttime cherry blossom viewing is lovely too〜
Finally
When we photographed them on April 2, we were a little worried, thinking, “Huh? Are they blooming less than expected?” But over just the past two days or so, the blossoms have progressed quite a lot!
At tomorrow’s “Ashiya Sakura Festival,” it looks like visitors will be able to enjoy cherry blossoms in full bloom! Hope it’s a lively one〜!
