Sakura -- just in the nick of time!

I was afraid I'd have to leave before seeing a good sakura show.  Yesterday, I used an app to find a spot that had almost full bloom.  Yes, there's an app for that!

It was in Kariya, which is  a city between Okazaki and Nagoya.  When the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, the Japanese partake in Hanami.  It's a festival atmosphere -- lots of food stand with okonomiyaki, takoyaki, frankfurters, choco-bananas, beer!, etc.  People either buy food from the stands or bring their own, and picnic under the cherry trees, enjoying the flowers' brief, but beautiful, appearance.  There are some carnival game for the kids, too.

Here are some of pictures from Kijou Park:

This guy might be saving a space for a group. If it's a group of employees from a company, he is likely the most junior person there.

You can see some food stands here.  The one that says たこやき (right behind the light pole), is selling "takoyaki" or cooked balls of dough with octopus in it.

Usually that translates to "octopus balls" and my late, friend Mako used to say that there were 8 per octopus.

On an unrelated topic, here are some new homes that I passed by.  

Some people already have gardens going!  I won't be able to plant mine for another month at least.

Here's how to provide a spot for people to rest while they wait for a ride without having people sleep there.  I've seen this in other places, too.  Japan does have homelessness -- I've seen people roughing it in Tokyo.

On my way home, I saw that the trees near the pond had bloomed a bit more.  Just in time!!

Another Sakura Update

I have only 2 school days left.  I gave my last presentation today. I can discuss pow-wows in Japanese, which is a skill that looks good on any resume. There is also a small group of Japanese who now have a craving for fry bread.

Cherry blossoms are blooming late this year, because of course they are.  I wonder out loud if I'll get to see them before I leave.  I usually get a "Maybe"sort of response, which really means "Maybe if you're really lucky and have awesome karma".  But I'm not getting the "It's difficult" response, which translates to "No way in hell".  So, that 's  good.

At the pond, there are some blooms.  Here are some pictures I took this morning.  My plan is to head up to Okazaki Park, where the castle is, after graduation on Thursday.  Yes, I have to give a speech at graduation.

Sakura update

Of course the day I'm not traveling is absolutely gorgeous outside!  I even have my window open!

I went to the pond for a sakura update.  They are starting to pop!

I was making a beeline for the tree that I thought was furthest along, and almost walked right past the one that IS the furthest along!

 

Here is what the tree I expected to be doing the best looked like.

While there, I took some duck pictures.  The internet tells me that they are Eurasian wigeons.

Also, some bamboo grows there.

Hamamatsu

Yesterday I went to Hamamatsu after class.  I took a train from Okazaki to Toyohashi, then another to Hamamatsu.  There is a shinkansen from Toyohashi, but I just took a regular train.  The whole trip took about an hour.

It was raining, though, so the camera didn't leave my backpack.  I hope to come back to Hamamatsu on a nicer day to see the castle and seashore.

I went to Shikisado, which has lots of traditional Japanese craft items.  There were lots of chopsticks, lacquer bowls as well as handkerchiefs, towels and bags with Japanese motifs.  There is also a tea shop inside.  It's a good place for souvenirs because it's not kitschy.

Then I went to Bungu Box, a pen shop that's well-known on the internet.  I was stunned by how small the store was -- about two people could fit inside.

They say that you can't buy happiness, but I did: