Sakura at Kencho-ji 2016

This will be my last sakura report for 2016, since the petals are making their way off the branches and to the ground.  Last Wednesday the weather was beautiful!  The skies were blue, the wind was warm.  So, the kids and I decided to ditch school and make our way to Kamakura.  Since Boy had his first baseball practice that afternoon, we couldn't spend all day there, so we made it a half day trip...left at about 1000 and we were home by 1500.  8 miles of walking :)  

So, we made our way to Kita Kamakura Station and walked to Kencho-ji.  

WOW!  

The trees here are amazing!  

This is one of my favorite temples in Kamakura anyway...the woodwork is absolutely stunning...the pictures just don't do it justice.

One of my little photographers for the day.  I gave both kids cameras so they could take a few pictures of their own today.  Every time I turned around Mackenzie was snapping a selfie.  gee, she's learned young.

This is just past the entrance.  It leads to the first gate.

Sanmon

Kencho-ji is one of the great 5 Zen temples of Kamakura....Kamakura Gozan....and is the oldest Zen training monastery in Japan.  

I'm not quite sure what this building is.  It looks like a little house, which caused Mackenzie to say, "I would LOVE to live here!  The trees!  The birds!  The flowers!  The temple!"

Garytt decided to be uncooperative in my pictures again today...I think I managed to crop it out of most shots, but he purposely wore his pants with holes in the knees so I wouldn't make him pose for any pictures.  

Me: Smile Garytt
Garytt:  NO
Me:  Please?
Garytt:  NOOO
Me:  Just one smile?
Garytt: {silence}

We had to take a lot of breaks on our walk today, because just as we were walking up to Kencho-ji's entrance Boy fell and hurt his knee.  Since his 'limp' was so bad, if intermittent, it was quite an effort to walk around and see the things Mommy wanted to see.  Now, when he found bugs and the tadpole pool the 'limp' was quickly forgotten and he would run like he never fell.  Hmm...

This was the first time we had seen this much sun in many days.  

Hatto 

Dragon painted on the ceiling of the Hatto building.

This guy got a lot of laughs from us...

"This is actually the first statue we've seen with chest hair!" ~ Mackenzie

At the back of the temple grounds is the entrance to the Ten-en hiking course.  The kids were cool with exploring the temple.  When I mentioned that I wanted to go to the back of the grounds and go up a few stairs they weren't as excited.  The went...but, there were a few grumbles.  And, of course, that knee started to really hurt at this point.

There is a nice path with cherry trees and benches back here.  You can see the three torii gates in the middle of the picture.  One ahead of the steps, one at the start of the steps, and one at the top of the steps.  These mark the beginning of the entrance to Hansobo, a Shinto shrine at the top of the hill.  After the kids took several pictures around this area, we made our way up the steps.

The view from the top of the stairs, looking back down the path we just came up.

So, as we turned around to explore this little area I noticed there were more stairs.  "NNNNOOOOOOO", yep...that's what the kids moaned when I said I wanted to go to the top of those stairs.  "Yep...rest your little feet and let's get to movin'!  The top of the stairs is right there...we only have to go up that little way.  It'll be fiiiine!"

When we arrived at the top of the winding stairs we came face to face with the most awesome statues I've seen in a while!  As you know from previous posts, I love, love, like really love to take pictures of all the different statues around here.  Each one has its own life, its own story, its own character.  These are no different.  

The building in the top right of the picture is the Hansobo shrine.

Tenu are mountain or forest goblins.  These guys can shape-shift, and magically move from one place to another without flying.  All I know is....aaawweesssoommmeee!!!

"State your business!"

"You shall NOT PASSSSS!!!"

What a view this guy has.

I really like the dragons at the wash your hands stations.  

Okay...so, here's where Garytt got really mad at me.  He actually refused to go up these steps.  He said I could go all the way to the top if I wanted, but he was going to sit right there and wait until I finished exploring.  It took quite a bit of coaxing, but I finally got him to go up one last set of stairs.  I promised this time, that we would not go any higher than what was at the top of this set of stairs. 

So...up they went...

...slowly...

At the top, though, they were both pretty happy with the view.  Happy enough that I got them to stand for a picture.  Behind where we are standing right there is the Hansobo Shrine.  Maybe if I had mentioned how close to Han Solo that sounds, they would have been a little more excited to go up all those stairs to see it....or maybe not.  

After looking around for a bit, we made our way back down.  Even though I really really really wanted to continue up the path....but, I promised.  So, down we went.

Garytt found a little pool of water with tadpoles in it.

It was funny how all the things I wanted to look at on the way up the mountain, the same exact things the kids moaned and groaned and found totally uninteresting, were now incredibly amazing sights! ~ I will make a separate post with the kids' pictures.

All the stages of the sakura...bud, flower, future leaf.

After a few more pictures of us in the sakura at the entry, we made our way back to the train and then back on home. 

So...we saw this four-wheeled awesomeness on our way home.  It's a tiny flat bed truck.  The sides of the cab were painted hot pink.  The insides...all pink....all frilly...all totally incredible!!!

Sibling love on the train home.

We walked back to the base through Verny Park where we caught sakura petal showers!  I love walking under fully-bloomed sakura trees.  But, there is just something beyond magical about walking under the trees as the petals are floating around you.

These two pictures are actually from the beginning of the adventure, but since I am not savvy enough to figure out how to change the picture that shows up when I post my blog, I wanted to make sure a pretty picture showed up on the post, not one of these two.  So, as we started the day the kids spent a bit of time trying to catch the petals as they fell.  It was pretty funny, and harder than you think to catch.  

I bought a new sandwich for the kids from 7-11...I'm pretty sure it was a chocolate pudding sandwich.  The kids both insisted it was Nutella, and since they were both happy eating it, I sure didn't want to tell them it was something they refuse to eat at home.  :)

Yokosuka Sakura 2016

With all the rain over the last couple days, and then the wind today, the trees are not as pretty as they could be.  Darn.  With the break in the rain this afternoon, though, I decided the kids and I would take a walk to Mikasa Park for a few spring pictures.  Last year's spring pictures were perfect.  This year...not so much.  Well, at least the weather wasn't perfect.  The Kenz was perfect.  The Boy...he was perfect for five minutes, and then he was irritated that I made him come along.  

It's a bit chilly today, so instead of her cute Spring-y dresses, she opted for jeans and a long sleeve pink shirt.  Now, "her legs wouldn't freeze and her shirt would match the flowers!" 

Boy's outfit was a bit of a disaster.  When we left the house he refused to let me take any pictures of him.  He did NOT want to put on his "fancy pants" today.  Well, when we got to the first flower bed he asked for the little camera.  I agreed, IF he would sit for a few pictures for me.  

He agreed.  

At first...

Taking pictures for me.

Last year this path was beautiful with petals.  This year, the trees are partially green, but mostly bare because the wind has blown the petals off the branches.  Such a disappointment.

This is where Boy decided he didn't want to stand still for any more shots.

Mackenzie's reflection shot

Pretty tulips in the garden around the park.

Absolutely refusing to be in any more pictures today.  Until....

He decides to photo bomb his sister.

 Sakura Heights ~ Our Home

When he saw his sister do this, he had to do it too.  

So, I managed to squeeze in a couple more Boy shots.  :)

A Saturday Saunter Under the Sakura ~ 2016

This time of year seems so magical!  

The blossoms are just unbelievably voluminous.  They are perfectly pink, serenely white, and even when the pinks and whites combine to turn petals into color confusion, they are pictures of beauty.  

I had a long list of places I would like to visit to see the blossoms, and I was pretty sure the littles wouldn't be too excited about traipsing about the prefecture just to look at cherry blossoms all day.  So, my husband, the wonderful man that he is, decided they would stay home and I could head out and have a day on my own.  So, with my bag packed and the camera charged, I made my way to the train station at 0835.

First stop:

Shomyoji 

When the kids and I visited this park last February, I mentioned how pretty it would be to visit during sakura season.  Well, I was right!  

The cherry-lined walk from the road to the entrance

Since I was at the temple by about 0930 the crowds were pretty sparse.  I was able to get plenty of shots without a lot of people in them.  I also didn't have to elbow my way through a line of people to see the trees.  

The vendors were busy getting their tents ready for all the hanami (flower viewing ~ usually done on a tarp, under the tree, with food, and usually beer and wine) visitors for the afternoon.  

It was a very cloudy day.  I think that helped with the crowds, but not for my pictures.

After making a lap around Shomyoji, I made my way back to the train station and then up the track a few more minutes to Gumyoji station in search of my next sakura spot.

Gumyoji

I wasn't quite sure which way to go from the station, but lucky me, the whole mass of people all moved in the same direction as we exited....so....I just blindly followed everyone else.  

On the right side of the road as I made my way to the river there is Gumyoji Temple.  This is supposed to be the oldest temple in Yokohama, built in 737.  It's pretty simple.  There are several steps up a hill to get to the main hall.  

After I left Gumyoji and made my way down the street with the crowd, I walked through a long shopping street where clothing and shoes were being sold.  At the end of the shopping street there was the river.  I'm not sure what the river's name is, but WOW  WEE  WOW WOW!  

As I was standing on the bridge I noticed people down below!  How do I get down there?!?!

I arrived just before 1100.  By the time I walked down one side of the river, then down on the walkway on the river, and back up to the road and at the bridge it was about 1230 and it was insanely packed!!  People everywhere!!

Yatai ~ the stalls along the street ~ sold noodles, candied strawberries, chocolate covered bananas, cucumbers on sticks, as well as games where you can win fish.

By the time I thought to take a picture of the hanami spaces I was already back at the bridge and didn't want to fight the crowds anymore to get the shot.  So, imagine this...in the picture here do you see the red space between barriers around the trees?  Well, imagine miles of that kind of space filled with blue tarp, red tarp, pink tarp, all kinds of tarp.  On those tarp spaces you would find people sitting and eating their lunches or snacks.  You would also find beer.  Lots of beer.  Like, cases of beer on some of the tarps.  Some tarps were completely empty, except for a few weighted bars to keep it from blowing away.  One tarp had a baby fast asleep with blankets piled around her.  What you won't find on any of the tarps, though, are shoes.  You must take your shoes off before you step onto any tarp!

On the other side of the river I found the stairs that led down to the water's edge.  How awesome to walk beneath the drooping branches, heavy with sakura! 

As I was making my way across the river on the stepping stones, a group of kayakers came around the bend.  Now, that's an awesome way to see the blossoms on the river!

Light and dark pink petals happily enjoying the same space. 

One last look down the river before I make my way back to the station.  

It was at this point that I was trying to decide whether or not to keep going down the line or head back home.  The crowds were getting really busy.  And, it was starting to get a little chilly.  It's funny, last year at this time the kids and I were in shorts; this year I had on a shirt, sweatshirt, raincoat, and a thick scarf.  Any who... I decided to keep going.  It was only 1230.  I could make it up into Tokyo in half an  hour and check out one last spot on my list and still be home for dinner.

On the train ride from Gumyoji Station to Kudanshita Station I started to feel ill.  I'm not sure if it was the fact that it was 103 degrees on the train, or the back and forth movement of the train, or the fact that I should have eaten lunch an hour before, but I was starting to panic trying to figure out where I could be sick without offending too many of the poor people on the train.  I decided that I would just get off the train at the next stop and sit down for a bit to see if sitting, cool air, and a little food and water would make me feel better.  So, at Higashi-Ginza Station I hopped off the train.  I didn't sit right away, but looked for a place to eat.  Then, with onigiri in hand and a park bench in the cool air, I sat and settled my stomach for 20 minutes or so.  Shew!  Better.  :)  Back to the mission.  I figured that since I wasn't too far from the Imperial Palace, I would just walk.  Weelllll.....the part of the park that I wanted to see was at the back of the Imperial Palace.  MUCH farther than I imagined.  Shew...what a walk.  The walk wasn't the bad part.  It was the 10,000 people on the sidewalk that almost did me in.  Holy Moley!  So.Many.People.

Hibiya Koen (Hibiya Park)

This is a sunken German garden.  It was the first Western-style garden to be built in Japan.

Okay, after I filled my belly, drank my water, and started feeling better, I made my way around the Imperial Palace.  It probably would have been faster to walk through the middle of the palace grounds, but I wasn't quite sure where the blossom road started.  So, I fell in line with all the other people walking around the perimeter of the palace.

Town Hall building

The National Theater

The Tojo Building ~ the blue glass with the pink trees was pretty.

North side of Imperial Palace

Just around the corner I found this park.  The map just says "Park".  And, when I translate the kanji it says, "Cemetery for War Dead".  Well...I didn't see anything that resembled a cemetery.  There was a huge flower looking statue in the middle of the park.  What I did find....a ceiling of blossoms!!!

It was really pretty to walk under, but the crowds were crazy (unfortunately, I hadn't quite seen anything yet).  So, I walked a little faster than was leisurely.  I stopped and snapped a few pictures now and then, but there were lines to get to different spots for pictures and it was getting pretty chilly at this point, so I was just thinking about getting home.  At the end of this little park was the Chidorigafuchi Garden Walk.  This was the most intense crowd yet!  Not pushy at all, just - so - close!  And, I wanted to walk a little faster than the tiny girls in six inch heels could wobble down the street.  

Looking back towards Ginza.

There's no filter on the picture below (well, I didn't put a filter on any of these pictures).  I'm not sure what they do to make the grass so green...paint? Ha!  It sure seemed like it.

Chidorigafuchi Garden Walk

See the line?  They were in line just to enter the park on the other side of the street.  I decided I had a nice enough view of the park from the other side of the street.  I was still under the blossoms, and I was walking slowly (remember those high-heeled girls) but at least I wasn't standing in line to walk down the street!

Cars driving under the blossoms.

There it is!  Sky Tree standing tall behind all the sakura trees!

I decided not to take the scenic walk back to Higashi-Ginza station, and hopped on at Takebashi Station.  At the next station I decided to wait the extra ten minutes so I could get on the train that would take me all the way home, instead of changing a few times between here and there.  Smart move...I got a seat right away and was able to read my book for an hour.  I made it home in time to get pizza dough made for dinner and finish reading my book.  What a day!  What a pink, white, dark pink petal kind of day!  

Sakura season 2016 hasn't been the best, in fact, it seems to be the worst one since we've moved here.  It has rained or been completely cloudy from the day the first petal sprouted on the trees around our house.  It's also supposed to rain for the next two days.  I'm guessing Wednesday is when the blossoms will start to fall off, if not before.  I'm glad I was able to squeeze in a few different blossom areas this year, even if the weather hasn't cooperated with me at all.