Spring greeting from Kyoto, Hiroshima and Kurashiki

I think I have the most active spring in Japan this year (not so active in blogging though). My friends came to Japan recently and we went to visit many places in Osaka, Kyoto and Hiroshima. Just found that I'm actually keeping so many photos but not posting them. So now thinking to categorize them, pick some of it and post it here and see whether it could give you some clues of what to eat and where to go when u visit Japan.

These are some of the spring flower photos that I took at different places. Love spring the most among 4 seasons.  Many signs of spring already on their ways. 

At Kyoto (京都)

At Hiroshima (広島)

At Kurashiki (倉敷)

桜の季節 （Sakura Season)

Just did some shoot for sakura, it's just as beautiful as last year, when I first came here, the Kagamiyama park where is near to my campus.

Ohanami day( 赏樱花日)

In Japan there are four distinct seasons, I think spring is the best time for tourists to travel to Japan coz sakura trees begin to blossom, between the end of March and the early of April. Generally starting in the south and moving up north, depending on the climate in the different regions of the country.

Last two weeks were the peak season for the Japanese to OHANAMI(お花見) literally means to view flower blossom. Watching the sakura falling down and have a happy time with friends and family. We went to the KAGAMIYAMA Park (镜山公园) ohanami, where it quite near my university and 30 minutes walking distance.

Cherry blossoms are beautiful, fragrant and delicate. They come in shades of light pink, white, and pale yellow and bloom only for 10-14 days. They are found everywhere across Japan, growing wild in the mountains, forests and riversides or planted in parks, private gardens, schools, public buildings...

Hanami in Japan somewhat is like a picnic where people bring along their food and drinks such as bento, onigiri, dessert , sake, titbits. Chatting with friends and playing games.

The night view of Kagamiyama Park.

The cherry blossom season has come to an end in many cities across southern and northen Japan. I couldn't see any sakura by now. So, waiting for the next cherry blossom 2010 !