Pink Lanterns and Cherry Blossoms

Sunday, March 29th--It had been raining this afternoon, but the blossoms were coming on and we didn't want to miss anything.  So many places to go see them and so little time.  We couldn't waste a day because of rain. 

I talked most of the family into going to a park with me in the evening where there was supposed to be lanterns in the trees to highlight the blossoms.  When we walked to the metro, it was drizzling.  Glad we had our umbrellas with us.

We had to be on the metro for about 50 minutes, and when we got off, we could see the lanterns...the park was right next to the station.  And, it wasn't raining at all!

There had been a cherry blossom matsuri (festival) here all weekend, but it was now over and everything was cleaned up.  All that remained were the pink lanterns, and these would be left up all week to show off the cherry blossoms after it got dark.

Audra, Dad, Christopher, Logan, and Tayla

 

 There were not only cherry blossoms, but also a magnolia tree in bloom as well. 

 This looks like what you see when it is snowing and you look straight up into it....but it's what my camera captured when I turned on the flash and pointed it straight up above my head and snapped a picture.  Wow.  So many, many blossoms.  Love it.

 This park had a really nice playground area, which included this castle.  (can you find the kids on the castle?)  The kids loved it but it was wet and muddy from rain.  They only played on it for a bit and then we had to move on because they were getting dirty. 
(I am writing this post about two weeks later, and since this night, every time we go somewhere, Audra asks if we are going to find her castle.  She is referring to this castle.  In her 3 year old mind, she truly believes she is a princess and this is her castle.  She keeps telling us that her castle is lost and we HAVE to find it!)

 There was also an old steam locomotive that we could explore.

 Because it was cloudy, it was really dark and we couldn't see well, but the kids thought this was awesome.

 There was a concrete pathway that meandered all over the park.  We walked all over the entire park and relished in the simply breathtaking view that was everywhere we looked.  It also smelled wonderful!

 

 We saw a few people sitting under the blossoms having a hanami party.  “Hanami" (cherry blossom viewing) is a Japanese traditional custom of enjoying the beauty of flowers.  It often involves a picnic containing food and alcoholic drinks to enjoy cherry blossoms. People will have a hanami party with friends, family or work colleagues under the cherry tree and have fun.

 Tayla, Mom, Christopher, Logan, and Audra

We didn't want to leave, but it was getting past the kids' bedtime.  We thoroughly enjoyed walking through this park in the evening and enjoying the breathtaking beauty of the Japanese cherry blossoms lit up by a soft pink glow.  There was a feeling of magic in the air.  We LOVED IT, LOVED IT, LOVED IT!!!!

As we were walking home from the metro, the kids wanted me to take a picture of the McDonald's.  There is such a thing as "McDelivery" in Japan.  Both of the little mopeds used to deliver just happened to be parked in their mini garage, so it was a good time to get a picture of them.  The kids think this is great!  I don't know why, we hardly ever eat at McDonald's.