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Cherry Blossom Report 2014
Official cherry blossom reports by japan-guide.com

2014 Cherry Blossom Forecast - Schedule of upcoming reports - Popular cherry blossom spots
How to do hanami? - Cherry tree varieties - Post your own report

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2014/04/24 - Kitakami Report
by raina

A 20 minute Kitakami river sightseeing cruise (1000 yen) under the carp streamers

Kitakami is under 3 hours away by bullet train from Tokyo, and that's where I headed today. Kitakami, in Iwate prefecture, is one of Tohoku's top three cherry blossom viewing spots, the other two being Hirosaki Castle and Kakunodate, which Scott will be covering over the next couple of days.

From Kitakami station, it is a 15 minute walk to Sangobashi bridge and towards the start of the two kilometer cherry tree lined path. The other alternative is a ferry (350 yen), boarding point about 5 minutes walk from the station, which brings you across the river to the other end of the cherry tree path. There are about 150 different varieties of cherry trees and an estimated 10,000 cherry trees located in Tenshochi Park.

There is a temporary Kitakami Tenshochi festival information booth just outside the east exit of the station with a limited number of bicycles for rent (300 yen), and a bag drop service (300 yen). The Kitakami Tenshochi Sakura Festival will run till May 6, so visitors can enjoy the flowers and festivities all through golden week. The cherry tree path and the park are lit up in the evenings from 18:00 - 21:00 and there are also scheduled performances at the park during the festival period.

Tenshochi Park
April 24, 2014 - full bloom

The number of visitors increased by the bus loads while I was there. It was particular crowded near the car park and festival food stalls but the crowds thinned out towards the bridge. With about 500 cherry trees along the path, it was a great place to see cherry blossoms and of course, to take pictures of the flowers. I saw school children on excursion, family outings, as well as bus tour groups. With good weather forecast for the rest of this week, Tenshochi Park is the place to be if you want to see cherry blossoms at full bloom this weekend.

Elementary school children on excursion at Tenshochi Park

Cherry blossoms looking good

Close up of the carp streamers (koinobori) flying in the wind

Narcissus, cherry tree path, with Sangobashi bridge in the background

Later blooming weeping cherry tree and its blossoms in buds

Horse carriage rides along the cherry tree path for 400 yen

Taking a breather, enjoying the weather and the blossoms

Something about these three made me assume they are family

The monkey didn't look too impressed nor convinced to do what it was told

More sturdy looking cherry blossoms

Festival food area

Kitakami croquette, made of taro, kitakami beef, pork and asparagus

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List of Posts:
2014/05/09 - Hakodate Report
2014/05/08 - Matsumae Report
2014/05/01 - Hirosaki Report
2014/04/30 - Kakunodate Report
2014/04/24 - Kitakami Report
2014/04/23 - Mt. Fuji Report
2014/04/23 - Morioka Report
2014/04/22 - Aizu Report
2014/04/19 - Matsushima Report
2014/04/17 - Takato Report
2014/04/16 - Sendai Report
2014/04/16 - Matsumoto Report
2014/04/15 - Fukushima Report
2014/04/15 - Mount Fuji Report
2014/04/15 - Kyoto Report
2014/04/14 - Yoshino Report
2014/04/13 - Osaka Report
2014/04/12 - Kanazawa Report
2014/04/11 - Kyoto Report
2014/04/10 - Yoshino Report
2014/04/10 - Tokyo Report
2014/04/09 - Gunma Report
2014/04/09 - Hikone Report
2014/04/08 - Kyoto Report
2014/04/07 - Tokyo Report
2014/04/06 - Kyoto Report
2014/04/05 - Hiroshima Report
2014/04/05 - Matsuyama Report
2014/04/04 - Tokyo Report
2014/04/04 - Kamakura Report
2014/04/04 - Osaka Report
2014/04/03 - Kyoto Report
2014/04/03 - Fukuoka Report
2014/04/03 - Uji Report
2014/04/02 - Tokyo Report
2014/04/02 - Nagoya Report
2014/04/02 - Kumamoto Report
2014/04/01 - Kyoto Report
2014/03/31 - Tokyo Report
2014/03/29 - Kyoto Report
2014/03/28 - Kumamoto Report
2014/03/27 - Fukuoka Report
2014/03/26 - Tokyo Report
2014/03/25 - Kyoto Report