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Cherry Blossom Report 2013
Official cherry blossom reports by japan-guide.com

2013 Cherry Blossom Forecast - Schedule of upcoming reports - Popular cherry blossom spots
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2013/04/03 - Takamatsu Report
by schauwecker

View from Megijima Island

Marugame Castle
April 3, 2013 - full bloom

Located a 30 minute train ride west of Takamatsu, Marugame Castle is one of Japan's twelve "original castles", i.e. a castle that has survived the post-feudal age (since 1868) in its original form as opposed to the many castles that have been reconstructed in recent decades. Among the twelve originals, Marugame Castle has the smallest keep, but is positioned prominently at the top of a steep, fortified hill in the center of the city.

Like so many other castles, Marugame Castle is an excellent cherry blossom spot, featuring about one thousand trees on its grounds. The blossoms were still at the peak of their beauty, although some trees have started to drop their first petals. Despite the relatively strong winds today, the amount of dropping petals was still rather small, so that I believe the season will continue here for at least the remainder of this week.

Marugame Castle

In the Ninomaru (second circle of defense)

Full bloom

Nice views over the cherry trees, the city and the Seto Inland Sea (Setonaikai)

The food stands were still closed at 9:30 in the morning

Megijima Island
April 3, 2013 - full bloom

Megijima Island is a small island, a short ferry ride off the coast of Takamatsu. In addition to being a pleasant cherry blossom destination, the island is now serving as one of the venues for the intriguing Setouchi Triennale modern art festival and features about a dozen art pieces scattered around the town and island.

Megijima's cherry trees are planted around the summit of the island's second tallest mountain where the ogre's cave from the Momotaro legend is also located. In addition, cherry trees line parts of the road that leads up the mountain. Good walkers can reach the summit in about 30-45 minutes, but there is also a bus that makes the round trip between the ferry pier and the summit and is timed with ferry arrivals and departures.

The cherry trees on Megijima Island were generally at full bloom today, except for some of the rows of trees along the road, which were still approaching full bloom. The season here should continue for several more days, providing a great setting for an art festival visit.

With the Meon 2 ferry from Takamatsu Port to Megijima

A row of cherry trees along the road to the mountain's summit

Full bloom

The pleasant park at the summit

Down in the town of Megijima

Ritsurin Koen
April 3, 2013 - full bloom

Takamatsu's celebrated landscape garden is home to about 300 cherry trees, many of which are found around the park's main entrance and in the Western-style park section near the North entrance. Ritsurin Koen was still at full bloom today, and only a few trees have started to shed a few first petals. The garden is illuminated every evening through April 7 from sunset to 21:00.

The section around the pond only features a relatively small number of cherry trees

Hanami picnics are allowed in the cherry tree groves

Full bloom

Cherry blossom tunnel near the North entrance

Celebrating spring

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List of Posts:
2013/05/09 - Hakodate Report
2013/05/08 - Matsumae Report
2013/05/02 - Hirosaki Report
2013/05/01 - Kakunodate Report
2013/04/30 - Kitakami Report
2013/04/18 - Sendai Report
2013/04/17 - Takayama Report
2013/04/15 - Fukushima Report
2013/04/12 - Matsumoto Report
2013/04/11 - Kyoto Report
2013/04/10 - Mount Fuji Report
2013/04/10 - Hakone Report
2013/04/10 - Kanazawa Report
2013/04/09 - Yoshino Report
2013/04/08 - Kyoto Report
2013/04/08 - Tokyo Report
2013/04/05 - Mount Fuji Report
2013/04/04 - Kyoto Report
2013/04/04 - Gunma Report
2013/04/03 - Takamatsu Report
2013/04/02 - Osaka Report
2013/04/02 - Hiroshima Report
2013/04/01 - Tokyo Report
2013/04/01 - Kyoto Report
2013/03/29 - Tokyo Report
2013/03/28 - Gunma Report
2013/03/28 - Kyoto Report
2013/03/27 - Osaka Report
2013/03/27 - Fukuoka Report
2013/03/26 - Nagoya Report
2013/03/26 - Kamakura Report
2013/03/26 - Okayama Report
2013/03/25 - Tokyo Report
2013/03/24 - Kyoto Report
2013/03/23 - Kagoshima Report
2013/03/22 - Kumamoto Report
2013/03/21 - Tokyo Report
2013/03/21 - Fukuoka Report
2013/03/20 - Kyoto Report
2013/03/17 - Tokyo Report
2013/03/12 - Tokyo Report
2013/02/28 - Kawazu Report