My first immersion in Japan was here. The untranslatable words are the mirror of a nation and hanami stands for "see the flower".
I arrived in Japan in early May, I knew that to see the last cherry blossoms I had to hurry in the north of the country, in Hokkaido.
The Kenroku-en belongs to the Three Great Gardens of Japan. The care is so meticulous that in winter the branches of the trees are supported by ropes, in order to avoid they get bent by the weight of the snow.
Probably a tea would be the best beverage to accompany the view of a garden.
Japanese design, so ancient, so modern.
Maybe the most beautiful thing in Japan. Takes hours to complete this track.
The raining season was near, enough to catch me in my last day. Never mind, you don't see too many pics like this of this shrine.
Japan undergoes a raining season where is raining almost every day, it is important to make it pleasant.
If you arrive too late for the cherry blossom of the Sakura type (Prunus serrulata) you can go in this enormous park hosting more than than 250 different varieties of cherry trees. Flowers will always be present.
Japanese know how to keep a garden.
A good sunset light, some peach cookies, and you are ready to enjoy one of the Three Views of Japan.
Emancipation of women in Japan has put the Geisha work in crisis.
The boys doesn't seem at all scared by this giant Buddha's guardian.
In your top list of Kyoto.
The residence of the Shogun. Ninjas didn't have easy times as the "nightingale floors" would have squeaked at every single step.
Something so perfect has inspired a nation for centuries.
Let's keep an eye around, maybe some nice festival sponsored by the names written there is going on.
An unexpected festival in my last night in Japan, what beautiful gift.