Matsuda Cherry Blossom Festival 2019

It's March and spring aka my second favorite season is coming (or is it already here? lol) yayyyy! And as expected, my feed was (and is still being) bombarded with cherry blossom forecast posts. Based on what I have seen so far, the cherry blossoms in Tokyo will start blooming today, earlier than usual, which means I'm gonna miss it cos I'm flying out of Japan a few hours from now for spring break ohhhh nooooooo!

Of course ya girl won't give up that easily! I'm not gonna miss this fleeting sakura season without putting up a good fight! I knew before that there are lots of sakura varieties and each has its own bloom period. The somei yoshino type would bloom before the fluffy yaezakura type (my favorite) and so on. Given that, I tapped my bestie Google and gladly, I was answered- MATSUDA CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL A.K.A. KAWAZU SAKURA HEAVEN!

So off I went to a place I have never been before and after two hours worth of train and bus rides... I finally got my kawazu sakura dose! Glad that these early-blooming cherry blossoms exist omg! Yassssss!

Kawazusakura (カワズ桜) is one of the earliest cherry blossom varieties to bloom. These pink beauties can be seen as early as late January until the first few days of March. I went to this place last March 9th and these were what I have had witnessed~ 

There's a mini train that children (and children at heart lol) can ride. I'm not sure if there's a fee as I didn't try but you can easily spot the entrance to this "attraction".

ハロー ❀

ハロー、ラブ! ♡

We had to hike up a bit to see the view I wanted to take a photo of: Mt. Fuji with lots of kawazusakura beneath it but it was very cloudy when we went so yeah, I couldn't. 

But look at this view? Ain't it breathtaking? Ahhhhh this was more than enough for me~

This was another favorite view: pink kawazusakura x yellow rape blossoms 

Another favorite view weeeeew~

Sorry for flooding ya all with my face, I can't help but take lots of pictures with these pink beauties omggg heaven~

Also, I loved that this place wasn't that crowded! Usually, sakura places are flocked with lotsa tourists but not this one... not yet lol!

It started drizzling so we hurriedly headed down and ate sakuramochi soft cream instead! It had bits of sakura mochi ahhhhhh oishiiiiii~

The long travel time and the impromptu hike were worth it! If you have time to spare during the first two weeks of  March, I suggest you go! Here are the details for when you plan to go next kawazusakura season~

Matsudayama Herb Garden

2951, Matsudasoryo, Matsuda-machi, Ashigarakami-gun, Kanagawa 258-0003

Access:  Matsuda Station/Shin-Matsuda Station, 10-min shuttle bus from Matsuda Station bus stop to Nishihira Park (¥150/adult, one way)

xx,

Alyssa

❀❀❀

All photos are mine. 

Please don't use them without permission.

For more cherry blossom photos and stories, as well as those of Tokyo and around Japan, please follow my Instagram accounts:

@alyssashimode

@nipponstreets

Life, Lately: Oh February, You're So Fine

And just like that, February ended. I can't fathom how fast this year has been going for me. How did those 28 days go unnoticed? I guess I was the only one who didn't really pay attention... my camera roll says otherwise. 

Continuing January's theme of *lay-lowing on life*, here were the things that made it hard for me to stick to that theme lol

⎡Valentine's Day⎦

An excuse to have dinner at La Boheme Qualita in Shibuya a.k.a. our go-to date place. I've lost track of the celebrations Kenji and I shared in this place (or rather in this restaurant chain, they have other branches where we have gone to before) but ya get that idea that it's "that" place for us heh~ Since we both grew up in the Philippines, we still have not accustomed ourselves to how the Japanese celebrate this day when girls give chocolates and whatnot to the boys. Kenji and I sorta exchanged gifts but we stood away from chocolates (I'm not really fond of them lol)

⎡K-pop Dance Classes at Otoya⎦

If you know me from college, you'd know I love k-dramaaaa! And later on, learned to love k-pop as well. I started listening to that genre back when people still cringe at it, now I don't care anymore if they still cringe- to each his own ha~ But yeah, now I'm into it more than ever, to the point of wanting to dance to the songs lol. I started random dance lessons summer last year and it was something I'm glad I started doing because the stretchings are great. Stretchings before the dance lesson proper are the only stretchings I do (I'm lazy af) haha. The catchy songs and cute steps are just bonuses! This month I got to go to three dance lessons! Still not good at it but I sure had fun!

⎡Onsen and Chill⎦

Went to an onsen somewhere near Shimmura-Sakaue Station and stayed the whole day dipping in the numerous baths, eating, being massaged by uhm massage chairs haha, and sleeping. Such a chill way to spend time and heal!

⎡Setagaya Ume Matsuri/ Setagaya Plum Festival⎦ Hanegi Park, Setagaya

I took a day off for the sake of using my paid leaves cos I haven't used one throughout the year. With that said, I tapped my childhood friend for some catching-up under the pretty plum trees. Glad we were blessed with a very fine day; Totoro even joined us~

So yeah, that was February for me (okay, those above plus work)! Can't wait for the second half of March! Why? You'll see in the next Life, Lately update! See ya! ♡

xx,

Alyssa

*****

Follow me on Instagram for more Japan travel and life photos and stories: 

@alyssashimode