一期一会

If there's one thing I can describe cherry blossoms with, that's gonna be:

一期一会   

one time, one meeting

I mean, cherry blossoms are so short-lived, probably a week or two, but people still look forward to it every year. Well maybe, that's probably partly why. It's limited edition, if you miss it, you'll have to wait another year.

Not wanting to miss it and also probably my last cherry blossom hurrah this spring, the beau and I went to a new park in my list last weekend. I don't often go to Kita-ku but went out of my way there to visit  Asukayama Park, a few minutes walk from JR Oji Station. 

Why that park, you'd ask. For one, it's not that big like Showa Kinen Park (aka my favorite park in Japan) but it's not too small that I can still roam around and stay for a few hours. Second, the park houses museums, three museums, if I'm not mistaken. Third, it is famous for cherry blossoms. Lastly, the big playground (my mental age is showing hahahaha)!

So yeah, look on~

Girls girls girls

On the way to Asukayama Park

One can enter the park in three ways: one using the stairs, one going up the slope along the road, and through this cable car elevator. We chose the first.

Cherry blossoms~

We were lucky we were able to witness a traditional Japanese dance practice for a matsuri/festival, I believe~

Lovely, lovely sight~ 

The beau and I watched them for a pretty while.

Ichiyo x kanzan maybe


My favorite: yaezakura (this is the kanzan variety, if I'm not mistaken heh~)

Child: What is this human doing?

At some point I wanted to try this giant sand castle slide out but I was too shy to mix in with the kids haha! Next time, maybe!

There were lots of animal chairs like this squirrel! There were two trains as well but at this point I was too full of train thingies already so I didn't take any photos lol!


Another yaezakura

lol 
This is me during mid-week, tired af

So dreamy~

Ending this post with a compilation of clips I impulsively took that day at the park. May the cherry blossoms remind you to seize the day and grab every opportunity coming your way!

Asukayama Park (飛鳥山公園)

1-1-3 Oji, Kita-ku, Tokyo

Oji Station South Exit, 1min on foot

Free entrance

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