Cherry Blossoms - "Sakura"

Tuesday April 3rd 2007

Yawatashi-

5 Stations Northern Hirakata-shi towards Kyoto

The Cherry Trees have bloomed and this week was the oportunity to go see a once in a year fenomena. This pictures were taken during the day, we took the train Keihan Line towards Kyoto, but only 5 stations north there we were. we walked for about 10 minutes and arrived to this beautiful park. It was a long stretch of Cherry Blossoms....

While we were walking under the trees the wind was making us very cold, but on our way back we walked on the bottom side, which was a beautifull green path, full of grass. Usually during cherry blossoms people, families, and workers come to the areas lay their blue tarps, drink and eat. On this cold day only a few people were having barbecues, and a few business people were drunk and laoud around the park. It is a very happy time of the year for the japanese people.

This season not only represents the beauty of the trees but the beginning of many recruits who graduated two weeks ago. And for others it may mean the end of their employemnt as well. In Japan companies hire all graduates and it is the first week of April when they begin their professional careers, so when they go to see cherry blossoms they may be bringing memories of their seniority or time being with the company. As well as hiring, many companies lay off people around this time of the year. It is just part of the employment practice as people also who are not regular workers but are under contract get their contracts renewed. For others is retiring time and unwillingly they have to do it this time of the year.

For couples the cherry blossoms are considered a very romantic season, so may of them come together to take photos and be romantic. To me, it was a very exciting and interesting experience, it made me feel so much seeing the beauty of the blossoms, and I honestly don't think that even the photos can really tell how truly beautiful these cherry blosssoms are. At night is a new different experience as well, since they are lighten up and it is gorgeous!!

Night "Sakura View" will come to you by Giovanna in this blog!!