ungkler: Sakura in Kanazawa

Japan : Kanazawa
Spring 2017

Hanami (sakura | cherry blossom viewing) in Kanazawa
(Apr-2017)

Journal Entry... Sakura, or cherry blossom, most of which bloom only for a couple of days in spring, is celebrated with a hanami - cherry blossom viewing parties under the trees, in Japan. It is Japan's unofficial national flower. *2017 Cherry Blossom Forecast: Kanazawa - April 9-1511-apr: Transit to Kanazawa...

Gateway to Kanazawa

Hubby and I went for the Manila-Tokyo-Komatsu route via #ANAAirways, then bus ride to feudal period setting Kanazawa, for our own hanami experience. It was not only approaching dark when we boarded the ANA Bombardier CRJ700 NextGen on the airport tarmac, in Narita airport, connecting to Komatsu en route to Kanazawa. I looked out anxiously at a heavy downpour, while awaiting takeoff which got delayed by air traffic. I wished for that Kanazawa destination to be geographically far enough from Narita not to be affected by rain forecast. Flight time Tokyo-Komatsu: 1 hour... Bus ride Komatsu-Kanazawa: 1 hour... Check-in: #ANACrownHotel right across Kanazawa station, and gateway to the feudal town.

12-apr: Kanazawa in spring...

Kanazawa retreat

Forecast for Kanazawa in the next three days, thankfully, is to be pleasantly sunny. Although it'll be colder than normal spring temperature due to rains falling in its neighboring cities. While unexpectedly colder, it was a good thing I put in an extra thick coat to the lightweight parka I packed for the trip. To think I bought a sundress for the trip, which I'm doubting if I'd still be able to wear.
First stop: Kanazawa Castle, and nearby Kenrokuen gardens... Burst of color from cherry blossoms was a sight to behold. I appreciated the minimal visitors to Kanazawa at spring time, it made the visit to Kanazawa one relaxing commune with nature.

12-apr: Sakura viewing in Kanazawa Castle

12-apr: Sakura viewing in Kenrokuen gardens

A walk in
feudal Kanazawa

By the entrance to Kenrokuen gardens were a line-up of kiosks that sold every conceivable deep-fried Japanese food, its mouthwatering scent inviting me over without a protest. One kiosk sold the daigaku imo (purple sweet potato), another kiosk sold the katsu (breaded chicken), the next kiosk sold the takoyaki (squid balls), and many others to name. It was lunch time, and about time. For dessert, meanwhile, I tried Kanazawa's feature soft serve green tea ice cream in cone, topped with gold leaf; it so happens Kanazawa is known for its gold leaf production. Gold leaf was tasteless. What I worried about was if the gold leaf was digestible in the stomach. Oh no...

13-apr: Sakura, sakura...

Watching sunset
by Saigawa river

In the morning, hubby and I strolled down the Nagamachi samurai district, with most restaurants in the area (still) closed. In the afternoon, hubby and I strolled down the Geisha district, before walking the short distance to the Saigawa river to cap the Kanazawa retreat with sunset love, and more cherry blossoms for viewing. After sunset, hubby and I hopped on the bus back to Kanazawa Castle, a second visit, for night viewing of the cherry blossoms. Night viewing of the cherry blossoms is called, yozakura. At nighttime is when the cherry blossoms become indescribably divine, given the effects of illumination from the Japanese lanterns that ran alongside the trees.

13-apr: Sakura viewing in Saigawa river

13-apr: Sakura viewing in Kanazawa Castle

13-apr: Sakura viewing nearby Ishikawa gate

14-apr: A Good Friday in Kanazawa...

A walk down
Nagamachi district

Couldn't find a Catholic church in Kanazawa, so I visited the Oyama Shrine -a Shinto shrine, for an afternoon of reflection on a Good Friday (in the Holy Week calendar of Catholic tradition). When in Japan, I'd make it a tradition to visit a Shinto shrine as well, to express gratitude to the shinto gods for our Japan travels. On this trip, I thanked the gods for the fair weather in Kanazawa for the duration of the trip.
At day's end, I'd look forward to returning to the hotel. Hotel room came with an electronic massage chair-- it was a race between me and the hubby who gets to it first! Add a dose of that Kanazawa city view, as seen from the hotel window. Inside the mini ref was a daily supply of the sweet ichigo (strawberries) and market-fresh toro (fatty belly part of the tuna) hubby would buy from Omi-cho market in the morning, and which hubby and I would snack on from a makeshift hotel desk that I covered with newspaper right before dinner time.