Let's Go See the Cherry Blossoms!

When I joined a bus tour last month.
I asked the tour guide a question like, "What are cherry blossom viewing tours like?"
The answer was, "There is nothing more difficult (to ensure customer satisfaction) than a cherry blossom viewing tour."

Indeed...

When you go on a tour to see cherry blossoms, the disappointment when you miss them must be immense.
Even this year, the cherry blossom blooming was significantly delayed.
With the fickle climate these days, a tour that can commit to one week a year, and at full bloom at that, is a gift from the cherry blossom gods...

Spring has come again this year.

The best time to see the cherry blossoms (in Hiroshima Prefecture) this year is this weekend.
On a Thursday afternoon when such news was trickling in, my mother came over, excited.
"I'm thinking of going to see the cherry blossoms in Shobara with your father and staying at a hot spring starting tomorrow. Why don't you guys come along from Saturday?" she said.
...Huh?

It's always been like this.
My parents travel often, both abroad and domestically, but they are a couple who are very quick to act, easily hopping in the car whenever they get an idea.
(Now that they've returned their licenses, it's tough to just hop in, though.)
This time, it was a rare "We're going to take a highway bus to see the cherry blossoms in the northern part of the prefecture!" hop-in.
...That said, it was more like, "If possible, we'd like a chauffeur, so should we invite koma8 and the others too?" (laughs)

"Yes, we'd love to!" (koma8 and my husband)

And so.
The suddenly decided trip to tour the famous cherry blossom spots in the northeastern part of Hiroshima Prefecture began.
(Even though it was decided suddenly, it was a trip with higher satisfaction than expected!)

Day One

Bihoku Hillside Park

A national park located in Shobara City.
In summer, you can enjoy fireworks and outdoor festivals, and in winter, illuminations.
Something is blooming all year round, and this time it was tulips, cherry blossoms, and daffodils.

The garden with 300 varieties of daffodils was at its peak.
It was funny to see my father and mother arguing over which one was the daffodil from our house in front of the 300 varieties.
Even though I look at the daffodils in our garden every day, I guess I don't really look at them closely!

The Weeping Cherry Tree at Rensho-ji Temple

This weeping cherry tree, 150 years old, is located on the grounds of Rensho-ji Temple in Saijo-cho, Shobara City.

Regarding the origin of the cherry tree, it was transplanted 150 years ago from a temple in Kurahashi-cho (an island in the Seto Inland Sea).

"Even if they were just saplings 150 years ago, I wonder how they transported them."
My father was deeply impressed by the harsh fate of the cherry trees that came from a warm island to the snowy northern part of the prefecture, and by the years they spent taking root and growing into magnificent large cherry trees.
(Surprisingly romantic grandpa! Haha)

This is a bit of a digression.
If you shouted "Oh, Hibagon!" when you heard the name Saijo-cho.
You're a real connoisseur.
(Younger people probably don't know. Or maybe, on the contrary, they'd find it funny.)
If you're interested, search for "Saijo-cho Hibagon".

Ueno Park

One of the prefecture's leading night cherry blossom spots in Shobara City.
The 600 Somei Yoshino cherry trees surrounding Ueno Pond are also selected as one of the "100 Best Cherry Blossom Spots."

With lanterns and street stalls on standby, this is truly a place for night cherry blossoms.
"Let's come back again at night," I said.
"Who's going to drive (from the hotel)?" my husband asked.
...Yes, I'm sorry.

If you aren't drinking alcohol with dinner, please enjoy the night cherry blossoms.

Day Two

Ozekiyama Park

A famous spot for cherry blossoms and autumn leaves in Miyoshi City.
No matter what, you have to climb the walking path from the parking lot for about 10 minutes here.
"Mom, can you make it?"
"I'll go."
The red of the mountain azaleas occasionally visible among the cherry blossoms provided a nice accent, and I climbed the strenuous uphill path while admiring the cherry blossoms.
My parents in their 80s climbed all the way to the top.
(Yes, thank you for your hard work!)
We went to the observation deck above that.
A view of the cherry blossoms, the Gonokawa River, and Miyoshi City—truly a spring vista.

The Thousand Cherry Trees of the Mihara River

Finally, a row of a thousand cherry trees stretching for about 9 km along the Mihara River in Miwa-cho, Miyoshi City.

Regarding the cherry blossoms here.
Actually, we all passed through here a few years ago.
I remember for some reason that my father said at the time, "I've always wanted to see this row of cherry trees once."
It seems there was news a long time ago that local people had planted saplings along the river to create a row of cherry trees. (This was about 30 years ago.)
Since then, every time he passed by, my father had wanted to see the cherry trees grown into a row just once.

When I said we were going to go to this row of cherry trees this time, my father was happier than I expected.
The long-awaited thousand cherry trees were in full bloom.
The pink ribbon continued on forever, and it was truly a masterpiece.

My father talked eloquently in the back seat of the car.
I was shown something wonderful, it was good, it was good.
Today is truly a perfect day for cherry blossom viewing.

Afterword (The trips my father and mother want to take)

When the world suddenly entered the COVID-19 pandemic,
we couldn't act freely.
We couldn't go on trips.
We couldn't meet people.
With the restricted life that seemed to go on forever and our own futures becoming limited, I feel that determination and conviction were added to my parents' carefree mindset.

Do what you want to do.
Go where you want to go.
Meet the people you want to meet.

・Want to go to Kagawa to buy bonsai saplings for a hobby (Father) ⇒ Achieved
・Want to see the lavender fields of Hokkaido one more time ⇒ Achieved
・Want to go to Kochi City to meet Mr./Ms. O who used to live next door (Mother) ⇒ Achieved
・Want to travel with 13 people across 4 generations ⇒ Achieved
・Want to go sightseeing in Tokyo one more time
・Want to watch a Carp game at the Tokyo Dome (and win if possible!)

How many more years of healthy life do the two of them have left?
(It seems like they have a while longer, though)
My parents suddenly decided they wanted to go see the cherry blossoms.
They were in full bloom, another mission accomplished.

Now, what shall we do next?
Hurry, hurry!
Live a life with no regrets.
We'll all join you whenever.
(Please be the sponsor, though!)