Hanami

It has to be done. Every spring, the cherry blossoms bloom along the Shukugawa and the crowds arrive to enjoy hanami, or cherry blossom viewing while enjoying picnics beneath the trees. Truly, this is one of the cultural highlights of the year, and I am so lucky to live just three stations away from this beautiful place.

After a couple of hours strolling along the river and taking copious photographs, I came home and had an invigorating ten kilometers run to Ashiya and back.

"The significance of the cherry blossom tree in Japanese culture goes back hundreds of years. In their country, the cherry blossom represents the fragility and the beauty of life. It's a reminder that life is almost overwhelmingly beautiful but that it is also tragically short."  (Homaro Cantu)

Cherry Blossom Girl