Spectacular cherry blossoms at the Osaka Castle Park
Today is a day designed to help us forget that we are jet lagged. We are going to visit Osaka Castle to explore the grounds of the castle and see the cherry blossoms. Then we will go for a ride to explore and visit our friend/bike mechanic Yoshi at his shop.
Sakura (cherry blossom season) is truly a highlight of the year for locals. Getting the timing right for your visit is crucial as it usually lasts for a week. Rain is predicted….perhaps tomorrow, so we need to get there today. We will focus on the Castle grounds as it provides such a beautiful showcase for this eagerly anticipated event. The castle grounds cover about 265 acres with over 3,000 cherry trees, as well as areas with mass plantings of other types of trees. In the midst of this huge city, the castle grounds are a well maintained and beloved green space, open to all.
But first, we need breakfast, so we treated ourselves to the breakfast buffet at our hotel which features Japanese food. Most buffets in Japan have Western food options, but this one is distinctly Japanese. The more we travel here, the more we understand the food and have grown to love it.
A nice start for the day…pickled octopus, tamogayake (egg), grilled fish, miso, matcha cake, salad (with yummy sesame dressing), a delicious dish called Ochazuke (bowl of rice garnished with pickled plum and other veg, grilled mackerel and soup stock), etc.
Full disclosure…we love Japanese food, but we did pass on the oh so popular natto made of fermented soybean. Its texture is glutinous and sticky with a distinct odour. Nonetheless, it is a highlight for us to watch Japanese people dive into it with focus and vigour.
The crowds at the castle grounds were impressive, yet the mood was relaxed with people loving where they were. We met these two local women, KK and Nori, who were riding their Brompton folding bikes and were here for Sakura. We enjoyed a fun visit with them.
Mary Ellen, loving being back at the Castle..one of our favourites in Japan; largely because of the beautiful extensive grounds which are free and accessible to all.
There were tourists, but the overwhelming majority of people were locals. Hanami is the term for traditional flower viewing with huge groups of friends and family together sharing food and enjoying Sakura. It is tradition to claim a spot, early in the morning with a good vantage point by laying a large blue tarp. The groups will stay for the day. The atmosphere is festive, yet mellow with the cherry blossoms being the star of the day.
Barry noticed that the man was wearing a Vancouver Canucks (hockey) cap and he noticed our Canadian flag. It broke the ice. We chatted with limited shared language and many smiles. He told us their daughter lives in Courtney on Vancouver Island.
The next thing we knew, the woman had called her daughter in Courtney and Mary Ellen chatted with her on Facebook. Small world. Thee chance encounters are so special.
It is an adjustment for visitors to understand some of customs of Japan. Garbage is one of these. There are very few garbage pails in most areas. The expectation is that you take your garage with you.
There are so many different areas with different plantings…this plum orchard area has 1200 plum trees with more than 100 varieties. They bloom between January and March.
Vending machines are available everywhere you go in Japan. For Sakura, the number has been increased. One area that usually has 4, but for Sakura there are 18. Ice cream from the vending machine.
We are in Yoshi’s wee bike shop. His shop is unique as he specializes in Recumbent bikes and trikes. We are lucky to have made his acquaintance as he keeps our bike batteries for us at his shop. When we tell him we are returning, he charges them and has them waiting for us at a shipping company Yamato by the airport. He has become a wonderful friend over the years.
Dressed in their finest when visiting the castle. This young family are enjoying the day and passing on the tradition of visiting the castle during Sakura.
Business cards are a special way to introduce yourself in Japan. We have learned to include Japanese translation, a QR code for Barry’s instagram posts and our journal address. As well, we notice that Japanese people always turn it over, so we have added the flags of Canada and Japan. They enjoy seeing their flag.
Steve Miller/GrampiesHow many cards do you bring with you? We used to make them up and give them out, but found them too heavy to drag along with us. Reply to this comment 1 week ago
Barry BartlettWe have founds that 100-150 works for us. We don’t give them to everybody. It is wonderful how much they are appreciated. Reply to this comment 1 week ago
