Here come the cherry blossoms, a full week later than the last few years. This year 2012, April 17 to 29 should be beautiful. These photographs were made yesterday, April 15th, 2012. This weekend they should all be in bloom. Zen Hostel is in southern Nikko and at 300m above sea level and in the [...]
Last year there was this stubborn cherry tree that hadn’t blossomed until May 3rd. The middle of April is when most cherry trees are in full bloom. 2011 : April 17 2010 : April 20 The road that the above photograph is from is lined with cherry trees for 2 kilometers, called “Cherry Tree [...]
This countryside village in Nikko started to cut down the very old cherry trees. I’d say that 4 out of 7 were cut. New cherry trees will be planted along the 2 kilometer “cherry tree lane” on March 18. 1st news on the cutting/planting
UPDATE : the cherry blossoms are late… here they come > The village of Okorogawa, Nikko Japan visited to say that in 2 days (February 24th), they are cutting down all of the old cherry trees along the road that Zen Hostel is on. It’s a famous road for cherry blossoms with a large [...]
The following photographs were made on April 20th, within 400 meters east and 400 meters west of Zen Hostel in Nikko Japan. Rt. 149 is certainly the most beautiful road to get to the world heritage area, Toshogu Shrine, Chuzenji Lake, Senjogahara. It is a very scenic road that follows KuroKawa (Black River) into the [...]
Let’s forecast the Hanami Sakura / Cherry Blossom 2011 season for Nikko Japan based solely on some photographs from last year. April 11 to April 22 was a particularly beautiful time for Sakura / Cherry Blossoms in the area near Zen Hostel. As the dates change year to year, this year’s peak could be anytime between [...]
Nikko National Park is quite large. The difference in elevation is from 200m to 2000m above sea level. This has a very large impact on the weather, temperature and these days; the (Sakura) cherry blossoms’ arrival. Zen Hostel, over the southern edge of Nikko National Park and at an elevation of ~300m, can experience cherry [...]
It’s April 1st and the cherry blossoms aren’t here, yet. Over the last two weeks, it has been quite cold with 2 days of minor snowfall. This must have kept the buds tight and sealed. It looks like it will be another week before the buds open. The weekend of the 10th and 11th will [...]
The plum blossoms (Ume) have been blooming for several days.That means that the cherry blossoms (Sakura) are next.The cherry petals are luminous and irridescent which gives them an edge on beauty as compared with the plum blossoms. Not to mention that it should be slightly warmer 3 weeks later when the cherry blossoms arrive and [...]