Sakura

From March to the end of April, it is sakura season in Japan!


Cherry blossoms appear in the parcs, along the rivers and the railroads, as well as in the gardens and the countryside.


As always in Japan, the food follows the season with cherry flowers and leaves in the rice of the lunch boxes.
One can easily try sakura-flavoured ice cream, candies, cakes, cookies and pink mochi (rice cakes) wrapped in cherry leaves.


Kokura castle (a modern reconstruction) is very beautiful at this time of year.


Crowds come to spend the day under the trees. Groups of coworkers have lunch on a blue tarpaulin. In the evening, the dinner may become a drinking party. Being under the trees is the important thing; drinking too; and of course the food and the sake.
Sorry, what was all that about?


Small restaurants open shop on the castle grounds and the picnic tables are all booked.


From time to time, the wind creates pink snow...


(there are some big "koi" in the castle ditch)