Japan Adventure: April 2011

Sakura Hanami at Iwakuni's Kintai Bridge Saturday 4/9/11

We're riding our bikes from MCAS Iwakuni to the famous Kintai Bridge today to celebrate cherry blossom season. It's about noon on a gorgeous early Spring day.

Beautiful flowers near the neighborhood center at 3-Corners. From here, we go left, then right & continue across the Monzen River.

On the bridge crossing the Monzen River.

After we cross the river, we turn left & ride along the river. Here's a little waterfall area that sounds so pleasant. There are many pink cherry trees alongside the river. There are many birds in this shallow area of the river.

Japanese egrets in the river.

Beautiful gardens alongside the Monzen river.

Canopy of cherry trees alongside the river where we're taking a shortcut.

Heading toward the Kintai Bridge, we're riding on the street with the "Dr Seuss" trees. Lots of cars are also heading the same way we are, but we're going faster on the sidewalk (where bicycles are supposed to ride.)

This road ends at the bridge on the Nishiki River. We always make a potty stop at the Iwakuni bus station, then we'll ride alongside the river to another bridge that we can ride across to the other side.

Looking back at all the traffic headed for the Kintai - this is why we ride our bikes!

Riding alongside the river, we're headed for all the cherry trees across the river. At the top of the hill is Iwakuni Castle.

That's a closer view of Iwakuni Castle.

Looking at the famous Kintai Bridge - originally built in 1673 - as we ride across the car / bicycle / pedestrian bridge.

Under all those beautiful pink sakura (cherry trees) many groups have come to hanami - eat (and drink!) under the trees for good luck! Boats are waiting to take people around the river and children are playing on the beach. It's party time in Iwakuni!

This sea of cherry blossoms always takes my breath away!

Look at this huge old cherry tree hanging over a retaining wall!

Asahi beer lantern in a sakura.

Little girl climbing a big tree.

Wow!

We took this boat ride last year . . .

Apparently, Fuji Grand provided these hanging lanterns . . .

Closeup of cherry blossoms . . . look at the perfect star-shape in the center of each one.

Lots of people enjoying hanami under these beautiful trees.

Little boy & girl playing near the river.

Cute little girl . . .

Looking at the Kintai Bridge with a boat in the river. The yellow flowers in front of the redtops are canola - blooming all over this part of Japan right now.

Big crowds today!

One of the many food booths . . .

Two strollers - but look closely!

Stan in line at a food booth. It's time for our hanami - our regular fare is corn on a stick, meat on a stick & an ice cold beer! Yum . . .

Cute paper lantern under colorful umbrella, with sakura in background.

Our "Akiyama friends" Nikki & Steve with his two brothers & their mom, who are visiting Japan during cherry blossom season. What a great-looking family! And I'm SO thankful for people like this - who did NOT cancel their plans during this difficult time in Japan since the earthquake, tsunami & nuclear disasters . . .