Cherry Blossoms of Okazaki Castle

Pink clouds surround the castle of Ieyasu

Justin Dart Apr 06, 2013 - 1 min read

The bridge crossing the moat to Okazaki Castle is a popular photo spot

Sakura line the Yahagi River provind a perfect place for a picnic.

Through the middle of April, boats ply the Yahagi river offering a panorama of sakura.

During the Sakura season, Okazaki Park is lined with stalls offering everything from games to squid on a stick.

Fallen sakura along the path to more stalls selling delicious treats.

One of my favorite treates at any festival is chocolate covered bananas.

Statue of a horse outside the shrine at the base of Okazaki Castle.

The Sakura season alines with the beginning of the school year. Many families and students come to wish for a good year.

When sakura bloom in eastern Aichi people head to Okazaki park, home to Okazaki castle. The paths are lined with stalls selling everything from squid on a stick to fried chicken, castella cakes to chocolate covered bananas.

Thousands of people flock to the park in the first weeks of April for barbecues under the pink clouds. This coincides with the Ieyasu Gyoretsu parade.

Justin Dart @justin.dart

I am a country boy transplanted from Wisconsin in the USA to central Gifu Prefecture.The main focus of my life in Japan has been to introduce people to the world and the world to local communities and culture through international exchanges and educational programs. My hope is that people will ha...