Daigo of the flowers

The cherry trees of Daigo-ji, a temple in the south-east of Kyoto, have been famous for centuries.

There are about a thousand sakura trees on the grounds of the temple but the weeping cherries are probably the most well known.

The other varieties are worth a look too.

In April 1598, warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi held a flower-viewing party at the temple. Hideyoshi, remembered best for unifying Japan in the 16th century, liked bright colours, gold leaf and things done on a grand scale. His hanami involved 1,300 guests, 700 sakura trees brought in from surrounding areas, tea pavilions built for the occasion and musicians to provide entertainment. On the second Sunday of April, what would be Hideyoshi's last hanami is recreated at Daigo-ji. The man playing Hideyoshi gets to ride in a palanquin (above) borne by attendants in white.

A dance performed for the latter-day Hideyoshi and his entourage.

There was a mock fight too by actors from the Eigamura film park.

And a monk busy taking photos.

The final performance was a dance by girls from a nearby primary school. They had sakura in the patterns of their kimono and in their hands.

One of the dancers.

Her smile looked like this.

One last look before going.

Sanzen-in sakura 24th April 2012 Spent today rushing around Ohara village north of Kyoto city. Visited three temples, one of them twice, and climbed a long slope once more than I would have liked.

A quick lunch. Swiss roll with yuba - beancurd sheet - in the centre.

The entrance of Sanzen-in looks softer in spring.

To enter the main building, you have to take your shoes off...

... and carry them past this garden.

When you put your shoes back on, you step on this wooden platform, drop your shoes on the concrete and slip your feet into them. I gather from this sign that Chinese visitors did not realise this.

But koi in a pond scattered with sakura are much easier to understand.

A ghost in spring.

What we've been waiting for.

Because I can take non-sakura pictures too.

And I bet so can he.

Oh who am I kidding. One last sakura shot in the late afternoon light.

The yellow road back to the bus stop.

Seen today in Ohara. Best job in the world?

Sakura photo blitz begins


14 April 2012


You'd stop to look too.
























Wouldn't you?





















You'd look closer.

























And look up...
















Through a lens...






















Or from the window of a passing car.












You might see the cherry blossom petals in the river...


















...even if you were with someone you found it hard to look away from.





No matter how many times you'd seen the Takano river in full bloom, you'd still look.