Beneath the cherry blossom
It’s been more than ten years since I last set foot in the Japanese islands, but they continue to occupy a special place in my mind as the setting for some of my fondest travel memories. I’ll never forget learning to ski in the soft powder of Hokkaido, making snow angels when we fell, laughing, into a deep white cushion. Christmas Eve in Sapporo meant a bowl of steaming, spicy ramen in a tiny restaurant down a back street as the snowflakes drifted silently outside.
Fortuitous timing on two Easter trips meant that we witnessed the fleeting beauty of the sakura, first on the island of Kyushu and then in Kansai several years later.
In Kyoto we strolled along the Philosopher’s Walk, beneath a multitude of delicate stars suspended in a sea of petals. We followed the cobbled, winding streets of Higashiyama to reach Kiyomizu-dera, the ‘Clear Water Temple’ perched on a forested slope high above the city. Here I savoured the cool sensation of pure mountain water as we ladled it over our hands from the ritual spring. From Osaka we took a day trip to Himeji to visit its famous ‘Castle of the White Egret’, one of Japan’s few medieval fortresses that still remain to this day. Standing in the castle grounds, in view of the majestic keep surrounded by the splendour of cherry blossom, I breathed in the crisp spring air and fulfilled a childhood wish.
Arashiyama, on the outskirts of Kyoto
Philosopher’s Walk and the Silver Pavilion
Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion
Cherry blossom season
The Torii at Kyoto’s Hirano Shrine
Higashi-Ōte-mon, the east gate of Nijo Castle
Nijo Castle’s moat and a garden at Kiyomizu-dera
At Tōdai-ji, Nara’s ‘Great Eastern Temple’
The Great Buddha Hall at Tōdai-ji, one of the world’s largest wooden structures
The moat at Himeji Castle
Himeji-jo, the ‘Castle of the White Egret’
At the foot of the tenshukaku – the main keep
A daimyo’s view over Himeji
Plus Ultra 
Reblogged this on Light Up The World.
Breath-taking photos!
Thanks Gina!
Achingly beautiful, James. If I die without seeing Japan, I will be SO pissed.
I dug up these old photos a while back… and instantly knew they had to go up on the blog. Japan is every bit as beautiful as they say it is – fingers crossed I’ll be going back next year for the cherry blossom. Let’s hope I’m third time lucky!
Wow, those cherry blossoms are stunningly beautiful. I’m enjoying them in Korea right now too, but nowhere can beat Japan when it comes to cherry blossoms. Thank you for sharing these great photos.
You’re welcome Tali. I’ve heard great things about Korea this time of year – hope you get a lot of good weather before the monsoon rains set in!
Our blossoms are late this year in Italy. We have had awful weather. I would love to visit Japan one day soon.
Knowing your love for art, food and all things beautiful, Japan could easily become a new favourite. Shame it isn’t on the Kangaroo route back to Australia…
These places look absolutely beautiful!! 🙂
Indeed Sophie, most (if not all) of them are also recognised as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. 🙂
Must be beautiful to be there!
It was magical Bente, I would go back in a heartbeat if I could!
These photos are unbelievably beautiful!! I hope to see the beauty of Japan that you’ve stunningly captured!
Perhaps you’ll see it sooner than you think! Thanks for the comment. 🙂
Oh, I love them, your photos from Japan. I’m sitting here alone now, musing by the computer. This morning I saw my children (21 and 23…) off for Japan. They seem to have hit exactly the cherry blossom time, so I’m looking forward to stunning photos from them too! I don’t have to say I’m envious…
What a coincidence! Their timing could not be more perfect – I’ve heard that a spell of warmer weather has brought the season two weeks early this year.
Yes, they are lucky!
Reblogged this on The Story Store.
Reblogged this on lizziedun.
Beautiful photos! I absolutely love cherry blossoms, and they look so pretty next to the Japanese castles.
It was like being in a fantasy world – I wouldn’t mind going back and experiencing the blossoms a third time!
What beautiful pictures of the cherry blossom James! Even years ago you had already had this ‘photographer’s eyes’ in your blood. 🙂 Honestly, no picture of Japan has evoked me so much than yours.
That’s very flattering Bama. 🙂 The credit should really go to my father – he was the one who taught me how to use a camera at an early age.
Reblogged this on Silent~Water.
Gorgeous pictures! I’m ready for spring! 😀
So am I Rachel, conditions have been very wet and gloomy this week… perhaps it’s time for another trip to warmer climes!
Wow. Even back then you really knew how to take breathtaking pictures James. And you were just what? 14 yrs old at that time? 🙂 Are the photos on film?
You’re spot on James, I was 14 when I took these photos. All were recorded on film – sometimes I miss the suspense of not knowing the results until the entire batch is developed. Thanks too for the kind words. 🙂
Beautiful post and photos James.The view over Himeji is just amazing! I never expected to like Japan as much as I did. I will certainly return, with hubby in tow, and in time for Sakura 🙂
Thank you, Madhu! Sadly Himeji Castle is now in the middle of a large-scale renovation… I hear the scaffolding isn’t going to come down until spring 2015. I just hope R isn’t prone to “temple fatigue” in Kyoto! 🙂
Beautiful photos! I miss the days of getting photos developed with orange date stamps on them 🙂
I do too Lydia – back then you could actually hold each photo in your palm. Now we just have the habit of uploading them straight onto our PCs! 😛
How lovely. I’m not sure which part of Canada you’re from, but Vancouver has the strongest Asia-Pacific Rim feel as a city because of high % of Asian descent folks ….and the profusion of cherry trees. It is Canada’s warmest area and since it gets lots of rain, the buds, blossoms and foliage are more luxuriant.
http://cyclewriteblog.wordpress.com/2012/04/19/cherry-blossom-ballet-in-vancouver-nature-and-new-mural-art/
I will be going back very soon to enjoy the blossoms like you are in Japan right now.
It’s a huge deal here, James since there is an international haiku competition and events. Toronto has some blossoms but not with the great abundance. So if you want to experience cherry blossoms among soaring old growth trees in temperate rainforest region..
(Washington DC would also. …But Asian feel in spirit would be Vancouver and actually with all the people around you. )
Thanks for the info, Jean. 🙂 My dad’s side are mostly in the Toronto area but I haven’t really lived there for an extended period. I’ve only been in Vancouver during summer and winter, so it sounds like I missed out on a beautiful sight – I never knew it was such a great place to view the cherry blossoms. Your photos are gorgeous!
Love the photos. Japan also holds a special place in my wandering heart. I absolutely fell in love with Kyoto.
So jealous you were able to catch cherry blossom season at its peak… didn’t work out that well for me though. Better luck next time I hope.
Thanks for that – I always wanted to visit Kyoto as a kid and the place went far beyond my expectations. It was pure magic with the cherry blossom in bloom!
I am absolutely drooling over these film photos.
I can’t believe that you remember all of that from 10 years ago! I barely remember what I did when I was there 6 months ago. I finally made it to Arashiyama last fall and was able to see the end of the autumn leaves. I love how the mood can change so much from having cherry blossoms vs the red leaves mixed in with the rest of the scenery. Lastly, your family must be full of intense travelers. I can’t believe you were able to cover so much ground in the middle of peak tourist season!
Actually it was your amazing photos of cherry blossom that got me thinking about uploading these to the blog. 😉
There is something hugely evocative and nostalgic about film photos… sometimes I wonder if they’re better at conveying the feel and atmosphere of a moment. I would so love to see Kyoto in the fall! We sort of travelled the Japanese way back then, my entire family on my mom’s side was there – grandparents, cousins, aunts/uncles and all – so we pretty much took up a whole tour bus!
Aw, thank you! I’m glad my posts kind of gave you that push to do so, because there are amazing. I love how to softness of the film really makes the cherry blossoms stand out while softening the other objects so they don’t take away from the flowers.
Aha! Now I see how you covered so much ground- it was probably a great method for such a large group with children!
I read through some of the comments after I posted my own and I can’t believe you took them when you were 14! Obviously you have always had a knack for things like this. 🙂
Did I tell you I just got a film camera? Yup- bringing it back!! Only… I’ve been so lazy about taking it somewhere to get it processed! The one side to film. Or being lazy.
Beautiful pictures!
Glad you liked them. 🙂
beautiful pictures.
Thank you!
Nice memories, great pictures. Thank you for sharing…
You’re more than welcome, Nin.
Just found your blog, it’s enchanting! Fantastic pictures…and very good writing. 🙂
Thanks for the comment – hopefully you’ll also enjoy my upcoming series on Taiwan. 🙂
Beautiful!!!
ow, i wish i saw these cherry blossom scenes
amazing…
My goal is to visit Mt. Yoshino. Sakuranomiya in Osaka and the Mint Bureau is also a great place to see Sakura.
i love your pictures and points of views! greetings from vienna!
Simply GREAT PHOTOS!!!
I love Japan. I wrote ad article about the Golden Pavilion on my blog: http://paolotortorella.com/2012/04/23/kinkaku-ji/
I hope you like it 🙂
Come over and read my blog (http://kyushuvisitor.org/) about Kyush in Japan. Photos on your blog are amazing. Did you take them yourself? They look like photos taken by professionals.
This blog just makes me want to jump in an airplane and head back to Japan. Definetly one of my favourite countries. Check out this blog post about Japan made with tons of love&admiration.
http://youngtravelbug.com/2014/09/23/5-behaviors-where-every-local-will-realize-yes-thats-another-tourist-in-japan/
Amazing pictures. Gives an excellent idea of what the cherry blossom season is like.
Beautiful beautiful photos! I have been living in Japan for over a year now but I haven been to Osaka ugh! Bummer. Hopefully will get to visit Osaka this year 😉 Love your blog!
Thank you Ada, I haven’t been back to Japan in a very long time! Hopefully next year… 🙂
aww ❤ I really LOVE Japan! I want to visit Japan soon 🙂
Thank you for this blog! 🙂
You’re welcome. 🙂 The timing of your comment is spot on – it’s cherry blossom season right now in Japan.
Stunning, stunning photos! I was very fortunate to visit Japan twice this year and got to see the sakuras the first time. There’s just no sight like it!
Thank you! And I completely agree about the sakuras – they are just sublime in their fleeting beauty. I’ll never forget how they draped either side of the Philosopher’s Walk in Kyoto.
Jealous! I saw the autumn foilage in Kyoto a couple of weeks but I’m hoping to see the sakuras there too one day. So many reasons to return.