Another Sakura Weekend

While Henry was away on business, I wandered around Tokyo on Saturday checking out the remaining sakura blossoms near the Imperial Palace .  

I even witnessed it “raining” cherry blossom petals.

On my way, I passed an adorable community park with its own tulip garden.  

On Sunday, I was invited to attend an ohanami (cherry blossom viewing party) at an art colony/museum/foundation in Yamanashi prefecture (about 2 hours by train outside of Tokyo ).  We had been introduced to the owner’s family who live in Tokyo by friends in the Bay Area.  The train ride was nice, we passed by peach orchards in bloom, grape vines just starting to grow and snow capped mountains in the distance.  The weather was beautiful and the sakura were in full bloom.  

The museum grounds even contained a piece of the Eiffel Tower staircase the owner bought at auction.  

The most interesting thing at the museum was the tree house (in a corner surrounded by sakura) that served as a tea house.  It was cozy and I could feel it sway a little bit with the movement of people and the wind.  We climbed up into the tree house to enjoy matcha green tea and sweets while admiring the view of sakura.

The museum was exhibiting various sculptures by an artist, Kota Kinutani, whose father was a famous Japanese painter.  The sculptures were beautiful, carved mostly from granite or marble.  I met and talked with the sculptor and even got a picture.  

I think everyone left a bit more relaxed than when they had came.  I promptly fell asleep on the train.  Overall, another enjoyable sakura weekend.