It’s cherry blossom season again. This year, I went to Arashiyama in Kyoto to take a gander at them instead of Osakajo-koen. I woke up that morning with a familiar feeling, in fact, I daresay it was the same feeling I got the last time I went to the Arashiyama area.
“This had better be the best place ever,” I said to Steve, as we packed ourselves into the impossibly crowded car on the Hankyuu Line. You’d be amazed at how long you can stand with your body all askew for fear of toppling some old lady. The wonders of this country never cease.
Arashiyama is a pretty popular place for Hanami. Despite all the people, it wasn’t terrible. We didn’t really stick around in one place too long; mostly moving through the crowds of people, snapping pictures here and there, and enjoying the culture.
The area is seriously beautiful, and there were actually a lot of different places to see. Mike and Anna came with us for part of the trip, but had to turn back early due to a swap. Steve and I continued up one of the trails and found some nice and quiet picnic spots. We found a “viewing place” and took some pictures of the cherry blossom trees that lined the mountain side, and even went to a temple. It reminded me of something out of a Japanese movie. We were walking up the stairs and the wind was blowing cherry blossom petals around us. It was quite pretty.
It would seem that Kyoto City and I do not get along, as it tends to rain when I go there, but Arashiyama and I are pretty five by five since I’ve now gone to the area twice and both times have been really nice days. I think next time I hit up Arashiyama, I’ll try hiking along the Oi River.
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