Kyoto Cherry Blossom Season

京都開花さくら

The cherries are out!

Today may be the peak as rain is predicted for tomorrow.

The someiyoshi trees are in all their glory.

Thanks to continued cool temperatures and little rain, the city is awash in pink-white blossoms.

Popular spots are the Kamo River, the Imperial Palace, and near many of the city's famed temples.

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Kyoto Cherry Blossoms

桜前線駆け足にやきもき　京の観光関係者

After a cold winter, the cherry trees were until recently predicted to blossom later than usual.

However, thanks to a few warm weeks, the blossoms are nearly upon us in the ancient capital.

The "front line" of the cherry blossoms has reached nearby Osaka, and is heading north to Kyoto.

Last year the blossoms opened up on April 3, which is six days later than a normal year.

The early blooming this year may as a result miss many of the city's illuminated events. The canals, for example, in Okazaki that wend through museums and city's zoo are lined with cherry trees. They will be lit up from March 30 until April 21. Canal boats however cannot change their schedules.

Still, weather permitting, the canals are lovely with or without the perfect blossoms.

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Cherry Blossoms Kyoto

京都の桜

The cherries are finally in full bloom.

A long, cold winter combined with a late blast of arctic air last week kept the pink flowers shivering in their buds.

This year is, according to NHK, only four days later than an average year.

On Sunday, it warmed up and the crowds packed in areas in which cherry trees are found.

Chionin Temple, above right, has a smattering of cherry trees in front of the main gate.

Much more crowded was the area around Heian Shrine. Cherry trees line the canal that runs east of the Museum of Modern Art and the Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art.

These two august institutions bookend the largest torii gate in Japan, which announces one is entering the holy ground of Heian Shrine.

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Cycling along the Takase River Kyoto

自転車で京都高瀬川

These are the "head waters" of the Takase River, in central Kyoto.

The canal was dug in 1611 and used to ship goods south, towards Fushimi, Uji, and Osaka.

With the advent of the steam engine and railroads, traffic on the canal came to a halt.

Today it flows softly by Kiyamachi, a north-south street that has a lot of bars, restaurants, and other types of establishments.

It is lined with cherry trees, which are just starting to peek out.

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Kyoto Cherry Blossoms

大覚寺花見

North of central Arashiyama is the lovely man-made lake that is adjacent to Daikakuji Temple.

It is a favorite spot for both spring cherry blossom viewing and, in September, moon viewing.

We spent a wonderful day with friends under a the boughs of a large cherry tree.

Perhaps because of a wee bit too much sake, the settings in the digital camera became confused and all of the wonderful photos taken of the temple, revelers, and cherry trees cannot be uploaded.

This picture is of a tree on the spit of land between the Takano and Kamo Rivers - and was taken a year ago.

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Daikakuji Temple