The Sign of Spring

The best season of Japan is spring season, indeed ! This is when the very famous and beautiful flower blooms : the cheery blossom or "Sakura" in Japanese.

I missed this moment last year because I was in Indonesia. So this year I enjoyed the season, for sure. Moreover, my husband did manage to come at the sakura time. He was very lucky to be in Japan (at Kanto area) just at the right time!! Lucky? Well yes! He postponed his travel from end of March to the second week of April, at first I thought he will miss Sakura.. but it happened to be right time for the sakura season since it was delayed by the colder winter on this year! Oh, oh... still, it is ME the luckiest, coz I can enjoy this beautiful moments with him ! ^^

As you know, the spring sign in Japan will start with Plum Blossom or "Ume" in Japanese. I enjoyed Ume Garden at Kairakuen, Mito, Ibaraki at April 1st. Quite far actually, but worth to see! From my dorm, I need to take a bus to the closest station of Joban Line, which is Ushiku Station, then take JR Joban Line to Mito Station (1100 yen). I would take about 1 hour by this train (sometimes we need to change train in Tsuchiura Station). From Mito Station, we should take a bus. There IS a special bus trip for this season to go to this park, that will only cost you 400 yen for return trip (normal price is 230 yen one way). A nice trip using bus : I can enjoy the scenery of Mito city, the capital city of Ibaraki Prefecture. Well, surprisingly, it is a big city! (ehmm, compared to Tsukuba :p)

Pink, Pink

White Ume

Happily refreshed with Ume, I hardly can't wait for Sakura!! Actually there are many types of Sakura, the early bloom type as well as the late bloom one, so we can enjoy sakura almost two weeks of many kind. But you know what : the best spot of sakura in Tsukuba is... Norin sakura dori!! (which is just around my dorm!!) Just at my backyard. ^^ 

It is easy to get to Norin Sakura Dori. From Tsukuba Station at Tsukuba Express Line, take the Nambu Bus from noriba 2, and get off at the 4th bus stop (Norin Danci Chuo) that cost at 200 yen.

Sakuraaa ... Sukiiii ^^

Sakura, white and pink

pink

pink, pink, pink

white, white, whiiiiiiite!!

and enjoy Japanese culture : Hanami, picnic to enjoy Sakura, the gift from Allah SWT after struggling cold winter :)

And for the next day after I manage to safely bring him from Haneda at midnight using the last train (hmmmfff), we went for Hanami at Sumida koen, Tokyo, to enjoy this beautiful scenery... 

Enjoy Hanami at Sumida Koen, Tokyo.. with view of  Tokyo Sky Tree ^^ (taken at April 8, 2012)

Sumida Koen located by the Sumida River, near Asakusa, the famous tourist spot in Tokyo. Closest station is Asakusa Station at Ginza Line/Asakusa Line/Tobu SkyTree Line. 


The next Monday, we went to my lab to meet the lab members, and of course to see the Sakura, that bloomed even more than when we had hanami at Saturday :)

In front of my lab in Tsukuba ^^ (April 9, 2012)

We went to Todai, my university, to visit the most important building : Yasuda Hall, the place for Graduation Ceremony :D

Yasuda Hall, and sakura (April 9, 2012)

Not so far from Todai, we can walk for like 20 min to Ueno Park, one of the best spot of sakura in Tokyo. Well, second of the best after Shinjuku Gyoen according to this site. We couldn't come to Shinjuku Gyoen this time. But Ueno park was amazing! Yappari!

Sakura canopy at Ueno Park, so romantic... (April 9, 2012)

Sakura and the romantic bench by the pond #melting :p (April 9, 2012)

aaaaand.... taraaaa....

Nagoya Castle !! Alhamdulillah, we did it! We came to Nagoya at April 12, 2012. ^^ I will not say anything, just please enjoy the moment ^^

Hopefully, this will not be my last sakura season... Aamiin :)