Spring - a beautiful time of year in Japan. As the calendar changes to April, sakura (cherry blossoms) season, flowers, greenery and warmth arrive. The sakura are beautiful blossoms that only bloom for around 2 weeks each year, which only increases their magnificence. So, just before April came, I went to visit my friend in Kyoto for ohanami (cherry blossom viewing in Japanese). We were both very excited to greet the beginning of sakura season at Nijo Castle, to only be disappointed by the sight of bare trees. However, we were fortunate to see one lonesome cherry blossom tree, that had bloomed before it’s friends.
Nijo Castle itself has been beautifully preserved. The floors still squeak it’s nightingale sound as you walk through it’s halls. The nightingale call was to signal (or warn) residents that someone was approaching. Now that’s a great security system!
A week later, as April came, so did the sakura. However, this year was a disappointment. Unfortunately, due to heavy rainfalls and strong winds (unusual weather for April, as I’ve been told), the sakura fell too quickly to enjoy. While I was lucky enough to see them one overcast and gloomy weekend, within a week, they were gone!
Nevertheless, what I did see was beautiful. Tsuyama’s Kazukan Park has now become one of my favourite places to view cherry blossoms. I enjoyed picnicking under countless sakura trees and watching the beautiful white petals slowly twirl to the ground. When sakura petals have fallen, they collect on the ground like snow. It’s a wondrous sight.
It was after the streak of bad weather that my family invaded Japan! I’m not sure if Japan were ready for all nine of us to explore, shop and eat our way through the ‘hot’ tourist spots. Our first stop was ninja training! Of course, we went to the same location as I had experienced last year. I couldn’t recommend it enough!
The surprising moment was the ninja group remembered me! They told me of how I was even featured on their blog – what an honour! They appeared so grateful that I had brought my family back to experience the same ninja training. I had so much fun last time, why wouldn’t I recommend them?! But wait, the best was yet to come!
As the family was getting dressed for their ninja experience, a TV crew came walking down the street and stopped to interview the ninja ‘masters’ outside. The ninja master explained they had a group of foreigners coming to ‘train’ with them, before then announcing that I also had experienced it last year. Of course, the TV crew rushed up to interview me – all in Japanese!! It was a real test of my impromptu language skills, but I managed to fumble my way through each answer. It will air on Himeji TV next month – I might need to see if I can get a copy of my second TV debut!!
It was a great feeling to have my family visit Japan. The amount we visited, saw and photographed together was enormous. We had many busy days, including a visit to Universal Studios Japan, a tour around Hiroshima, a full-day trip to Kyoto (which included a 5AM start!!) and an adventure in Nara. It was an amusing moment when my cousins instantly changed their minds about feeding the deer at Nara, after being head-butted and chased aggressively around the park! I couldn’t help but laugh at the ferocity of these apparently very hungry deer. However, I soon discovered the deer at Nara don’t like to take ‘selfies’. Who would’ve thought they’d be so camera shy?
I also got great use of my newly purchased 'selfie stick'. There is no shame using it here in Japan, particuarly when nearly everyone uses one while travelling. I certainly enjoyed using it as we walked through the 1,000 tori gates at Fushimi Inari Shrine.
It was sad to say our goodbyes as they left for Tokyo on Sunday. I know it will only be a short time before I will be back to visit them again in Australia. I have felt that time has been flying fast since first arriving in Japan. I think it is due to cramming as much as I can into every moment possible. Although this makes me extremely busy and sometimes difficult to meet with, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Life is meant for living, and I live by taking up every opportunity possible. After all, it’s better than sitting back and watching the clock tick by each day!
