We visited Japan at the best time of the year. During hanami season (花見, lit: flower viewing), most parks with cherry trees are in a festive mood.
Unfortunately, due to our busy schedule, there was no time to sit under the trees with food and drink.
Takatoyama Park in Wakamatsu-ku
Cherry blossoms in a small village near Beppu
Cherry Blossoms in Hita
The pink lanterns always add a nice touch to this scenery. At times, the wind shook the branches and we saw blossoms dancing in the sunshine.
Hanami season in Japan
We still have some funny pictures of our baby son, an excessive drooler at that time, at a hanami picnic, with cherry petals sticking to his face and neck. His drooling had also earned him the nickname よだれくん (yodarekun).
