There was one other small thing at Himeji Castle which made me laugh, and which I thought I’d share. Play School @ Himeji:
“Which window will we look through today?”
“How about the circle window?” [ More photos on Chi's flickr – Hanami @ Himeji Castle ] Try as I did though, I could not find the rocket clock. /sadface
As we had another “weekend” of cherry blossoms we headed out again, this time to Yasaka Shrine/Maruyama Park and Nijō castle in Kyoto on Thursday, and then out to Himeji Castle on Friday. Himeji castle in particular was amazing.
[ Himeji by day and by night - more photos on Chi's flickr – Yasaka Shrine and Nijou Castle, and Himeji Castle ] It was my first time inside Himeji Castle, which was amazing - especially being able to climb the 46-odd meter main tower and look out over the gardens from the top. We stuck around until well into the evening as well, when they lit up the castle and one of the main gardens, which was also amazing. We’d been to the the lighting up of Nijō Castle the night before, but it pales by comparison–Himeji Castle really does have a certain majesty about it. By now, almost a week later, the cherry blossom season is all but over–while you can still see a lot a blossoms around, the trees are now also leafing, so they don’t have quite the stark white and pink appearance that they previously did. It’s still amazing to see all the trees here leafing and flowering though, I really don’t think I’ve ever really noticed spring being the vibrant and marked contrast with winter that it is here. You really do get the feeling here, both from the plants and from the people, that this is a time for new life and new beginnings.
It’s cherry blossom season! Those few, short weeks of the year, where cherry blossom trees across Japan bloom, and tens of millions of Japanese and foreigners rush out to see them. Ourselves included.
[ Check out more photos on Chi's flickr – Sakura viewing (2 April 2009) ] It’s really amazing, seeing these trees in bloom. When they bloom, they all bloom at once, and after seeing them barren through the winter, it’s hard to not notice them. Maybe they stand out all the more for my own conception of Japan as a country largely without trees. And for me at least, there really is that sense of a new beginning now. Sure, it’s reinforced by this being the start of our new work year, and how much of a non-event (relatively) Christmas and New Year’s were, but it really does feel like now is the start of the new year. If nothing else, it was one more thing I get to cross off my list of “things to do and see in Japan”. And yes, they were everything I was expecting and more. Of course, in a few weeks, they’ll all be gone; their poetic statement on the transient nature of life made. But while they do last, they really are beautiful.
It’s all happening now, kids! After a lot of talk, we finally got around to seriously looking at moving apartments. Yesterday we went out and had a look at a few apartments, and after much discussion last night, we decided on one of them. Then today, we’ve notified our current agent that we’ll be moving out, and set a date to sign papers and pick up the keys for the news place. Goodbye Juso, goodbye Apollo! It all happens on April 16! |
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