Snowy Park from Sakura Trees~~~Shikishima Park

 Always like the ride from one destination to the next.  It seems like I find things interesting along the way.  On the way to Maebashi's Shikishima Park, I saw a funny sign that read "Have a wood time".

  Next item that interested me was a huge field of cabbage with some pretty yellow flowers behind it.

A little while later I see a factory that carves things from stone.  I spotted a big frog and come to find out the frog when put out front of the house means a safe trip to and from your destination.  Glad I'm not superstitious or I would have to buy a frog to have on our journey, so we will have a safe return home.

I loved all the fish blowing around for boys' day.  On boys day, families raise the carp-shaped koinobori flags (carp because of the Chinese legend that a carp that swims upstream becomes a dragon, and the way the flags blow in the wind looks like they are swimming).  One carp is for the father, one for the mother, and one carp for each child (traditionally each son). 

We have reached  a beautiful park Shikishima Park.  This park is filled with about 2,700 tall pine trees and many beautiful sakura trees in full bloom. 

There also was a big pond that was filled with many people in rental boats enjoying the sun-filled day.  In the park, there were many children playing and having a good time trying to catch the sakura falling from the trees.

Wow what child would not love to play in this neat tree house in the park?

 Child statue in the park, isn't he cute?

I love parks, there is nothing better than to relax on a sunny day enjoying the beauty of a park.  See our happy faces? 

 This cute couple are  relaxing and  enjoying life.  God bless all my friends and family, I am so lucky to have such wonderful friends that care about me.

Aoyamo Cemetery is Another Beautiful Place for Sakura Viewing

Located in the heart of Tokyo, this cemetery is actually Japan’s first public cemetery and Tokyo’s only foreigner-friendly one. Unique in so many ways, this cemetery also features a gorgeous avenue that is turned into a beautiful nature-tunnel with cherry blossoms.  

 

A lot of gorgeous Sakura trees framed the graves, It was like wandering through a peaceful Buddhist temple. 

 The sotoba, a Japanese wooden board on a stand behind or next to the grave had the written name of the deceased on it.

 A typical Japanese grave is usually a family grave. It typically consists of a stone monument with a chamber underneath for the ashes. There will be a place for flowers, incense and water in front of the grave. 

Hanami is so addictive I witnessed people actually enjoying at the cemetery.

I truly enjoyed touring through this beautiful sakura filled cemetery.

Yoyogi Park~cherry blossom viewing

As we walked to our next destination which is Yoyogi Park, the cool air felt good. I'm glad we are there early with happy crowds of hanami watchers amidst the blooming sakura.

-Many locals among the blue tarps, as sakura season is the public school holiday as well.

Marking their hanami spot with balloon monkeys.  2016 is the year of the monkey.

 -It was fun watching this group of hanami watchers trying to play a game of Twister. 

-We took a stroll around the area where dog owners walk their pets within a fenced area, and playful dogs were running around playing.

-The main area had lots of entertaining people. I heard happy sounds and cheerful laughs. As we got closer I could see why.

- As we walked around people watching, all the happy people put smiles on our faces.

 

-Holding the hand of Marlon while strolling around and looking up at the sakura will be a moment in this adventure I will never forget for the rest of my life.

-Spending time with my BFF Teresa on this once in a lifetime vacation will always be in my memory forever. I could not ask for a better friend.

-Ric, wow, I can't say enough about all his hard work in planning every detail to make our dream come true of being in Japan. 

 -by luck, we even got to see the place where the 2020 Olympics will be held.  

                          

 

Yoyogi Park Tokyo, Japan

Arriving by train to Yoyogi Park and the closer we got to the park the more people we saw.  I knew it was going to be crowded.  We slowly made our way to the entrance to the park and went in.  There was entertainment going on and I was anxious to see what all the commotion was all about.  We saw Yogi doing a dance and performers dancing to some Elvis music.  Also watched some swing dancers dancing to you guessed it, Elvis, too.  The blue tarps covered every inch of the surface under the Sakura trees and I could not believe the line at the bathroom.  The line stretched as far as you could see, both men and women.    Everyone in line held a beverage and it seems that by the time you reached the bathroom that you would just be getting back in line to use again.  I honestly have never seen a restroom line this long before.  I was totally amazed that no matter how much they had to drink they all made sure their trash was bagged up and put in the correct location.  I watched a person actually stumbling with a bag of trash but still managed to get it in the correct location.  In Ohio USA, I would never expect this kind of respect for the land.  So this really impressed me.  The person dressed up as Yogi was exactly what  I expected.  This trip to Tokyo has been awesome, I have seen so many sakura trees what a great weekend for Honami.