Cherry blossom festival in Honjo Park

On April 19th, hubby and I went to Hanami cherry blossom festival at Honjo Park in Yurihonjo City. Hanami is a traditional Japanese custom of viewing and enjoying the beauty of flowers, usually cherry blossoms (Sakura) or Japanese plum blossoms (Ume).

Honjo Park is located about 2 kilometers southwest of our home and it took us just 5 minutes of car ride to reach the car parking lot located near the park. We parked our car and walked for about 5 minutes to reach the entrance area of Honjo Park. Near the entrance area, we saw several Sakura trees in full bloom. It was a beautiful sight to behold. We also got a wonderful close up view of the Sakura flowers that surrounded us. In addition, we saw many red and white paper lanterns put up along the pathways inside the park, which increased the decorative and festive atmosphere of the park. It was simply superb. We took several photos of the blooming Sakura trees near the entrance area inside the park.

I am standing near the entrance area inside Honjo Park with many paper lanterns along a pathway

A blooming Sakura tree near the entrance area of the park

Blooming flowers on the tree

Close up view of the flowers

Yet another close up view of the flowers

I am standing near a blooming Sakura tree

There was festive mood everywhere and many people were enjoying having snacks at several temporary stalls put up near the entrance area inside the park. There were many stalls for playing carnival games too. We saw an interesting stall with colorful birds chirping inside a cage. We walked past these stalls and continued walking leisurely along a paved pathway that was surrounded by fully bloomed Sakura trees on both sides of the path. At one corner inside the park, we saw a combination of blooming Sakura flowers and colorful tulips. Such a combination looked so fabulous and enjoyable.

I am standing in front of the food stalls

A pair of colorful birds inside a cage at a stall

Blooming Sakura and I

Blooming Sakura and colorful tulips

We continued walking along the pathway and enjoyed the views of blooming Sakura trees all around us. While walking, we noted that Honjo Park surrounds a lake that is ringed with Sakura trees, which were also at an advanced stage of blooming. The park is located on a slightly raised ground, and so we got wonderful views of the city below. After about 15 minutes of leisurely walking, we reached a pedestrian bridge over a road named Honjo Kaido that runs adjacent to the park. Standing on the bridge, we appreciated the blooming Sakura on both sides of the road and clicked several photos of the surroundings from the bridge.

The lake ringed with blooming Sakura trees

Blooming Sakura trees in the foreground and the city in the background as viewed from the raised ground of Honjo Park

I am standing on the pedestrian bridge over Honjo Kaido Road along with blooming Sakura on both sides of the road

Blooming Sakura and I near the bridge

Hubby standing on the bridge along with blooming Sakura in the background

After enjoying the views from the pedestrian bridge, we turned around and started walking back towards the entrance area of the park. But we took a slight detour and walked along another paved pathway inside the park. We noted that this pathway was surrounded by many very old Sakura trees that looked truly majestic in fully bloomed condition. It was a wonderful and memorable experience for us to walk along this pathway surrounded by such old blooming Sakura trees.

I am walking along a pathway surrounded by blooming Sakura trees

Hubby is standing along the pathway. Some of the trees along this pathway are very old.

After about an hour or so of strolling through Honjo Park with blooming Sakura all around, we returned back home very happy and peaceful. It was really a wonderful day for us as we immensely enjoyed viewing the Sakura blossoms.