Golden week holidays

Golden week is a Japanese term applied to a collection of four national holidays from end of April through May 5th. The golden week is one of Japan’s three busiest holiday seasons, besides New Year and Obon week. The national holidays that make up the golden week are April 29 (Showa Day), May 3 (Constitution Day), May 4 (Greenery Day), and May 5 (Children’s Day). My hubby’s office was closed on April 30, May 01, and May 02 also. In combination with well placed weekends and an additional holiday on May 06th, this year we got 10 days holidays.

This year during the golden week holidays, we went to our new home in Ichinomiya City of Aichi prefecture. On 27th April, the first day of the long holiday, we were busy packing several things that we wished to take to our new home. On 28th April, we loaded our luggage in our car and left home in Yurihonjo City at about 9 am. While driving we saw many beautiful scenic landscapes along the way. We had decided to stay at Kanazawa City in Ishikawa prefecture for the night. Kanazawa City is located about 530 kilometers southwest of our Yurihonjo home and it took us almost 9 hours of car ride to reach Kanazawa.

A snow covered mountain in Yamagata prefecture

On 29th April, we left the hotel in Kanazawa City early in the morning and went to see Kenrokuen Garden near the hotel. After enjoying viewing the garden for almost 2 hours we continued our car ride to Ichinomiya City. Ichinomiya is located about 220 kilometers south of Kanazawa City and we had a long drive ahead of us. On our way, on Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway, we saw mind refreshing picturesque spots in the mountainous regions. After almost 4 hours of car ride we reached our home in Ichinomiya at about 4 pm. Hubby was rather tired due to driving for such a long time, and so he took rest for some time. Afterwards, we went to see a baseball game at Nagoya Dome. It was fun to watch a baseball game at a stadium. It was almost 11.30 pm when we returned back home.

Hubby inside Kenrokuen Garden

I am inside Kenrokuen Garden

Picturesque mountains as seen from a rest area on Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway somewhere near Shirakawamura Village in Gifu prefecture

The mountains

Hubby standing at the rest area

The mountains and I

Hubby driving his car

Nagoya Dome

Hubby inside Nagoya Dome Stadium

On 30th April and 1st May, hubby and I went shopping and purchased furniture, kitchen utensils, and several gadgets for our new home. On 2nd May, we just relaxed at home as we were tired of driving around and all the shopping we did in the past two days. It was the first day that I cooked lunch at our new home. It was a simple lunch of Karaage, Miso soup, salad, and rice. We enjoyed our lunch. In the evening hubby’s sister and her two daughters visited us. We had fun playing with the kids.

Hubby relaxing on our new sofa

Kitchen cabinet

Hubby having lunch at our new home

My younger niece sitting in front of the dressing table mirror and combing her hair

A compiled video of my younger niece in front of the dressing table

On 3rd May, hubby went to play golf with his father and a few other relatives. I preferred to stay at home and relaxed all day. In the evening, hubby and I had dinner with several relatives at a Yakiniku restaurant. We were all hungry and ordered a lot of food items. We had Yakiniku, salad, soup, rice, and dessert. We cooked bite-sized beef and offal over a gas grill. We grilled several kinds of beef meat like Rosu, Karubi, Harami, Tan, Horumon (check here for details) etc. The dinner was very filling and satisfying. We all had fun chatting and catching up with others.

Yakiniku meat

Grilling Yakiniku meat

Hubby’s uncle, father, and father’s wife having Yakiniku

Hubby eating Yakiniku and chatting

On 4th May, we had a simple breakfast of Onigiri and Natto. At about 11 am, we started back on our journey to Akita. During our return trip, my father-in-law and his wife also accompanied us as they wished to do sightseeing in the Kanto region in the evening and the next day. We all drove up to Yokohama City in Kanagawa prefecture by our car. Yokohama City is located about 380 kilometers east of Ichinomiya City, and so we packed a lot of snacks and cold drinks and prepared ourselves for the long drive ahead. On our way, we had lunch at a rest area somewhere on Shin-Tomei Expressway. It took us almost 6.5 hours of car ride to reach Yokohama due to heavy traffic. We dropped my father-in-law and his wife off at a hotel in the city and then continued our ride up to Chiba City in Chiba prefecture. Chiba City is located about 80 kilometers northeast of Yokohama and it took us another 1.5 hours of car ride to reach Chiba. During the car ride, we saw two important and famous bridges named Yokohama Bay Bridge and Tsurumi Tsubasa Bridge, both of which cross Port of Yokohama. It was almost 8 pm when we reached Chiba City where we stayed at a hotel that night.

Hubby having breakfast at home

Hubby eating Onigiri and Natto for breakfast

Hubby eating softcream at a rest area somewhere on Shin-Tomei Expressway

Yokohama Bay Bridge

Tsurumi Tsubasa Bridge

On 5th May, after breakfast we left the hotel in Chiba City and visited Umihotaru on Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line. Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line is a highway that is a bridge-tunnel combination across Tokyo Bay. It is located about 50 kilometers southwest of the hotel in Chiba City where we had stayed the previous night and it took us about 45 minutes of car ride to reach the bay area. At the bridge-tunnel crossover point, there is an artificial island called Umihotaru with a rest area consisting of restaurants, shops, and amusement facilities. We spend about an hour at Umihotaru rest area and enjoyed the views of Tokyo Bay. Next, we visited Aizuwakamatsu Castle in Fukushima prefecture. The castle is located about 380 kilometers north of Umihotaru rest area and it took us about 5.5 hours of car ride to reach the castle. During the car ride we saw many interesting monuments and buildings like a pedestrian bridge named Dream Bridge and a Ferris wheel at the artificial island Odaiba in Tokyo Bay, Asahi Beer Hall Building and Tokyo Skytree Tower in Sumida Ward in Tokyo, and a wonderful scenic mountain called Mount Bandai in Fukushima prefecture. We reached Aizuwakamatsu Castle located in Aizuwakamatsu City at about 3 pm, and enjoyed viewing the castle for about two hours. At about 5.30 pm, we left the castle area and started on our way to Yurihonjo City. Yurihonjo is located about 330 kilometers north of Aizuwakamatsu City and it took us another 6 hours of car ride to reach home. Hubby was very tired due to driving for such a long time and immediately retired to bed.

Hubby getting ready for the day

Umihotaru rest area on Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line

Hubby at Umihotaru rest area

Odaiba Dream Bridge and Ferris wheel

Asahi Beer Hall Building and Tokyo Skytree Tower

Tokyo Skytree Tower

Mount Bandai

Aizuwakamatsu Castle

Hubby tired due to driving a long distance

A beautiful view of the sun setting at dusk

On 6th May, we took rest at Yurihonjo home and spend almost the entire day sleeping. This year, the golden week holidays were a bit hectic for us but we enjoyed the stay at our new home in Ichinomiya City. We also loved visiting several sightseeing spots during the holidays. In the next several posts, I will write in details about all these sightseeing spots that we visited.

Cherry blossom festival

On May 11th, hubby and I went to cherry blossom festival (Hanami) at Hirosaki Castle Park in Hirosaki City of Aomori prefecture. Hanami is a traditional Japanese custom of viewing and enjoying the beauty of flowers, usually cherry blossoms (Sakura) or Japanese plum blossoms (Ume). Hirosaki Castle Park is one of the top three cherry blossom viewing spots in Japan along with Takato Castle in Ina City of Nagano prefecture and Mount Yoshino in Nara Prefecture.

Hirosaki Castle Park is located at the site of the ruins of Hirosaki Castle. The castle was constructed in 1611, and housed several generations of lords of Tsugaru clan. The castle is surrounded by three moats, and the remains of the castle include five castle gates, three corner turrets, and the main tower. The original five-storied main tower was struck by lightning and burned down in 1627. It was then replaced by the current three-storied structure in 1811. The castle grounds are now a public park. Hubby and I had visited the park in July 2009, about which I have written earlier. Hirosaki Castle Park is famous as one of the best cherry blossom viewing spots in Japan. The park has about 2600 Sakura trees of 50 different varieties, which were originally planted around in the grounds in 1903. Over a million people visit the park during the cherry blossom festival season. Cherry blossom usually blooms from end of April to mid May at this park.

On May 11th, hubby and I started from our home at 7.30 in the morning and it took us almost 4 hours of car drive to reach Hirosaki City. We parked our car at a parking area located in Otemon Square. The square is designed as a stepping off point for visitors to Hirosaki and is a focal point of culture and tourism in the city. Otemon Square stands across the main entrance gate of Hirosaki Castle, and was named after the main gate of the castle. We noted that a festival was going on at the square and there were many people enjoying some songs. We also saw a huge drum named Tsugaru Joppari Taiko exhibited at the square.

A festival going on at Otemon Square

Hubby standing next to the drum Tsugaru Joppari Taiko

Side view of the drum

Hubby and I walked towards Hirosaki Castle Park and saw several varieties of Sakura trees in full bloom along the outer moat surrounding the castle. Some of the Sakura varieties were at an advanced stage of blooming and the moat was filled with Sakura petals. It was a beautiful sight to behold. After about five minutes of walking we reached Otemon Main Gate of the castle. The gate was also surrounded by blooming cherry blossom.

I am standing near the outer moat of the castle along with blooming Sakura trees in the background

The outer moat and Otemon Main Gate

I am standing next to a Sakura tree that was at an advanced stage of blooming. Note that the moat is filled with Sakura petals.

I am standing near Otemon Main Gate

Otemon Main Gate and Sakura

After entering the main gate of the castle, we walked along a paved pathway that was surrounded by many varieties of fully bloomed Sakura trees on both sides of the path. It felt as if we were walking through a Sakura tunnel. It was a wonderful and memorable experience. While walking we noted that many of the trees were very old and such trees in full bloom looked so majestic. After walking for about ten minutes on this pathway, we started seeing a red lacquered wooden bridge named Sugino Ohashi. This bridge was over the middle moat of the castle. The blooming Sakura trees, the red bridge, and the petal filled moat made for a superb view. I felt that it was one of the most beautiful and breathtaking spots at this park.

Inside the Hirosaki Castle Park

Hubby standing on the paved pathway surrounded by blooming Sakura trees

I am viewing the Sakura trees in full bloom

Sakura tunnel

A Sakura tree in full bloom

Blooming Sakura trees, the red bridge, and the petal filled middle moat

The moat and a Sakura tree

I am standing next to a Sakura tree with pink blossoms

Yet another Sakura tree

Standing on the red colored Sugino Ohashi Bridge and viewing various varieties of blooming Sakura trees along the middle moat was a fantastic experience. I spent several minutes standing on the bridge and just taking in all the views surrounding us. I noted that various varieties of Sakura trees along the moat were at various stages of blooming.

Sugino Ohashi Bridge

I am standing on the right side of the bridge. Blooming Sakura trees along the middle moat look superb.

Sakura trees and the moat

I am standing on the left side of the bridge. Blooming Sakura trees along the moat look wonderful.

After walking for a few more minutes, we reached another castle gate named Minami Uchimon. Crossing this gate, we saw that the park ground was full of blooming Sakura trees of various varieties. After a leisurely walk along the paved pathway for another 15 minutes, we started seeing the inner moat, a bridge called Gejobashi over the moat, and the castle main tower. The combination of the blooming Sakura trees along the moat, the bright red bridge, the petal filled moat, and the fabulous tower made for a perfect and spectacularly beautiful view. Instead of crossing the bridge, we continued our walk along the paved pathway for another 100 meters, and enjoyed viewing the main tower surrounded by blooming Sakura trees from various positions and angles.

Minami Uchimon Gate

Park ground with blooming Sakura trees

Hubby enjoying the Sakura blossom

Petal filled inner moat, blooming Sakura trees along the moat, and Gejobashi Bridge

Bright red Gejobashi Bridge, blooming Sakura, and the castle main tower

Castle main tower, inner moat, and blooming Sakura

Another view of the main tower surrounded by blooming Sakura

I am standing on the paved pathway along with the inner moat, the main tower, and blooming Sakura in the background

Afterwards we turned around and walked back about 100 meters along the paved pathway, and walked up to the bright red Gejobashi Bridge. Standing on the bridge, and viewing the inner moat and the castle tower surrounded by various varieties of blooming Sakura trees was a wonderful experience. I spent several minutes standing on the bridge and enjoying the views.

I am standing towards the right side on Gejobashi Bridge over the inner moat. The castle main tower and blooming Sakura trees are seen in the background.

Sakura trees along the inner moat as viewed from the right side of the bridge

Sakura trees along the inner moat as viewed from the left side of the bridge

After crossing Gejobashi Bridge, we were near the castle main tower. This three storied tower is the only one in Tohoku region that was not rebuilt in the present modern era. This tower surrounded by blooming Sakura trees made for a gorgeous view. We took several photos of the tower from various positions and angles.

The castle main tower as viewed from the south

Castle tower as viewed from the southwest

I am standing next to the cutout of the mascot character named Takamaru-kun of Hirosaki City. The castle tower is seen in the background.

Front side of the castle tower as seen from the west along with a beautiful blooming Sakura tree

Hubby standing in front of the castle tower

Afterwards we walked towards the north of the castle main tower in the park, and reached a garden full of blooming Sakura trees of many varieties. We got a wonderful close up view of the blooming Sakura that surrounded us. It was simply superb. There were several pleasant picnic areas at this garden. We took many photos of the blooming Sakura and their close up views.

Panoramic view of the garden with many varieties of blooming Sakura trees

Many blooming Sakura trees in the garden

Another view of the garden and blooming Sakura trees

People enjoying viewing Sakura blossoms in the garden

I am standing in the garden with many blooming Sakura trees in the background. The castle main tower as viewed from the northwest looks so grand.

I am standing in the garden with many blooming Sakura trees in the background

A blooming Sakura tree and I

Yet another blooming Sakura tree and I

Photos of one kind of blooming Sakura and its close up images

Photos of another kind of blooming Sakura and its close up images

After enjoying viewing various varieties of blooming Sakura in the garden, we started walking back towards the castle main tower. The castle tower is located on a slightly elevated ground. From the northeast side of the castle tower, we looked down and got a magnificent view of Gejobashi Bridge, several steps leading to the bridge, and blooming Sakura trees all around. It was such a perfect and pleasant view. While walking back, we got a beautiful view of the castle main tower from the north.

Hubby standing on the east side of the garden and enjoying the Sakura blossom views

Gejobashi Bridge and blooming Sakura trees as viewed from the northeast side of the castle main tower in the park

Yet another view of Gejobashi Bridge and blooming Sakura trees as viewed from the east-northeast of the castle main tower

Hubby, blooming Sakura, and Gejobashi Bridge

The castle main tower as viewed from the north

After enjoying viewing various kinds of blooming Sakura trees, we started walking back towards one of the gates of the castle park. On our way, we saw a 130 year old Sakura tree of a variety named Somei Yoshino in full bloom. It is said to be the oldest existing tree among this species in Japan, and has the thickest trunk. We walked for about 15 minutes and reached the castle gate from where we exited the grounds of the castle park.

The oldest existing tree of Somei Yoshino variety of Sakura in Japan

Another view of the blooming tree

I am walking towards one of the gates of the castle park

The outer moat and many blooming Sakura trees along the moat outside the castle park

Afterwards we had lunch at a restaurant in one of the buildings in Otemon Square. Hubby ordered a set lunch consisting of Hotate-Tamago (scallop-egg), rice, and Soba noodles. This is because Hirosaki is a major production center of scallops. I order a set lunch of Tempura, rice, and soba noodles. We shared our lunch which was delicious and very filling.

Our lunch

We loved the cherry blossom festival in Hirosaki Castle Park. With about 2600 blooming Sakura trees of about 50 varieties in the huge park, it felt like viewing multiple cherry blossom spots combined into a single one.