Just a few miles from Aomori’s capital lies Hirosaki, a historic city steeped in tradition and known for its iconic castle. I first visited Hirosaki in the summer of 2016. It is one of the twelve remaining original castles in Japan, a rare treasure where the keep (Tenshu 天守) has survived since its reconstruction in […]
cherry blossoms in japan
A solo hike to Mount Yoshino
Mount Yoshino offers splendid views of cherry blossoms during spring. It is one of the most popular hanami 花見 (flower viewing) spots in Japan. In April 2016, on a lovely sunny day I went on a solo hike to mount Yoshino to experience senbonzakura 千本桜 (thousands of cherry trees). Although I kept a regular track […]