Hanami in Japan (Minamiizu.)

[lydamorehouse]

 
Image: Kawazuzakura Blossoms in Minamiizu, (Izu Peninsula in Kamo District, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan) along the Aono River.

Obviously, I did a HeyGo last night. Eriko (and her ever-present mom) are doing a trip around Japan to follow the cherry blossoms as they open. Last night (or rather, their morning,) Eriko and her mom were in Minamiizu town, which is fairly far south (see Wikipedia map, below). Apparently, the blossoms that are open now are a very specific type, Kawazuzakura (that last part sakura, simply means cherry blossom, the 's' changes to a 'z' sound in combination, sometimes,) that were developed in that region. The link takes you to a beginner's guide to all the different kinds of cherry blossoms, but if you scroll down to early blossoming trees, it is the second one listed. 


Image: Minamiizu on the map of Japan. Yoinked from Wikipedia.

Erika is always a good tour guide. Her signal was only pixelated at one point, and, while I was a bit frustrated, I said to Shawn, "When you consider that this is happening, live, right now, halfway around the world, this is actually pretty amazing." And, really, the blip only lasted for a few minutes, tops. I will admit that, since this happened over dinner time, I did not listen to all of Erika's patter. I watched on my iPad and propped it up so Shawn could watch, too. 

In my opinion, the thing that is lovelist about the Hanami (a celebration that translates literally as "flower look") is that really, this is the point of it. To spend time sitting under a cherry tree and just look at it. People bring picnics, of course, and those can become a BIG (commercial) deal, as witnessed by this cherry themed BEER that Erika showed off--


Image: Cherry flavored beer? I hope not, probably just decorated for Hanami

--But, the whole point of it is to slow down, take a breath, sit under a tree and ADMIRE it.

Do we have holidays like that in the US? Possibly the closest we get is Thanksgiving, which, in its purest form, is a holiday about eating something yummy, but there's a bunch of other weird colonial stuff attached to it that makes it less... I dunno, just about something SIMPLE, like admiring nature. 


Image: blossom close-up


Image: Aono river with cherry trees in bloom

Anyway, with piles of snow coming down today, seeing cherry trees in bloom has been a lovely treat. 

The only thing that kind of amuses me is that Erika was explaining at one point that the plumes of white smoke we were seeing from the far bank were from sentos (hot springs,) and I suddenly wondered... does most of rural Japan smell like Yellowstone? Which is to say, like a fart?

Apparently, I am not the first to google this because the quick answer seems to be "yes, but it's a light scent." So, maybe not so surprisingly strong like in Yellowstone. I just remember when we went to Yellowstone this was the thing that NO ONE had mentioned. That the entire town of Coby and all of the park smelled like a rotten egg. I mean, it doesn't diminish the beauty? But, it was a detail I was NOT expecting, you know?

At any rate, happy Tuesday to you all. 

Comments

[naomikritzer]

Iceland also smells of sulphur, and in some areas it is INTENSE.

Kiera actually found this deeply upsetting and had to bail on a hike to a hot river because we had to walk through clouds of steam from nearby hot springs and she just hit. her. limit. She said she'd meet us back at the car and turned around.

[lydamorehouse]

Yeah, it's one of those things I never considered until we travelled to Yellowstone. So many volcanic places are extremely gorgeous, but a little smelly. Natures way of playing fair, I suppose. YOU GET TO BE PRETTIEST, but also the smelly-est!

[mindstalk]

Or evolution's way of saying "turn around, this could kill you".

[lydamorehouse]

hahaha, GOOD POINT!

[minnehaha]

I can report that cherry beer can be delish. The Belgians call it kriek and I have bought this at the Falls liquor store just north of Minnehaha Park for illegal consumption in the park. I have also bought and enjoyed a Wisconsin cherry beer (Door Co. cherries, of course) made by New Glarus Brewing and called Wisconsin Belgian Red. Only available in WI, though.

If the Japanese are adding cherry flavor to Asahi beer, I join your skepticism.

I have a lot of love for the cherry blossoms of spring, in part because I am a native Marylander, born inside the Beltway, and have seen the cherry blossoms in DC around the Tidal Pool many times. So thanks for sharing the sakura in this post.

K.

[lydamorehouse]

I should always preference anything I say about beer with, "I don't drink, so I have no idea, really." I will take your word for it that cherry flavored beer can be good.

As for the flowers, you're welcome. I will likely probably post more later, so look for that. (I am trying to only do weekly round-ups, though because I truly do not want to be that boring friend who is forever showing slides of their latest vacation.)

[ursula]

In Michigan, Bell's does a seasonal cherry stout that is delicious. It's timed for winter stout-drinking, though, not cherry blossom season!

[lydamorehouse]

I believe you.

I don't drink at ALL, so I will take your word on this. I should have been clearer that I wouldn't know if cheery beer is a thing, I mean, I think I've heard of fruit infused beer?? But, again, I wouldn't know.

[ursula]

Fair!

(As a newish Michigan resident I am obligated to report on the cherries. It's like Wisconsin and cheese, only a little more moderate.)

[lydamorehouse]

And here I thought Michigan was known for its fudge.

[mindstalk]

Does seem early for ohanami! But I should start paying more attention to Heygo for that.

My main social group would do it in Boston. It was a hunt to find the right weekend. Late April/early May for us. Early April when I was in DC (just me, but I went to go look at them.)

[lydamorehouse]

It is actually LATE for hanami (is the honorific 'o' typical? I haven't heard it often, but I know what I know mostly from reading and anime, so...), from what people are saying. But, keep in mind these are early blossoms of special varieties, so I mean, I will probably get to keep enjoying them until early April!

You would think early blooms would be a big deal in Minnesota, but it's rare to find people who will even comment on plum or cherry blossoms when they come here. We don't tend to plan rows and rows of them, so perhaps that's why.

Cool that you have a good group of friends to celebrate with.

[mindstalk]

Seems to be early February for Okinawa, late March/early April for central Honshu, early May for Hokkaido. DC is 38 north and Tokyo 35 north, makes sense they'd have similar dates.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanami

I dunno why 'ohanami' vs. 'hanami'.

Yeah, does help to have a lot of cherry trees in one place. There's a stretch of MIT by the river that has them lined up.

Haha, well I did, most of us have left Boston now.

[sartorias]

The closest is the leaf peepers back east in autumn. (And B&B prices reflect it, sadly.)

[lydamorehouse]

LEAF PEEPERS? What is this?

Oooooh, Google tells me that these are the people who chase autumn color. How have I never heard this term? I love it! I am totally a peeper, myself, I just didn't know it.

Yeah, I've always thought it might be lovely to try to go to Japan when the autumn leaves are turning, too, but I supposed it's just as expensive.

[sartorias]

:-D

BTW that icon looks a lot like Gin!

[lydamorehouse]

Ironically, it's Ichigo! Same manga!

[sabotabby]

I dream of one day seeing the cherry blossoms in Japan (we do have them here but it's not the same and we don't do a whole holiday for it, though we should).

[lydamorehouse]

I would go with you. It would be such fun!