After months of procrastination, Jeff literally walked me to the computer and put my hands on the keyboard to get the writing going. Our trip to Japan was nothing short of completely awesome and my love for Tokyo especially is really off the charts. This extreme juxtaposition of the familiar and the foreign makes for an incredible experience.
And it permeates through all aspects of Tokyo β from the main sights and surrounding neighborhoods to the restaurants and finally to the people and culture. The restaurants and bars were far too appealing. But, we did land on a select few that warranted a break away from the sake bar. Cherry Blossom Festival The main draw of Japan in April for us and millions of other tourists is the cherry blossom season. And beautiful they absolutely are. But what came as a most welcome surprise was all of the festivities and fanfare that surrounds the season.
Hanami β the Japanese tradition of gathering across city parks and holding parties under the flowering trees into the night β was a totally new concept to me. But, one that I quickly settled into and realized is brilliant! Along the river, a mix of a summer street festival and Christmas market also unfolds.
People stroll along the river walk munching on sausages and sipping champagne. The massive grounds feel a bit like a Bavarian forest and the actual temple structure is instantly recognizable as authentically Japanese. You know what I mean? Perhaps too deep for The Singapore Flingβ¦.
The ambience and intrigue of the ritual were absolutely worth the stop. The grassy green tea and red bean paste dessertβ¦not so much. Neighborhoods I love when you have enough time in a city such that you can quickly tick off the main attractions and then still have time to soak up the city at a slower pace.
