Atop Mt Matsuda

Standing atop Matsuda-yama, it felt like I was in a dream.

I was on a hillside covered in thousands upon thousands of pink petals, looking down over the urban area below. The late afternoon sun was shining intensely and everyone around seemed so happy to be there experiencing this fleeting moment.

The sakura had just reached full bloom, and within a couple of weeks, they would have all sadly vanished. Soon, new green leaves would be covering the trees, hiding any evidence of the flowers’ existence. The short life of the sakura is bittersweet.

When the weather is good, Nishihara Park in Matsuda, Kanagawa, is one of the best places to see kawazu-zakura combined with the magnificent, snow-capped Mt Fuji. To the south-east, you also get a glimpse of the ocean on the horizon! The park has over 350 sakura trees which bloom around mid-February. It’s a beautiful location and a nice little trip out of Tokyo.

WPC: Atop

On top of the world

Sakura-lined roads

Sakura Promenade

Inspiration everywhere

Stairway to heaven

Ocean on the horizon

Fujisan

Festival lanterns

Pretty sunset

Night sakura

City lights

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