I Go To Kohchi Castle At Night

The passage from Kochi Castle's Otemae Gate to the castle tower was decorated with flower arrangements.

The flower arrangements were lit up, and the lighting on the cherry blossoms and other trees was also beautiful.

Near the castle tower, a performance with a Japnaese sword was taking place.

Blizzard Of Falling Cherry Blossoms

I saw flurry of falling cherry blossoms in Kyushu exactly one year ago.

Season of Cherry Blossoms

My daughter Emi has had a son this spring, namely he is my grandson.  We went to a shopping mall to buy clothes for him, then went to a nearby park to watch cherry blossoms.

My daughter Rina graduated from her college a month ago. I went to her college to take pictures of her on the day of her graduation ceremony or the commencement day. 

I enjoyed seeing blizzard of falling cherry blossoms at Futarasan shrine the other day.

I Go to Karasugamori Park

 

I went to Karasugamori park driving through tohoku highway. The picture above was taken at Kamikawachi service area. Cherry trees there were in full bloom.

Following pictures were taken at Karasugamori park. You can know how I usually take pictures.

All photos of today's post were taken by my wife, Kiyono using her smartphone. 

I Go to Tochigi Prefectural Sports Park and Utsunomiya Central Park

 

There are several places where I play tennis in Utsunomiya. Tochigi Prefectural Sports Park is the most frequently visiting place for playing tennis for me.

The park not only has sports facilities but beautiful flower gardens around the tennis courts, ball parks and football fields.

It's fun to take pictures after good exercises.

Utsunomiya Central Park has good flower gardens. It's just ten-minute-bike-ride away from home.

The garden is also a perfect place to take pictures in spring.

 

I Go to Utsunomiya Castle Park

I went to Utsunomiya Castle Park to see full-bloomed cherry blossoms, kawazu-zakura even in the heavy rain the other day.

Few people were walking about the park and only one bird was on the branch.

No wonder, I could not play tennis at all on the day.

brown-eared bulbul or  hiyo-dori

Historical Sites in Southern Part of Tochigi, Ashikaga City

I retired my company at the age of sixty in February this year. So, everyday is my holiday now.

My lifestyle has completely changed comparing to the days I was working.

What do I do since the day of retirement?

The answers are, playing tennis more, taking photographs, going many places by my car, watching videos, visiting to my mother's home and so forth.

I still have tons of things to do or want to do.

Ashikaga School is Japan's oldest academic institution. 

It is located in Ashikaga city, Tochigi Prefecture, about 30 kilometres from my home. 

It is said that it was founded in the ninth century and restored in 1432 by Deputy Shōgun Uesugi Norizane.

Entrance Gate of Ashikaga School

Futa-ara-yama Shrine and Cherry Trees

The season of cherry blossoms has almost gone in Japan.

I saw cherry flowers in many different places this year.

My home town Matsue, Kiyohara park near tennis court, Ueno park in Tokyo and here today's post, Futa-ara-yama shrine neighboring to my home condominium are examples.