Cherry Blossoms in Shiga 滋賀の桜
|
|
|
Lake Biwa Canal (Biwako Sosui) and cherry blossoms. This is one of two canals which supply water from Lake Biwa to Kyoto. National Historic Site
|
|
Lake Biwa Canal and cherry blossoms in full bloom. They also light up the trees at night from 6:30 pm-9:30 pm. Beautiful and serene.
|
|
Lake Biwa Canal and cherry blossoms.
|
|
Cherry blossoms along Seta River in Otsu, Lake Biwa's only outflowing river.
|
|
Cherry blossoms and Tahoto pagoda at Ishiyama-dera.
|
|
Ishiyama-dera's Moon-viewing Pavilion and cherry blossoms. Not open to the public. 月見亭
|
|
Nagahama Castle, Shiga
|
|
Plaque proclaiming Hokoen Park as one of Japan's 100 Best Cherry Blossom Spots.
|
|
|
|
I visited the park in April 2009 in the early morning before the crowds arrived. It truly was a peaceful beauty.
|
|
In spring.
|
|
Nagahama Castle and cherry blossoms.
|
|
I was in Omi-Hachiman to see the Hachiman Matsuri fire festival on April 14. I was lucky to find the cherries in full bloom at Hachiman-bori moat on a sunny day.
|
|
|
Yakata-bune tourist boat cruising through Hachiman-bori moat in Omi-Hachiman.
|
|
|
Hachiman-bori's highest concentration of cherry blossoms is near Hakuunbashi Bridge.
|
|
Being the heart of Hachiman-bori, Hakuunbashi Bridge is where the sakura is concentrated the most. 白雲橋
|
|
Come in the early morning and see Hikone Castle's moat water give a mirror reflection of the cherry blossoms. It's really beautiful on a sunny morning.
|
|
Hikone Castle moat and cherry blossoms.
|
|
Since the construction of Hikone Castle was designated as a national project by the Tokugawa government, as many as 12 daimyo lords were ordered to assist in the construction.
|
|
In 1606, the 1st and 2nd phases of Hikone Castle's construction were completed. The tenshu castle tower was also completed and Naokatsu moved in. This is the Castle moat and Ninomaru-Sawaguchi Tamon Yagura Turret.
|
|
Hikone Castle's main tower is said to be originally the castle tower for Otsu Castle whose lord was Kyogoku Takatsugu. It was moved here in 1606. This main tower is designated as a National Treasure.
|
|
During 1957 to 1960, this castle tower was disassembled and repaired.
|
|
Many daimyos assisted during the early phase. Most of the structures and stones came from defunct castles in Omi like Otsu, Nagahama, Odani, and Sawayama to reduce the construction time and cost.
|
|
Although it was a military fortress, Hikone Castle never saw battle and was mainly a symbol of authority.
|
|
Hikone was important as the crossroads of the Nakasendo Road (中山道) to Kyoto and Hokurikudo Road (北陸道) to the northwest. It also linked the roads to boat transportation on Lake Biwa for Kyoto.
|
|
Sandwiched between the foot of Mt. Mikami and Kibogaoka Bunka Park, Omi-Fuji Karyoku Koen Park (also called Omi-Fuji Green Acres) is about flowers and greenery, including cherry blossoms. 植物園
|
|
Cherry trees bloom in early April in Omi-Fuji Karyoku Koen Park (also called Omi-Fuji Green Acres), Yasu. MAP
|
|
Garden of various cherry trees.
|
|
Cherry blossoms
|
|
I visited this park after coming down from Mt. Mikami which was full of green and brown. So seeing bright colors in this park was a great sight.
|
|
Weeping cherry tree in Omi-Fuji Karyoku Koen Park (also called Omi-Fuji Green Acres) in Yasu.
|
|
Tokugen-in temple has two weeping cherry trees. This is the older one, about 300 years old. The original cherry tree was planted by Kyogoku Doyo in the 14th century.
|
|
You can see the second weeping cherry tree in the distance. Both cherry trees are called "Doyo Sakura" since the original tree was planted by Kyogoku Doyo.
|
|
Even the second cherry tree has a beautiful shape.
|
|
Leaving Kiyotaki amid cherry blossoms in Maibara.
|
|
Kaizu-Osaki is famous for cherry blossoms along the lake shore. One of Japan's 100 Famous Cherry Blossom Spots.
|
|
During cherry blossom season, boats often come and go at Kaizu-Osaki Port.
|
|
megumi at Kaizu-Osaki Port, Takashima, Shiga.The cruise I went on docked at the port so we could get off and walk around for 30 min. If you go on a cherry blossom cruise, go on a cruise that will dock at Kaizu-Osaki. Some cruises only cruise and do not dock.
|
|
There's a footpath along the shore.
|
|
It's really beauitful to see the cherry blossoms from the boat.
|
|
|
Really enjoyed the cherry blossom cruise to Kaizu-Osaki. No hassle with car traffic. Totally worth it.
|
|
Kaizu-Osaki cherry blossoms as seen from sakura cruise boat.
|
|
Leaving Kaizu-Osaki.
|
|
The Kaizu-Osaki welcome sign marks the start of the cherry tree-lined road. Beware of cars. MAP
|
|
On weekends, the road is bumper-to-bumper traffic when the cherries are in full bloom. The road also becomes a one-way road from west to east.
|
|
Kaizu-Osaki cherry blossoms. These cherry trees were first planted in 1936 to commemorate the opening of Osaki Tunnel. Some 600 cherry trees were planted along a 4-kilometer route along the lakeshore.
|
|
Soon you will reach this rest stop and the Kaizu-Osaki boat pier.
|
|
|
Kaizu-Osaki cherry blossoms, one of Japan's 100 Best Spots for cherry blossoms.
|
|
After the tunnel, some the best parts of the sakura-lined road/shore lie ahead.
|
|
Usually it rains or storms during cherry blossom season. We were lucky in April 2009.
|
|
Kaizu-Osaki cherry blossoms in northern Lake Biwa.
|
|
Main entrance to Miidera (Onjoji) temple. It is the headquarters temple of the Tendai Jimon Buddhist Sect (founded by Priest Enchin) and former rival of Enryakuji temple on Mt. Hiei, also in Shiga. MAP
|
|
Miidera's Kondo Hall and cherry blossoms in Otsu.
|
|
Miidera's cherry blossoms are also lit up at night. (See photos at bottom.)
|
|
Miidera's Three-story pagoda (Sanju-no-to)
|
|
Miidera cherry blossoms at night.
|
|
Mt. Ibuki and Mishima Pond cherry blossoms.
|
|
Yae-zakura cherry blossoms in late April in Makino Highland in Takashima.
|
|
Yae-zakura cherry blossoms are fluffy-looking.
|
|
Zeze Castle Park, Otsu.
|
|
Zeze Castle Park also has No. 4 High School cherry blossoms planted here in memory of the college rowers from Kanazawa University who died in a rowing accident on Lake Biwa in April 1941.
|
|
In Sakamoto, Hiyoshi Baba road is lined with various cherry trees that bloom in mid-April.
|
|
Hiyoshi Baba road in central Sakamoto. On the right is Mt. Hachijoji. 日吉馬場
|
|
Weeping cherry tree at Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine in Otsu.
|
|
Toragozen-yama cherry blossoms
|
|
Cherry blossoms near Toragozen-yama in Nagahama.
|
|
Cherry blossoms in the middle of the river near Toragozen-yama, Nagahama.
|
|
Near Toragozen-yama
|
|
Gansan Daishi temple in the distance near Toragozen-yama, Nagahama.
|
|
Mt. Toragozen, Nagahama
|
|
|
|
|
|
