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Peaceful Ohanami picnic with Pi-chan

author Posted by: kirin on date Mar 27th, 2010 | filed Filed under: Daily Life, Pi-chan

Spring comes every year. It’s not a big deal if I miss Sakura season, do you think so? No. Cherry blossoms are somehow very special to the Japanese. We will never be bored of observing them no matter how many times we have seen them in our life. There are some Sakura forecast websites that forecast when cherry blossoms in your area will start blooming and when they will be in full bloom. Needless to say, I came back from Malaysia and Singapore not to miss the best Sakura season in Tokyo area. icon wink Peaceful Ohanami picnic with Pi chan

Many non-Japanese friends wonder where to visit to observe cherry blossoms. There are some websites that introduce the best locations to observe cherry blossoms throughout Japan sorted by the area. In Tokyo, Chidorigafuchi or Shinjuku Gyoen or Ueno Onshi Kouen have been popular for a long time, but these days new places such as Tokyo Midtown, Roppongi Hills, and Akasaka Sacas are also popular for good cherry blossoms’ views.

But actually cherry trees are everywhere. If you don’t feel like travelling to the crowds, just like me, you can have a casual ohanami (=viewing cherry blossoms) picnic near your house.

I just prepared casual rice balls and bento for us, and boiled carrot for Pi-chan, and we went walking her to the park only 3 minutes from home.
picnic bento Peaceful Ohanami picnic with Pi chan

After a walk we had a lunch under Sakura trees, many of which were still buds, not bloom yet.

pi chan1 Peaceful Ohanami picnic with Pi chan

Pi-chan was so cute with her Sakura bloom charms on her ears. These are from dog hotel where she stayed while I was travelling to Malaysia and Singapore. It costs 3000yen per night for her to stay at a dog hotel. It’s a big amount of money, when I compare that I stayed at a budget hotel at 3500yen per night in Kuala Lumpur. icon sad Peaceful Ohanami picnic with Pi chan The below picture shows the charm better. They are so cute I cannot take them off.

hair accessory for dog Peaceful Ohanami picnic with Pi chan

Oh, don’t worry we are not sharing our foods with her. She can get some pieces of boiled carrot. icon smile Peaceful Ohanami picnic with Pi chan

boiled carrot Peaceful Ohanami picnic with Pi chan

So how are Sakura trees and blossoms?

sakura2010Mar 1 Peaceful Ohanami picnic with Pi chan

sakura2010Mar 2 Peaceful Ohanami picnic with Pi chan

sakura2010Mar 4 Peaceful Ohanami picnic with Pi chan

You can see it depends on the tree, but none of them are in full bloom yet. I think around 1 week from today is the best. It was a bit windy today. Once it winds, we still feel it cold. It’s spring, but it’s just between winter and spring, to be exact. We kept walking with Pi-chan for another half an hour under Sakura trees. I had a nap with her for a while after we came back home. What a peaceful weekend, although it’s quite simple and ordinary. icon smile Peaceful Ohanami picnic with Pi chan

sakura2010Mar 3 Peaceful Ohanami picnic with Pi chan

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tag27 Responses to “Peaceful Ohanami picnic with Pi-chan”

  1. Amanda Said,
    March 27th, 2010 at 12:05 pm edit

    Your picnic looks yummy!! :) And I looove Pi-chan's sakura clips! :3 They are so cute!
    Do most dogs like boiled carrot? My dog is very fussy, I wonder if she would eat it…
    Thank you for sharing your day with us. (â—‹ï½¥∀ï½¥)v

  2. Lisa Said,
    March 27th, 2010 at 1:00 pm edit

    Lovely pictures!
    I remember going cherry blossom viewing to some famous places in Osaka, but my favourite place was actually about 2 blocks away from where I lived, just on the street outside a nearby high school. It was really lovely walking past the school in the early evening with the sun setting and the blossoms almost glowing in the light. :) It looks like you had a lovely time, thanks for sharing! (Here we're beginning to get some signs of Spring as well – the snow is finally melting!!!)

  3. Sparklewolfie Said,
    March 27th, 2010 at 3:27 pm edit

    awee Pi-chan looks so cute!!
    Here the weather is also between winter and spring – rather windy!

    That looks like a nice way to spend the weekend, so peaceful *u*

  4. Miki Said,
    March 27th, 2010 at 4:54 pm edit

    Woowwww! Even though some of the cherry blossoms in the pictures are not in full bloom yet, they are still so beutiful! And Pi-chan is so cute too!

  5. Cath Said,
    March 28th, 2010 at 12:32 am edit

    We discovered the Singapore version of Sakura! It's called the "pink mempat tree". It does look like Sakura from far. Yesterday, we spotted two of the trees while we were travelling on the highway.
    Happy to hear about your peaceful day! What a blessing!

  6. Hellolynn Said,
    March 28th, 2010 at 8:12 am edit

    oh…… kirin….. pi-chan looks kawaii with dat lovely sakura charm ^_^ u r rite…. sometimes we derive happiness in our life from simple things..juz like u guys spending a quiet afternoon at park with pi-chan (= really envy u able to hv a splendid view of sakura blooms juz a stone away from where u live!

  7. kirin Said,
    March 28th, 2010 at 2:20 pm edit

    Pi-chan doesn't eat boiled cabbage, although many dog owners say their dogs like to eat it. So I tried carrot, and it worked! (lol) She likes steamed rice, too though.

  8. kirin Said,
    March 28th, 2010 at 2:21 pm edit

    I can clearly imagine how they were. You had nice Sakura experience in Osaka! ;)

  9. kirin Said,
    March 28th, 2010 at 2:23 pm edit

    Thank you~. Actually today it was as if it turned back to winter. Freezing! I think this weather is too tough for cherry blossoms to bear.

  10. kirin Said,
    March 28th, 2010 at 2:24 pm edit

    I'm happy I took some pictures that can tell you how things are exactly here. :D

  11. kirin Said,
    March 28th, 2010 at 2:26 pm edit

    It's really funny feeling, you know. I was sweating all over, wearing only a T-shirt last weekend in Malaysia, but this weekend I'm wearing winter clothes, especially today it's as cold as winter. Even in a daytime it was under 10C.

  12. kirin Said,
    March 28th, 2010 at 2:28 pm edit

    Ahaha… ^ ^ cherry blossoms are anywhere, because Japanese people do LOVE them! Simple and trivial day can be something so peaceful and happy. ^ ^

  13. vline Said,
    March 29th, 2010 at 3:40 am edit

    cherry blossom~ kireii da ne..
    btw i might go to japan on may.. hows the weather in tokyo around that time? is it already warm?
    and how far is it from tokyo to hokkaido? coz i checked on the website and it seems no more sakura in tokyo on may.. so i think i might go to hokkaido and do hanami =) thanks

  14. kirin Said,
    March 29th, 2010 at 1:22 pm edit

    It's a very comfortable season in Tokyo. You can basically wear T-shirt plus a long sleeve shirt or a light cardigan when you feel a bit cool. It's the best weather not hot or cold. But the sun shine is really strong so don't forget to put sunscreen on. From Tokyo to Hokkaido, take a flight for 1.5-2 hours. You can view Sakura in Hokkaido in May. That's right, because Hokkaido is much cooler than Tokyo. :) If you trip to Hokkaido, you should bring a sweater or a jacket too.

  15. cin Said,
    March 29th, 2010 at 3:27 pm edit

    Awww Pi-chan is so cute!!! I'd love to go to an ohanami one day~ maybe next year~ My birthday is in April so it'll be an awesome ohanami birthday party!

  16. Jenny Said,
    March 29th, 2010 at 7:17 pm edit

    Pi-chan looks so adorable and ready for the lovely day!! We have the gift from Japan of cherry trees here where I live in Washington DC. Many people visit and stroll but I wish picnics would be more popular as well here!

  17. Apple Said,
    March 30th, 2010 at 2:01 am edit

    kirin! pi-chan looks too cute!!! haha!

  18. hikaru_low Said,
    March 30th, 2010 at 6:35 am edit

    awww…~ p-chan is so adorable..!!! great picnic, beautiful weather and a relaxing afternoon…~ that's simplest way of happiness <3

    i remember my first ohanami at ueno park last spring and it was in full bloom… it just took my breath away..~ how i wish to be there now … ;)

  19. kirin Said,
    April 1st, 2010 at 5:30 am edit

    Birthday party with Ohanami~ that's a fantastic idea! :D

  20. kirin Said,
    April 1st, 2010 at 5:31 am edit

    I've heard of the Washinton DC's cherry trees. I'd love to see Sakura there, too. :)

  21. kirin Said,
    April 1st, 2010 at 5:32 am edit

    Thank you. I'm glad I can take nice photos that tell people Pi-chan's cuteness. She really is so cute! XD

  22. kirin Said,
    April 1st, 2010 at 5:34 am edit

    Oh~you've been to Ueno? I think this weekend is the last chance to view full bloom this year in Tokyo. Sakura is only available for a week or 2 weeks. It's too short but that's why we can be so crazy about. haha…

  23. n a n d a Said,
    April 15th, 2010 at 7:43 pm edit

    Sakura.. aaahhh very pretty~ Make me wanna go picnic too~ *sigh*
    Impossible in this weather. And mainly because we dont have sakura nor spring T______T
    Having only rain/dry season is boring :(

    Btw, Pi-chan is very adorable w/ her hair pins (?) lol

  24. kirin Said,
    April 17th, 2010 at 4:54 am edit

    I think your wearther is similar to Malaysian or Singaporean…right? ^ ^;

  25. Thomas Gantz Said,
    May 17th, 2010 at 3:47 am edit

    Pi-chan is so cute! :-)

  26. Pamela Said,
    August 20th, 2011 at 12:22 am edit

    PI-Chan looks so cute. Those trees look beautiful too.

  27. kirin Said,
    August 20th, 2011 at 1:38 pm edit

    Thank you. I miss spring. I don't like summer in Japan. It's too hot and humid…:(

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