Early April is a beautiful time in Hitachi - the main street is lined with cherry trees on both sides for almost a kilometre. It's like walking through a cotton candy tunnel. Except that I really liked the cherry blossoms, and I generally detest cotton candy. But it was really nice...
During the cherry blossom blooming (which only lasts for a week or two) there was also a big matsuri. That whole kilometre long street was lined with vendors plying generally unhealthy food (greasy or sugary or spicy or...) and cheap souvenirs. Apparently many of the booths (at least the ones that travel from matsuri to matsuri) are somehow run by or at least provide profit to the Yakuza. I have no idea, but they do make some delicious (if somewhat overpriced) food.
Along with the booths, there are also a variety of performances, everything from a bluegrass band, to guys who have adopted the 50s greaser look/style/dancing/music as a way of life, to traditional dancing and taiko drumming. All in all, a very beautiful time to be in Japan.
I did get some photos, though I waited a bit too long (ok, so procrastinating isn't always a good thing...) and a heavy storm blew a lot of them down. Pictures are here.
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1 comment:
finally.....cherry blossom pics, they're great!!
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