![Matsumoto Castle Japan](https://i0.wp.com/lestaylorphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Sakura-Path-at-Matsumoto-Castle.jpg?fit=1024%2C604&ssl=1)
Cherry Blossoms in Matsumoto
Last year at the beginning of April my family took a much needed vacation to the town of Matsumoto in Nagano Prefecture. So far it’s been one of our favorite places that we’ve visited in Japan, although I’m sure the experience was helped by the fact that we had been sick most of the Winter! And I’m sure it didn’t hurt that the Sakura were blooming during our trip either. The blossoms in the city...
![Photo of cherry blossom street in Japan](https://i0.wp.com/lestaylorphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Cherry-Blossom-Street-in-Matsudo.jpg?fit=678%2C1024&ssl=1)
Cherry Blossom Street in Matsudo
In my town here in Japan there’s a great little street known as sakura dori (Sakura Road) which is lined for probably 1 or 2 kilometers with Cherry Blossoms. They usually have a big festival on this road but last year the season came very early and unfortunately they weren’t able to do it. I still go to visit the road though and take some photos. This photo isn’t technically great for a lot of...
![Photo of Japanese plum blossoms](https://i0.wp.com/lestaylorphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Tiny-Glow-of-Spring.jpg?fit=1024%2C678&ssl=1)
Plum Blossoms at Yushima Tenjin Jinja
Although Japan’s most famous flower is almost certainly the Cherry Blossom, the country also boasts another beautiful floral tree known as Ume [oo-meh], better known in English as the plum blossom. Like most flowers these come in a variety of colors, though primarily visitors will run across two specific colors: pink and white. While these lovely trees are not as numerous as the Cherry Blossoms, there are many great places around Tokyo to enjoy them....
![Plum Blossoms in Tokyo](https://i0.wp.com/lestaylorphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Everything-Beautiful.jpg?fit=1024%2C678&ssl=1)
Everything Beautiful – Preparing For The Cherry Blossoms
Now that we’re in March, the Cherry Blossom trees will be blooming in just a few short weeks, so I’m preparing my photographic eye for the occasion by practicing on the lovely Ume (plum) Blossoms that are all around the area right now. This particular photo was taken at a little park in Tokyo’s Minato ward, not far from the Tokyo Tower. It reminds me of a lovely verse from the Bible: “God has made...
![Photo of Plum Blossoms in Japan](https://i0.wp.com/lestaylorphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Better-Days-Are-Coming.jpg?fit=1024%2C678&ssl=1)
“Better Days Are Coming” – Plum Blossoms In Tokyo
For the past week or two, my camera was with Nikon, being repaired for the damage it received during one of Tokyo’s recent snow days. I finally got it back this past Sunday, but Sunday and Monday were too busy to get out and use it again. So this afternoon after some morning duties I took a trip down to Tokyo’s Minato ward to see what I could find. I was lucky enough to run...