Ueno Zoo

Li Li getting some much needed rest.

This weekend, we finally visited Ueno Zoo, or, more importantly, its giant pandas. It turned out, however, that this was not a good way of looking at the outing. When the two new pandas arrived from China more than a year ago, Tokyo went into a bit of a panda craze. It was the news of the moment, and all around Ueno panda decorations exploded. We thought it wise to wait for the first rush to see Li Li and Shin Shin to abate, and then ended up not going. But after having enjoyed so much seeing the pandas in Hong Kong last year, we had to remedy this omission. We managed to arrive before the biggest crowds (a weekend day is not an ideal choice), but of course everyone immediately threw themselves into the queue to see the pandas.

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Atami and Ito Onsen

Since we’ve been missing the Japanese hot springs, we’ve gone on a little weekend getaway from Tokyo. The Izu peninsula boasts a variety of generously flowing hot springs. Atami (熱海), only half an hour’s ride by Shinkansen from Tokyo, was our first stop. Its main attraction are definitely its seven hot spring sources. The town lies on the hillside descending down to the ocean, sporting a sun beach and beach front that is lit up at night. Its main products are dried fish of all shapes, citrus fruit, and onsen manju, a Japanese sweet that is traditionally steamed in the steam escaping from the hot springs themselves.

Dried fish - Onsen Manju - Citrus fruits

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Close-up on Sakura – 2012 (Picture Book)

When we left Zurich last Sunday, we took off in a snow storm (admittedly somewhat atypical for the season). These last days, I have been snowed on as well, but in a much more pleasant manner: by falling Sakura petals floating through the air.
Even though the rains have now taken down most of the glory of Tokyo’s Sakura trees, I still have to pay a tribute to this year’s season in pictures.

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A Kind of Magic: Cherry Bloom at Chidorigafuchi

 One of the most magical places in Tokyo during Hanami season is Chidorigafuchi (千鳥ヶ淵, thousand birds moat), the northeastern part of the Imperial Palace moat. Gorgeous old sakura trees are lining both banks of the moat, extending their branches towards the surface of the water.
We visited Chidorigafuchi on two consecutive days early in the morning, finding two completely different moods.

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We’re Back!

We’re back in Japan for more than a month! And: the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. What more can you ask? I hope to get a good fill of Sakura as long as it lasts.

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