Sea of pink

It usually rains just as the Somei Yoshino (染井吉野) cherry blossoms come to full bloom. Unfortunately, the dreary weather was on the weekend to boot. It wasn't raining all day, tho. I was able to ride up to a hilltop park that overlooks the port and on clear days, you can see Chiba across the bay. 

This is the park I like to go to see the first sunrise of the year and enjoy the sea of pink during the cherry blossom season. 

The Yokozakura (陽光桜) that I see on my way up to the hilltop park has already passed its prime. It usually blooms around the same time as the Somei Yoshino, but the Somei Yoshino was a bit late to the party this year. The Hana Peach (花桃) was also in bloom. This type of peach blossom is grown to enjoy the big blossoms. It was sad to see that I missed the cute weeping cherry blossoms, too. There were only a couple of blooms left at the top of the tree. The wild cherry blossoms (山桜) and Oshimazakura (大島桜) were also in bloom. The blossoms are white instead of pink. The Oshimazakura usually blooms a bit later than the Somei Yoshino. Wacky blooming pattern this year. 

Gotta love the Japanese people's determination to enjoy a "hanami" picnic, despite how dreary and chilly it is. As long as it's not raining, people will be out staking spots to have a picnic under the cherry blossoms. I just prefer to go take photos and don't bother packing a picnic. 

If you're at the park at 8am, you can hear the US and Japanese anthems playing. I guess it's like this in regions where there is a US military base. 

The hilltop park is called Tsukayama Park and there's a tomb within the park that's a National Historic Site and honors William Adams and his wife. Adams, known in Japan as Miura Anjin, was the first Englishman to reach Japan and served as the diplomatic advisor to Tokugawa Ieyasu. Adams became a Western samurai and directed the construction of the first Western-style ships in Japan's history. He was one of the most influential foreigners in his time.