Admiring Nature in Fukuoka

Blackswan

1 Aug 09, 15:43

To reach the Fukuoka Castle Ruins, my friend & I took the subway from the Nakasu-Kuwabata station & alighted at the Akasaka station. The castle ruins is now a public park & a well-known destination for cherry & plum blossom viewing.

Cherry blossoms are especially beautiful in combination with a castle, temple or shrine. In some places, the blossoms are lit up in the evening, which makes an amazing sight. The Japanese celebrate that time of the year with hanami (cherry blossom viewing) parties under the blooming trees. Hanami literally means "flower viewing", however, it commonly refers only to cherry blossom viewing.

Unfortunately, we were told that we've missed the full bloom of the cherry blossom (Sakura) season. It started earlier than expected due to the weather change. Nevertheless, we still hoped to catch a glimpse of the remnants of the flowers....... and we were in luck. Look at these lovely sakura.

From a distance, the trees appear as beautiful clouds, while the beauty of single blossoms can be enjoyed from a close distance. The cherry blossoms usually bloom for only about a week after full-bloom. The small, round shape flowers flutter to the ground gracefully & the blossoms are said to be the most beautiful at their final stage. For many Japanese people, the blooming of the cherry trees symbolizes human life, transience & nobleness. They celebrate & cherish their beauty while it lasts.

The castle ruins are located inside the Maizuru Park. We spotted many colourful blooms during our walk there. It's interesting that though we've got only 48hrs in Fukuoka, we managed to stop by & spend time enjoying the fresh air & admiring the nature around us.