Cherry Blossom Report: Osaka
by Francois, staff writer of japan-guide.com
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2011/04/15 - Cherry Blossom Report: Osaka
During today's visit to Osaka, I found that the city's somei yoshino cherry trees have reached and past their most attractive state for this season. There was occasional rain throughout the day, causing many more petals to fall from the trees. Today was the second and final cherry blossom report from Osaka this year. When Scott visited five days ago for the April 10 Cherry Blossom Report, the flowers were at full bloom.
I doubt the somei yoshino trees will have any more than a few remaining flowers by the middle of next week. Travelers who still want to see cherry blossoms in Osaka after the next few days should visit spots that have later blooming varieties of trees.
I started my day at JR Osaka Station, where extensive renovations will soon be completed. This morning I found some of the new areas were already open, and I can say using the station is much more pleasant than before. Various design techniques have been used to create a pleasantly spacious atmosphere. The entire station complex will be open to the public early next month.
Osaka Castle
April 15, 2011 - petals starting to fall
Many of the castle's cherry trees are losing petals at an accelerated rate. Although it will still be possible to see flowers over the weekend, I think next week the cherry blossom season will be effectively over at Osaka Castle.
Kema Sakuranomiya Park
April 15, 2011 - petals starting to fall
The trees alongside the Okawa River and in Kema Sakuranomiya Park are in a similar state as those at the castle. In some places in particular the trees had lost almost all their flowers.
Expo 70 Commemorative Park
April 15, 2011 - petals starting to fall
Although in some places the ground was covered by thousands of petals, I was surprised when I examined the branches of the Expo Park's trees and found them still quite full of flowers. I think the Expo Park is the best bet for travelers who still hope to see somei yoshino cherry blossoms in Osaka within the next few days. When Scott visited earlier in the week during full bloom the park was very crowded, but today the park was almost empty.
Osaka Mint Bureau
April 15, 2011 - from about to open to petals starting to fall
The vast majority of Japan's cherry blossom spots are covered in trees of the somei yoshino variety, but the Osaka Mint Bureau is one the few places where this is not the case. Here there is a wide variety of trees on display, creating a tunnel of different coloured flowers. Moreover, most of the mint's trees are of the yaezakura variety (cherry trees with blossoms of more than five petals) which generally bloom a few weeks after somei yoshino.
As the somei yoshino trees pass their seasonal peak, the Osaka Mint Bureau is becoming the best place in Osaka to see flowers. The discrepancy between the scattered sightseers at the other cherry blossom spots of Osaka that I visited and the large crowds at the mint showed clearly the mint's current popularity.
Not only are many of the mint's trees at or approaching full bloom, there are also many that haven't opened yet. The grounds of the Osaka Mint will remain open to the general public for cherry blossom viewing through April 20.
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