Hiroshima: Full Bloom

After my first sighting of a spot in full bloom in Fukuoka yesterday, it seems I'm following both the blossoms and the sun this week, as I was delighted to find Hiroshima was also at its best viewing period.

Today I visited the Peace Memorial Park, followed by a ferry over to Miyajima. While there were a few trees here and there not yet at their peak, the overall atmosphere of these spots is quite lovely. Though some rain is forecast for the weekend which could cause some blossoms to fall, we predict this period of best viewing to continue until April 10.

Hiroshima's iconic Peace Memorial Park was looking very pretty with its cherry trees lining the Motoyasu River. The main area of note is the riverside pathway to the east of the Peace Memorial Statue, which is lined with trees on either side brightening up the walkway.

The trees closer to the Atomic Bomb Dome, on the north side of Motoyasu Bridge, were a bit more sparsely flowering on my visit, so will probably stay in bloom a little after the others.

Directly from the Peace Memorial Park, I took the ferry (around 45 minutes) over to Miyajima, where even from the port I could see a few cherry trees dotting the island. First, I took a detour off Machiya Street and up some of the winding trails to find a peaceful spot with a few deer and lovely views over the water.

I then made my way to the Tahota Pagoda (currently undergoing renovations), and its aptly named Sakura Garden. While there were groups of people at the garden, it was not nearly as crowded as the pathways around Itsukushima Shrine that were also exhibiting some blooming cherry trees. It is a good spot for some shade and peace under the blossoms.