2011/03/31 - Kumamoto Report
byfrancois

This yearKumamoto was the first major city to have its cherry blossoms open, about a week and a half ago on March 21st. As predicted, the city is just entering into the ideal period to see the flowers, with this weekend likely to be when the flowers reach full bloom.

Unfortunately, after high probability of clear skies on Friday the weather forecast for the next few days is overcast with a significant chance of rain, but as long as the weather does not become too bad it should be a great time forhanami into next week. Next weekend also has a high probability of being a good time to see the flowers, but by then the flowers will probably be beginning to fall and the season will be coming to an end.

Today was my first chance to use the expanded section of theKyushu Shinkansen, which is now connected to the rest of theshinkansen network. The section of the Kyushu Shinkansen that runs along the northern half of Kyushu began operation just last month. Fitting for my travel plans, I used the Sakura train category.

I arrived at Kumamoto Station and disembarked in the new shinkansen area. The station is quite nice, and I remembered visiting it last year when it was undergoing construction.

Kumamoto Castle

I headed off from Kumamoto Station on one of the city trams toKumamoto Castle, located in the downtown area. I was happy to see that the cherry blossoms are almost at full bloom, having almost 80% of the flowers open. The castle is currently a great place to visit for cherry blossoms and will continue to be so into the weekend.

Kumamoto Castle is one of the best castles in Japan, thanks to its painstaking reconstruction and its expansive and impressive castle grounds. Although there were quite a few people eating and drinking under the trees today, the castle grounds didn't seem crowded at all. This Saturday and Sunday though it should be a lot busier. Particularly in light ofHimeji Castle currently undergoing long term construction, Kumamoto Castle is one of the best places in Japan to get the castle experience.

Suizenji Garden

Along the same tram line that connect Kumamoto Station and Kumamoto isSuizenji Garden, a spacioustraditional Japanese garden that has a miniatureMount Fuji in its design. Here the cherry trees were at the same state as those at Kumamoto Castle: almost at full bloom, with full bloom expected for this weekend. There is a particularly dense area of cherry trees in the garden's southeastern corner, where there were a few picnickers today.

After today's reporting I once again made use of the new Kyushu Shinkansen. This time the Sakura train I took was the different train model that is currently in service, so I was able to try both the trains today.

After a short 39 minute ride I disembarked at Hakata station inFukuoka. This station has also undergone a renovation to coincide with the extension of the Kyushu Shinkansen, which I saw underway during last year's reporting. The expansion of Hakata Station seems to be particularly nice, and I am looking forward to exploring the station more.

After having already done today'sFukuoka cherry blossom report earlier in the day,Schauwecker and I may find a place to eat dinner somewhere on one of the building's upper floors if we do not eat at one of the city's famousfood stalls.

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