4 April 2010: sakura 桜 [images from 2 - 4 April]
This has been the WORST Spring I can remember in the Kanto and Tokai regions - the east-central part of Japan's main island of Honshu. For the last several weeks, it has been consistently cold and/or rainy - I would have gladly had less of the amazingly warm clear weather we had in January in return for something approaching normal in late March and early April.
Nevertheless, the cherry trees don't depend completely on the weather in deciding when to blossom, so many Japanese this year had to drink their sake warm [worked for me, too!] to make it through the mandatory o-hanami [お花見, "flower viewing"] parties in the chilly temps and weak or missing sunshine.
Friday's weather report was for cloudy heading towards rain. When I got up at 4:30 AM to catch the first train to Izu Kogen station, it was totally overcast. So I looked at the weather report again and saw that a clearing trend was supposed to come in over the weekend. Figuring I would have another chance on another day, I decided to sleep in. However, before I could get my eyes closed again, the clouds started to break, and the light was looking pretty good. So, although I had already missed the first train, I could catch the 6:23. So I did - and arrived at Izu Kogen station just in time to enjoy a howling downpour.
But, I wrapped my camera in a plastic bag and did some shooting anyway, returning home an hour later soaked to the bone.
Fortunately, the weather report for the weekend was borne out on Saturday, so I went back to enjoy the tree-lined streets under somewhat more pleasant circumstances.
BUT! Today, Sunday - overcast and cold again! Bahhh.