Exploring my local area in Nerima.

 

Some final blossoms and wild flowers amongst fallen sakura petals.

Aizen Temple in Nerima Kasugacho

 
Snowboarding trip up north to Niigata Prefecture with my coworker, Simon, and a student on Monday 12th.

 

Stunning views from the top of Mitsumata mountain in Kagura before speeding down the 1.5 km course! It was only my second time, and it takes so much stamina and uses every muscle I have! But I love the feeling of freely hurtling down a mountain surrounded by such breathtaking scenery! I really can't wait to go again!!

Eating a local treat, Sasadango, which is pounded Green tea flavoured rice cake wrapped in a bamboo leaf.

Later, I soaked in an Onsen, Hot Spring, and I had the womens bath all to myself! I was entertained by beautiful views of the mountains and the snowy surroundings, and also the peaceful sound of the falling rain. 

It was just like one of the images of Japan I had before coming  :)

Snowboarding

I went snowboarding with my coworker Simon and a student, Koichi in Kagura, Niigata Prefecture. It was awesome with amazing views!

Eating sasadango- rice cake wrapped in a bamboo leaf

I am the snowboarding ninja!

Afterwards we went to a hot spring, where I had the women's bath all to myself in the snow!

Hanami.. and me!

It's Cherry Blossom season! The Sakura 桜 flower is Japan's national flower, and it is, for lack of a better phrase, a really big deal in Japan.
My students started talking about the coming of Spring and the blooming of the sakura all the way back in January.

I have compiled a few reasons as to the importance of this flower.

• The blossoms last only a week or so. The transient nature of the flowers symbolize the delicacy of our lives and death, and remind us not to take our lives for granted.
• The flowers face not upwards towards the Sun, but downwards towards us.
• The cherry blossoms bloom at the start of the Japanese academic year, and thus remind the Japanese of their youth and school-aged days.
• The pale pink cherry blossoms symbolise youth and love.

The sakura blossom is a popular design, and can be found on the 100yen coin, clothing, man hole covers, toilet paper- you name it!!

Cherry Blossom Viewing Parties, or hanami 花見 are a picnic held under a cherry blossom tree. The most famous parks, including Ueno Park, can get extremely crowded and crammed with drunk young Japanese men climbing on the trees and singing obnoxiously loud karaoke. Fortunately, I managed to avoid such rowdy places!!

Night-time Hanami with some students Saturday night in Hikarigaoka Park

It was very cold, but very enjoyable!!!

The mountains of beer at the supermarket, and posing with the Sakura.

 Inokashira Park, Kichijouji, West Tokyo on Sunday afternoon