Hanami

Today was the first day of the Golden Week holiday and I spent the day engaging in the tradition of Hanami, a custom of enjoying the beauty of the flowers. The cherry blossoms were in bloom and the flowers near the onsen were perfect for a picnic out in the park.





For Hanami, the Japanese generally go to the park or somewhere that the cherry blossoms are in bloom to picnic. Outside of the onsen was a popular spot because people were there all day taking pictures and grilling out.





There is also a little body of water on the backside of the onsen with a tree in the middle and giant goldfish in the pond.





Tomorrow I am leaving Osaki City and going to Yonezawa to see a samurai battle and then to Sendai and Matsushima. Matsushima is the site of one of Japan's Three Great Views. It has a picturesque view of the coast with numerous tiny islands covered in pine trees.