Exploring Kumamoto, Japan

Ninomaru Park. In the evening, many high school students gather here to practice. Location:  https://maps.app.goo.gl/jdTWFCfxyEJvycAJA With the power of summer, the weeds are as powerful as the high school students. Along the Tsuboi River, people were battling the rapidly growing summer grass. Location:  https://maps.app.goo.gl/gUoDKLCyGHTwQrx58 Summer grass is growing thickly next to the stairs leading up from Josaien to Kumamoto Castle. It seems like the manpower here is not keeping up with the power of the summer grass. Location:  https://maps.app.goo.gl/uGYiBHDKQAKxhYEYA The area around Kumamoto Castle is very well maintained and very clean. I always thought that was normal, but it turns out that's not always the case. The grass grows vigorously thanks to the summer's power. However, it seems that the grass here is even more frequently mowed than it seems. As I walked past the Kumamoto Museum, I saw people using blowers to collect fallen green leaves from the cobbles...

Lotus and Kumamoto Castle seen from Kato Shrine Although it is currently the rainy season, the sun is shining brightly and the temperature has already exceeded 30°C by morning. The ground is moist and the weather is good so the grass seems to be growing well. Lawn care work was being carried out at Ninomaru Park in Kumamoto Castle. Not all the grass has been cut yet. It looks like the maintenance work will continue for a while in this hot weather. Several elementary school students were taking a break in the shade of the trees. They take a short break and then set off. Where are they going?  Perhaps to the art museum just ahead? Curious about them, I watched their movements for a while. Then I saw them pass the art museum and continue on. It seemed their destination was not the art museum, but the Kumamoto Museum, which was further ahead. The Kumamoto Museum is in an inconspicuous location, but it seems to be a popular place with children. After this, we passed by the Kumamoto Muse...

After the rain, I took a walk around Kumamoto Castle. Grasses on the Sunayakushi-zaka slope looked very heavy with water drops on their heads. Location:  https://maps.app.goo.gl/mLH7LrC7LZtrBw6B7 Walking to the Plum Gerden, the plum trees were covered with fresh greenery and had changed their appearance! Please compare it with the photos from around April 7th in this link . Plum fruits have grown considerably. I looked around the garden, but I didn't see many plums. Location:  https://maps.app.goo.gl/LRtHxNDqNYuLVS1W8 Kumamoto Castle seen from Miyuki-Zaka slope. Kumamoto Castle can barely be seen through the greenery. Location:  https://maps.app.goo.gl/7oEeCAeByGmA9zqn6 A tourist was taking pictures of Kumamoto Castle at the same place as I was. Descending the slope from the plum garden and reaching the intersection with the Kumamoto City Tram street, you will find a rowan tree on the corner. Around this time of year, it blooms with beautiful flowers. Location: https://ma...

I watched the cherry blossoms in the San-no-Maru Park of Kumamoto Castle every day. The following photo was taken in late March (March 29) when the cherry blossoms were in full bloom. The cherry blossoms were shining white.   March 29,2025 Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/2P4VR1kZqSEFVLuz9 The following photos were taken daily after they were in full bloom.   April 2,2025   April 3,2025 This year, after the cherry blossoms were in full bloom, the temperature dropped to midwinter levels, so the blossoms seemed to last longer. After the temperature recovered, it became spring weather and the cherry blossoms began to fall.   April 6,2025   April 7,2025   April 8,2025 The following video shows a series of photos of the cherry blossoms on April 7, 2025, taken approximately every hour from the time the sun begins to rise in the early morning until the sun sets. Depending on the direction of the sun, the cherry blossoms show various appearances. A Day of Cherry B...

The plum blossoms in Kumamoto, which bloomed 22 days later than average, reached full bloom in early March( See this blog ). About a month later, in the first week of April, the cherry blossoms in full bloom became the main topic of conversation in Kumamoto City. A few days ago (April 2, 2025), we visited the plum garden of Kumamoto Castle. The plum trees, in contrast to the cherry blossoms, were either full of leaves or left with only bare branches. Location:  https://maps.app.goo.gl/LRtHxNDqNYuLVS1W8 When we got closer to one of the leafy trees and took a closer look, we found tiny baby plums beginning to grow. On a different tree of another variety, baby plums with a reddish hue were growing. Last year (2024), due to the mild winter, it seems that the plum harvest in Japan was quite poor. We hope for a bountiful harvest. 　

The cherry blossoms in Kumamoto City, which had remained in full bloom for a long time, gradually began to fall as April began Cherry blossoms at San-no-maru Park 2025/4/3(Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/LgSmaKrAn2B93puU6 ) In the evening, the wind grew stronger, and cherry blossom petals were dancing like a snowstorm at San-no-maru Park. 2025/4/2 (Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/o9uiZSzaSfUxgb8q8 ) Cherry Blossoms Beginning to Fall at San-no-maru Park (4K Video) The row of cherry trees below San-no-maru No. 2 Parking Lot isn’t very crowded. It might be a hidden gem for cherry blossom viewing. 2025/4/3(Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/KoS3vLSismnTMdgb7 ) Let's explore inside Kumamoto Castle. The cherry blossoms and Kumamoto Castle viewed from Miyuki-zaka slope. During this time of year, Miyukizaka is extremely crowded with tourists during the day. 2025/4/2(Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/P572RDLeEr7WPXJFA ) 2025/4/2 The cherry tree-lined path of Hokke-zaka slope . The ch...

In early March, the plum blossoms in Kumamoto Castle Plum Garden, which were in full bloom, had already fallen and the leaves began to grow in late March. Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/hirMtnYi39AUeio86 On March 23, the blooming of cherry blossoms was declared in Kumamoto Prefecture. This was the same day as Kochi Prefecture, and 2025 was the earliest cherry blossoms were declared to bloom in Japan. The day after the blooming was declared, I went to see the cherry blossoms inside Kumamoto Castle. They have hardly bloomed yet. Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/HWnfZdKU5qJJ7Zys5 I headed for Hokke slope from the Ninomaru Park of Kumamoto Castle. Location:  https://maps.app.goo.gl/tx5g9q5CwbQ6XGne8 Cherry blossoms on Hokke slope are a little more advanced than those on Ninomaru Park. Cherry blossoms on a bed of moss. Behind them, red flowers of camellia fall in dots. We will be able to enjoy walking around inside Kumamoto Castle while admiring the cherry blossoms for a while.