kitakami tenshochi

Jun 23 2009 | robert b. staehlin |

Kitakami Tenshochi (北上展勝地) is located along the Kitakami-gawa (北上川), a.k.a. “Kitakami River”, in Kitakami, Iwate, Japan. 10,000 sakura trees are in the Tenshochi Koen. It’s one of the best places to see cherry blossoms in the Tohoku region (Northern most area of prefctures on the main island of Honshu). During the Kitakami Tenshochi Cherry Blossom Festival (mid-April to early May – varies depending on blossoms), horse driven wagons/carriages and boats that take up up and down the river are operated. Of special interest is eeh night viewing of the cherry blossoms as they are illuminated at night.

Robert currently lives in Takizawa Village, Iwate Prefecture, about 550km (350mi) North of Tokyo, and enjoys traveling, photographing, computers/technology, quality time with his wife and 2 children, and indulging now in then in the "otaku" culture. He has lived in Northern Japan for 6 years and currently teaches English "everything" (Speaking, Reading, Writing, Culture, computers, etc.) at the college level after working his way up from a JET Programme participant. Alas, he has no blog to speak of but you can follow and contact him on Flickr or Twitter as LostInInaka

floating paper lanterns

keeping the rocks clean