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| somei yoshino at Matsushiro caslte |
The height of spring has finally come here in Nagano city, Nagano, Japan!
The cherries are blossoming late this year by a week or two throughout Japan. It was just last week when I saw so many tourists on sightseeing tour buses (featuring sakura blossom viewing) greatly disappointed to find the cherry blossoms still in bud.
In and around the city of Nagano, which is well-known as the host city of the Nagano Winter Olympic Games 1998, almost every kind of spring blossoms and flowers are in all glory. Sakura, or cherry blossoms, apricot, magnolia, dandelion, shepherd's purse flower all come into bloom!
Matsushiro-caltle in Nagano city, Nagano, Japan
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| the gate of Matsushiro castle |
Founded by a renowned feudal lord, TAKEDA Shingen, around 1560 as he fought fierce battles with UESUGI Kenshin for control of the northern Nagano area. After Shingen's death, lordship of the castle changed hands several times until 1622 when SANADA Nobuyuki was transferred from Ueda caltle by the Tokugawa shogunate. The castle buildings were dismantled during the Meiji restoration as most of other castles in Japan. The gates and walls you see today have been renovated or reconstructed faithfully based on the old records.http://www.nagano-cvb.or.jp/english/excursions.html
Tenkyu-ji temple in Matsushiro, Nagano city
Across the Chikuma (the longest river in Japan) is located Tenkyu-ji temple. It is a small temple where the soul and ashes of Shingen's faithful younger brother, TAKEDA Tenkyu Nobushige, reposes.
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| statue of huge Enma (Yama; the King of Hell) |
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| Nobushige sleeps here |
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| Enma-do |
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