Family Fun at Kitakami Sakura Festival

     On Sunday, April 16th, my family took a little trip northward to the prefecture of Iwate, specifically to see the cherry blossom tunnel in Kitakami's Tenshochi park. We have attempted to experience this place several times over the years and honestly this was my favorite instance. 

Maybe not full bloom but still beautiful and haunting.

     Despite my husband's checking of the full bloom schedule and temperature patterns for this month over the last few years, we managed to get there a week after full bloom hit the cherry blossom tunnel. This meant that the huge, exciting splendor of the tunnel was already spent with just a few petals clinging in random places, but it also meant that the crowds were smaller. For a few moments, we got to explore the tunnel all by ourselves as the wind whipped the few remaining petals around us. It felt more magical and comfortable for me than when we had come in 2012 and seen it with the crowds in full bloom.

Several drooping blossom trees had just hit full bloom and made for some wonderful selfies. Not as captivating as the tunnel, but very nice.

     Just because the tunnel was past full bloom didn't mean there weren't blooming trees to be seen. Many other cherry blossoms around the park were in bloom, including a cluster of dropping blossoms close to the end of the tunnel.

Elsewhere in the park, many trees were still blooming and gorgeous.

     After a walk through the blossoms, a lunch of festival food was on order for us and there was a lot to choose from.

The festival food area located in front of the gift shop and bathrooms was full of people as lunch approached, but also featured fun live music at the same time.

Our tiny feast.

Such a lovely feasting spot, too.

     My sweet potato/creme brulee hybrid was actually pretty delectable and my kid loved the long fries. My husband grabbed yakisoba and okonomiyaki and we all ate well at the picnic tables that were cordened off from each other, forcing social distance in a way that made me feel so much safer.

The pink sakura princess seemed happy to see our little princess.

     The mascot for the area was also seen walking about and had a really great personality. 

     The festival fun runs through April 30th so if you're in the area and haven't taken part, you still have the chance but need to act fast