Unga Mizube Park lucky timing SPOT REPORT

The last few days in the Kanto region have been dreary, but today, Friday, March 27th, the clouds parted. So I hopped on the train to head to a lovely sakuara spot, the Tone Unga Canal.

 A Dutch engineer in the Meiji era designed the canal between the Tone and Edo Rivers. The canal provided passage for merchants transporting goods to the new capital, Edo. Today, it's a heritage waterway, Unga Mizube Park.

Cherry trees lining the road next to Unga Mizube Park

Incidentally, I met foreign residents who live nearby and chatted while we watched the light change as clouds obscured and parted to illuminate the blooms.

Yuki yanagi on the edge of the canal

The blooming of yuki yanagi, snow willow, coincides with the flowering of the cherries at the canal. You can take in the paper-white blooms alongside the ephemeral cherry blossoms.

As of Friday, the sakura here are only half open. If the weather cooperates this weekend, you've got a chance to see the blooms here.

Tell us about the bloom status where you are with a spot report!