IMPERIAL PALACE...and Cherry Blossoms!

Cherry Blossoms, Magnolia, and Camelia blossoms.
A very special day— we caught something that only happens a couple of times a year and only for a short window...!!
A normally restricted part of the Imperial Palace grounds, Inui Street, is opened to the public just twice a year: once for cherry blossoms and once for autumn foliage, and this spring opening is only for nine days. The path is about 750 meters long, lined with around 100 cherry trees, and is usually completely off-limits, so being able to stroll there freely is a rare privilege. This public opening itself started only in 2014, to commemorate former Emperor Akihito’s 80th birthday, so it’s a relatively recent tradition and still feels like a limited, somewhat “insider” experience...!!Read more