Kawageta

We woke up today to clear skies. Mount Bandai remains snow sprinkled in the distance. After we had some light breakfast of coffee and melonpan bread we got from the food truck near the cherry tree festival site, we prepared to make our way to a local restaurant. Google translated the name of the establishment to "Hot Kitchen."

It was our first time to experience dining in zashiki (tatami seating) as their tables were full. It was operated by a local family, and immediately we felt their warmth and delight to host some foreigners for lunch.

We ordered some omu rice. It came with some miso soup with barley as well as some salad. Everything was well balanced and seasoned and truly delicious. They have been so kind to serve a complimentary dessert composed of milk curd and a sliver of dates and together they were really tasty.

After we've put our shoes back on, we've expressed our gratitude for the meal on our way out.

We marvelled at the streets of Kawageta as we walked back to the sakura site. It was quiet and we could not hear any babies crying, nor any children.

This time we brought a picnic blanket and tried to do what locals do which is to sit under the sakuras and relax. Of course as tourists we had another photoshoot to commemorate this fleeting moment. We saw a couple dressed in their wedding attire who came with a photoshoot team. They looked so in love and happy. There was a moment when they were surrounded by the falling Sakura petals as a gentle breeze passed by.

Mom and dad headed back to the hotel first while my sister and I spent more time by the petal strewn river. We saw some Filipinos amongst the gentle stream of crowds. There was a lady doing some upbeat dancing in front of her camera for her Tiktok audience.

For dinner, we were hoping to buy some yakisoba and pair it with some barbequed meat and the creamy and moist sweet potato that we have yearned for, however some of the food stalls were closed. So we ended up buying some savoury Chinese pancakes (called Xi'an Bing) that was filled with ground meat and some vegetables) We also got some karage fried chicken with yuzu sauce.

On our way back to the hotel my sister and I wanted to stop by a bench next to some sakura trees. A lady was just finishing her book read when we got there. We had another photoshoot there.

Back at the hotel, we marvelled at the sunset over Inawashiro lake and then headed back out with mom and dad for some night photography of the Kannonji river Sakuras. The flowers soak up the changing light colours and there was an enchanting music in the background to compliment the magical experience. There was a bit of a crowd. I only saw two caucasians there and mostly Japanese visitors.

My sister and I then went to the onsen and to our dismay there were obnoxious, disrespectful and inconsiderate Vietnamese bathers, loud and trying to splash water in the pools.

After that annoying experience, we enjoyed our meal from the food stalls back in our room and not long after we've turned in for the night.もっと詳しく