Sakura Season

 

I took this picture in our front yard this morning!

Heather and I have been living at/volunteering for Yaedake Farm and Bakery this week and I'm *pooped*! If you've ever done farm work you'll know what I'm talking about. Sunrise to sunset, there's never a shortage of tasks. But what a great way to spend the month! We alternate days between the farm and the bakery... but that's fodder for another post. Today's post heralds the fact that it's almost Cherry Blossom Time!

There are several Cherry Blossom Festivals here on Okinawa: Nago, Yaese, and a couple in Naha. Also, last year's post on the same subject is filled with informative links. But living on Yaedake Mountain  has provided me with first hand info about the upcoming 31st Motobu Yaedake Cherry Blossom Festival, so that's the one I'm going to write about!

The festival kicks off Saturday, January 17, with activities continuing Sunday,January 18. You can come up any time through Sunday, February 15 and still see some great cherry blossoms. But if you want to celebrate in proper Okinawan style you don't want to miss any of the following events. 

I have to mention  that my information was provided by Katosan, another farm hand here. Between his English/my Japanese and with much laughing and pantomiming we managed to work our way through the schedule. There may be some discrepancies. I apologize if you show up for the kite show and it turns out to be a belching contest... we farm hands do our best, you know, but we're not paid translators. :)

Saturday, January 17

09:30 - 10:30    Suggested Walking Tour 3K (or maybe it's a race?)

10:30 - 11:30    Paper Airplane and Kite contest (bring your own)

11:50 - 13:20    Tug of War (we had fun pantomiming this one!)

13:40 - 13:50    Motobo Junior High School band performance

14:00 - 14:55    Official Opening Ceremony

14:10 - 17:40    Karaoke

17:50 - 18:30    Large Drums (but not Eisa, something different)

Sunday, January 18

12:00 - 13:00    Children's Performance

13:10 - 13:40    Professional Singers (Managawa maybe)

13:55 - 15:15    Singers Group (the flyer reads in English "Selfish Cheerful Cat")

15:25 - 15:55    A New Kind of Dance (lol I think this one got lost in translation!)

16:10 - 16:45    Art More Groovy (live music)

17:00 - closing (no specified time)     Traditional Activity (hmmmm, got any ideas? lol)

And possibly, starting at 09:00 and perhaps continuing through the whole day, maybe, some kind of motor show. Like I said, we are probably better at pulling weeds and hauling compost than we are at translating.

Regardless of the actual activities, come on out for the fun of the thing. The mountain is covered in hundreds of cherry trees, the people are fantabulously friendly, and you're sure to have a good time.

Additional Details for those of you who need them:

Price:    Viewing the trees, watching the people and shows are free. For everything else (food booths, trinkets, etc) bring yen.

Directions:    It's just like going to Ocean Expo Park. Take the Expressway north to its end just south of Nago. It merges/becomes 58. Stay on 58 to Prefectural Road 84 and turn left. (You may see an earlier turn for 84 that goes right - ignore it! Wrong 84. Stay on 58 winding through Nago.) From there follow the English language signs to Mount Yaedake. The official events are at Sakura Park on the mountain. You can't miss it, especially if you go on festival weekend.

 

An early bloomer... a tempting tease of what's to come.

Comments

[Kennooo]

That’s great that the blossoms are out so early this year. I’m stuck in Canada right now where it was -24 Celsius the other day. I cant wait to get back to the island and see the pink trees looking like cotton candy

If any one cares there is some more general info on the cherry blossom festivals in Okinawa here

http://www.okinawa-information.com/nago/festivals_nago/nago_cherry_blossom_festival_okinawa_japan.htm

And here

http://www.okinawa-information.com/motobu/motobu_festivals/mt_yae_cherry_blossom_festival_okinawa_japan.htm

[Larissa Traquair]

Great info - love the "lost in translation" stuff!!!

[Tara H]

I am so excited about this.

[Joelle]

Anyone who goes up this weekend, please report back on the "status" of the blossoms... trying to decide how long to wait to go up!

[Snuff]

Quite a few blossoms, but I think next week will be more. Unless we get a huge wind storm and all the blossoms get blown out! :)

[Vivian]

I just went on Tuesday. There were quite a few trees with full blossoms, especially if you go all the way to the top of the mountain. I know nothing about cherry blossoms and blossoming, but I would say we went too early. There were still a lot of trees that were less than 50% in bloom. It might be nicer in 1-2 weeks is my guess.

[Sk]

Thanks so much for the great directions! We went Jan 17 and loved it! Might make the trek again this weekend, or maybe venture down to Shuri for their festival. Take your camera, the pics turn out great and try and get at least a few family photos, PERFECT for sending to friends and family back home (esp. when their trees are covered in snow!).

[MA]

don't waste you time going to the yaese one. i went today with a friend and it was a TOTAL waste of time and gas. It took us over 2 hours to find it. There are no signs in english to get there. The only sign pointing towards the park is at the bottom of the hill that leads up to it. You have to park far away and take a bus up the hill to the top where there are some very very remains of a castle and a few already-blossomed-and-leaves-growing sakura. there were about 4 booths for food and the local elderly doing a dance. it was fun, but basically it sucked. there was, however a tiny park with the coolest swing thing i've ever seen. there are about 10 horses connected to a pole which is hanging and kids sit on it and rock the whole thing back and forth. it's crazy. i'll post a pic on my flickr site, http://www.flickr.com/photos/organiquephoto/ .

[Dasha]

MA, I checked out your flicker site - oh, man, you have a great eye for color. Awesome pics.

[Joelle]

My understanding it that since the sakura bloom north to south that it's now time to be looking at trees around here. We'll be heading to the Yogi Park (near Naha) Festival that runs from the 11-15th of February.

[Lewis Parker]

I lived on top of Mount Yaedake which the locals called Yaetake. It was site 18 of the 30th Artillery Brigade US Army.I arrived in early march of 1969 and departed in November of 70. We tore down the radar site and gave the land back to Japan.I left part of my life there. As you go through a place between the rocks on top you will see a welcome to Yaedake sign. It used to be our site 18 sign.Stop there and look on the left side of the road. I cut my name into the rock with a chisel 40 years ago. It is probably still readable.I left a newborn baby girl in Toguchi village also.Lewis Parker Anderson,S.C.

[Lewis Parker]

If anyone ever sees my name cut into the rock on top of Yaedake mountain I would appreciate it very much if you drop me a note and tell me.Lewis Parker phoenix4682@yahoo.com

[Lewis Parker]

I left a part of my life on top of Yaedake mountain. The locals called it Yaetake. I was stationed there on what was Site 18 of the US Army 30th Artillery Brigade. I arrived during March of 1969 and departed in November of 70 so I missed the cherry blossoms.My name is carved in the rock on the left hand side as you pass the welcome to Yaedake sign.I also left a newborn daughter in Toguchi village below due to a paternity dispute. She was mine and today I am hunting her.Lewis Parker.

[Lewis Parker]

If anyone visiting Yaedakee Mountain ever gets a chance to stop at the entrance please look carefully on the left hand side and see if you can make out my name carved in the rock.I carved it with a chisel in 1970.I was cut pretty deep so it may have endured 40 years.It is straight across from the welcome to Yaedakee sign. Thanks Lewis Parker.phoenix4682@yahoo.com