Asakusa Sensoji – Night time illumination of cherry blossoms or “yozakura”

Tokyo’s hotspots for cherry blossoms implies locations like Kudanshita (Chidorigafuchi), Ueno Park, Shinjuku Gyoen, Meguro River. Sumida River is also one more popular location in the neighborhood of Asakusa. Asakusa or the famous tourist spot of Sensoji itself finds less mention in terms of a destination to see the Cherry blossoms and is mostly overlooked especially in the evenings. I went to take a look at the Asakusa Sensoji temple and discovered that very less crowds to watch this rather beautiful location of cherry blossoms contrasted on the beautiful shrines in the backdrop.

See the main shrine/hall of the Sensoji Temple with beautiful flowers in the foreground and the Tokyo Skytree lurking in the backdrop.No crowds and truly bliss.
Asakusa Yozakura - Night time illumination of cherry blossomsThe meditation pose of Buddha sits peacefully with the Cherry tree behind it. I am not sure why this spot is not more famous for cherry blossoms and yozakura experience… Good for me though, no selfie crowdsAsakusa Yozakura - Night time illumination of cherry blossomsThis shrine just at the backside of the Sensoji Temple had some people come and see the beautiful Cherry blossoms in the temple vicinity. One theory why this area is not crowded could be that, you cannot spread out your blue mats here and start drinking and eating in the temple premises like the other locations where you can enjoy that kind of a hanami (flower watching) setup.Asakusa Yozakura - Night time illumination of cherry blossomsI saw a small water stream, but did not have a tripod, so just used the camera’s hand held night shot function where it takes a blast of three-four shots and stitches the best shot with no handshake. Its come out quite good without the tripod, in my personal view…. I should buy a tripod anyways, high time.
Asakusa YozakuraNow, although I like the standard cherry trees in bloom, the Shidare-Zakura or weeping cherry trees are my favorite. It kind of gives a fireworks effect or something which looks quite amazing in terms of the overall waterfall effect of its blossom. I did not expect a shidare-zakura in the temple premises, but this one at the back of the Sensoji Temple just blew me away.
Asakusa Yozakura - Night time illumination of cherry blossomsThe five storied pagoda and the meditating Buddha with the cherry blossoms to give company is a perfect Asian/Japanese experience which is the first reason why I came to Japan. Love this…. A snap taken by placing the camera inside a sandstone structure leading to a natural frame in this snap below.Asakusa Yozakura - Night time illumination of cherry blossomsThe five storied pagoda Gojyuu no Tou and the cherry blossom trees in foreground. Total bliss. I sat down here for around 10 minutes and a maximum of 5 people passed by me, gives you an idea of how less number of people visit the temple for cherry blossoms. I think it is a hidden gem….Asakusa Yozakura - Night time illumination of cherry blossomsBeautiful blossoms all around.Asakusa Yozakura - Night time illumination of cherry blossomsThe Sensoji Temple doors close quite early in the evening (I think by 18:00 or so). Asakusa usually is quiet, cherry season or not, and I like to come here all around the year to enjoy the atmosphere. Evening walks in this temple complex even without and cherry blossoms are a must do in case you visit Tokyo.Asakusa Yozakura - Night time illumination of cherry blossomsI moved on to the temple front side where there were quite a few people visiting the shrine and shops in the Nakamise Street were still open. Beautiful cherry blossoms in front of the main gate leading to the Sensoji Temple.Asakusa Yozakura - Night time illumination of cherry blossomsThese days no trip to Asakusa is complete without the Tokyo Skytree view. After the walks in Asakusa, I also made some time to walk around the Sumida river banks with the cherry blossoms in full view and the Tokyo Skytree contrasted with the view nicely. Asakusa Yozakura - Night time illumination of cherry blossomsThe pink color on the Tokyo Skytree illumination will continue until the cherry blossom season is ON in the city. It will revert back to standard illumination patterns post that. A Sakura cherry blossoms frame for the Tokyo Skytree.Asakusa Yozakura - Night time illumination of cherry blossomsThe other side of the Sumida River also has beautiful trees (you can see them on the other side of the bank). Faint sounds of people singing folk songs on that end,  beautiful cherry blossom moods. The boats well lit in the water add to the overall ambience.Asakusa Yozakura - Night time illumination of cherry blossomsI always enjoy the below sight. Many a times you will see a couple taking snaps, with one being the dominant partner interested in taking shots while the other keeping company. Sometimes the other partner looks bored or cannot understand why they take dozens of snaps from the same spot and angle. My wife did not join me this weekend for precisely the same reason.Asakusa Yozakura - Night time illumination of cherry blossomsA nearby primary school in the vicinity of Asakusa with beautiful flowers in the playground. Already nearing 7 p.m. time to go home I guessAsakusa Yozakura - Night time illumination of cherry blossomsOn the way back stopped by again the shrineAsakusa Yozakura - Night time illumination of cherry blossomsTook one good look at the Sakura in the temple premises before I go back home, only to come back next year!Asakusa Yozakura - Night time illumination of cherry blossomsSakura, cherry blossoms are meaningful because they stay only for a week or two. It is this transient nature which is what makes them cherished and worth enjoying in the small span they bloom in.Asakusa Yozakura - Night time illumination of cherry blossoms

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