It wouldn't be spring in Japan without...

CHERRY BLOSSOMS!!

This year, I am ashamed to admit that I let my responsibilities at work get the better of me, meaning that I lost track of time and missed Sakura season at its peak. Thankfully, I was able to take a day and go back to Shinjuku Gyo-en for my annual "hanami" (blossom-viewing). I was disappointed to see that many of the trees were nearly done blooming and were instead shedding petals everywhere, but I still enjoyed the visit.




Photos:

• Top left: the petals covering the ground near the entrance looked like snow. All afternoon, I was brushing them off myself--it was a breezy day!
  
• Top right: close up
  
• Bottom left: view from the window of the Chinese tea house
  
• Bottom right: This photo cannot do it true justice: the blue sky that day was by far the best I've seen during a visit to this garden. *Almost* equally as spectacular as the pink. :)

Back from a three-month hiatus...

I have finally finished my stint of working 6-day weeks (every week since last September). My hope is to now have more of a life, which will potentially translate into more blog posts. But for now, here's another "catch-up" session:

My mom came for a visit during the second week of March. Here's a little of what we did.

• Left: we made a trip to Hakone (see pix here of my last visit), and took the ropeway car down the mountain. Gave me the absolute best views I've had of Mt.Fuji yet!
• Right: also during the ropeway ride, we passed over an area where they mine for sulfur. Not a pretty smell, but I think it's interesting to look at.

• Left: we visited the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Offices, an extremely tall building in Shinjuku with an elevator that takes guests up near the top for some pretty spectacular views of the city. The garden in the center is Yoyogi Park.
• Right: after the government building we made our way over to Shinjuku Gyo-en. I go here every year during cherry blossom season...it's gorgeous! (Check my archives from spring 2007 and spring 2008 if you want to see photos.) This time we were a little too early for the blossoms, but it's still a nice looking garden.

• Left: On Sunday, we went to Yoyogi Park to see the dancing Elvises. (No, not dancing elves...) Every Sunday these men, all done-up in their best rockabilly attire, come out and get stared at by tourists. They have also been known to dance, although my mom and I had to leave before that part of the festivities had begun. :( Also, if you look on the far left, the second guy in, you'll see what I deem to be the biggest possible Elvis hair ever. He must be the king of all the Japanese Elvises...pun intended.
• Right: Unlike the last time I came here on a Sunday, this time the Elvises brought their entourage of girls in poodle-skirts with them.

• Left: took a moment at one of the train stations to get a snapshot of the newest item at McDonalds all across Japan. By the way, it's only available on the breakfast menu.
• Right: my mom's last night here, we had dinner with a few of my favorite students!