Iwakuni and Majime and Tokiwa (again)

About two weeks ago I took a trip to Iwakuni with Akemi and Miho to see some cherry blossoms. It was still a little early in the season, so they were only twenty percent open or so, but it was still a lovely trip. We were able to see Kintaikyo, the famous five arched bridge in the evening. And we could walk across it for free, because it was after hours. I understand that, yes it's a historic landmark and very important, but I still don't understand being charged five hundred yen to walk across a bridge. Meandering around the town we saw some more cherry blossoms and a nice view of Iwakuni-jo and thankfully, no Army guys. For dinner we went to a restaurant called Sanzoku, in the middle of the mountain, decked out with fire pits and outside dining, souvenir shopping and taiko drums you could beat on. In the parking lot was a car the was completely not suspicious. A black Bentley with tinted windows with a man in a flashy suit and sunglasses getting something out of the back.

On Friday last, I went to Tokiwa for a bike ride around the lake before work. The cherry blossoms were in full bloom and it was a zoo. There's not a terrible amount to say, pictures are below.

Sunday was the NOVA hanami at the Majime River, near city hall about one click from my apartment. A pleasant if uneventful time of light drinking and snacking with coworkers in the park. The Japanese staff came, ate some Moss Burger off to the side and then left. It started to rain and we all went our separate ways after an hour.