I turned a corner, and in the shade of the trees on either side were people in compact circles, filling the space with talking and laughter. Blue, grey, and orange tents were everywhere, lightly sprinkled with pink petals. There must have been around a thousand people, celebrating in the dappled light. Board games were spread on wooden tables atop pink and blue picnic blankets; some were covered with food, and others held camping stoves over which meat was roasted.
The blooming of the Sakura aligns with the spring rice planting season, and from ancient times, it was believed that the rice paddy Sa-no-kami (rice paddy deity god) and other mountain kami (the general word for deity gods) came from the mountains to dwell in the Sakura blossoms. Many Sakura meant a favorable harvest, so people would honor the kami by sharing a meal with them under the cherry blossoms. The spirit of this ancient practice is still carried out today in the many Sakura festivals.
Advancing further, the clearing gave way to a vast, stone courtyard. In the center were numerous pink banners, festival tents, food trucks, and eating tables. Sakura-themed desserts, skewered chicken(yakitori), kebabs, French fries, cakes, pies, and roasted squid were enjoyed by countless groups of festival-goers. Nearby, I watched a performer whose show involved juggling chainsaws, playing with fire, and balancing atop chairs and barrels. Later on the path, ancient stone steps led to a large castle garden, where bushes dotted with yellow flowers decorated a grid of cobblestone paths. The mature cherry blossoms on either side turned the paths into huge shaded corridors.
