JAPAN ~ Ukiha (2012-2013) Nagarekawa Cherry Blossom

 Ukiha city is one of these beautiful places that although is getting more popular with Japanese tourism it is mostly unknown with foreign tourists, probably because it has not been mentioned extensively yet by any major foreign travel guidebook. Located in Kyushu, just one hour away from Fukuoka, it is easily reachable by car, bus or train.
 There are many appealing attractions from natural sites like parks with waterfalls to stunning rice terraces, endless fruit farms in which you could experience fruit picking at the right season, beautiful temples, shrines, onsen and cozy little cafes, all of these will try to cover in future posts.
But there is one attraction that is the most popular and it is only available for a few days a year, enjoying the cherry blossoms at the Nagarekawa Cherry Blossom Avenue.

 The cherry trees line up in both sides of the path creating a fairy tale atmosphere during the cherry blossoms season.

 Was really happy to photograph this couple, I smiled to them and they smiled back when I took the photo but I blurred their faces since I didn't ask them if I could post the photo in my blog.

 On the north side of the path, people sit down by the water to enjoy the scenery with their snacks and drinks.

 There are a few stalls operated by locals which sell sweets, snacks and drinks. 

 A popular sweet to eat at this time is "sakuramochi", sweet pink colored sticky rice (mochi) with red bean paste (anko) inside, wrapped in a pickled cherry blossom leaf, delicious!

 Early morning walk enjoying the scenery with solitude.

 Sometimes you might catch a short performance, I loved this guy making everybody laugh at first with his funny faces, dancing with various costumes and masks and fire breathing for the grand finale.

Even though in this resolution you wouldn't be able to see any face, I blurred all the tiny faces of all the people in the background.

 The path which runs from west to east is less than a kilometer long and people usually walk the whole length of it more than one time.

 The kids shirt (face blurred) wrote "live together - balance of nature".

 Looking around outside the cherry blossom path you might spot this area on the mountain with the cherry trees resembling a heart.

 While north of the path people sit down by the water to enjoy, south of the path you can have a view of peach trees as well, their color is a nice shade of pink while the cherry blossoms on the back are more white, a real eye pleasure.

 Peach blossoms in a closer look.

 Humans are not the only ones enjoying the cherry blossoms.

 The cherry blossoms last for around a week. Here is the first stage when some of the flowers have not opened their petals yet.

 And here after a few days all the flowers in full bloom.

 And finally, the last few days before the end, the white petals are falling... if there is a little bit of wind the air carries these petals around creating a fairy tale scenery.

 Dogs are enjoying their cherry blossom walk as well!

You could even visit at night when you might still find a few people enjoying the view with a drink.

I have experienced the cherry blossoms in Ukiha during 2012 and 2013, from what I've been told its getting more popular every year, if it happens that you are in Kyushu at the right time I would totally recommend a visit!

Additional information

GPS coordinates for places in this post, click on them to be redirected to the exact point in google maps. Click on the names to be redirected to their official websites (if applicable).

Nagarekawa Cherry Blossom Avenue: 33°19'53.8"N 130°46'28.3"E
Ukiha train station: 33°20'06.0"N 130°47'20.9"E