Cherry Blossom Festival at Dam Park Ohno, Nantan City, Kyoto

Cherry trees beside Ohno Dam

I went to Cherry Blossom Festival (さくら祭り: Sakura Matsuri) at Dam Park Ohno with my friend on 17th April. Ohno Dam is in the mountains of Miyama Town of Nantan City*, located to the north of Kyoto City. It means that it is cooler than lower land like my town, so, we can enjoy them yet. We rode there because public transportation in this area was poor. It usually takes us about an hour and a half by car.

Before we reached Ohno, we dropped in at Woody Keihoku, one of the Roadside Stations (道の駅: Michi no eki) . If you drive a car in Japan, "Michi no eki" are very convenient. You can see them here and there along highways and trunk roads in suburbs or outskirts, and can rest there, also puchase special products of the distincts. I sometimes buy some rare, fresh vegetables at Woody Keihoku, but today, we viewed cherry blossoms there.

* Nantan is one of the cities of Kyoto Prefecture, too. It was newly born by the merger of several towns like Miyama Town in 2006, which had belonged to Kitakuwata District, Kyoto Pref. before.

The cherry trees were in full bloom

Somei Yoshino

A plum tree were in full bloom, too

Yukiyanagi, snow spirea blooms in the cherry blossom season

Beni Shidare

Some birds were coming

Cherry trees are planted along rivers and paths

After a break, we rode and reached at Dam Park Ohno. According to its webpage, there must have been some small events, but we could not see them in our area. Instead, we enjoyed lots of blossoms as we like. There were people playing some sports, picnicing, walking and fishing under much blossoms in full bloom. 

Some trees were blooming at mountainside

Lots of blossom

Koinobori, carp streamers for Boys' Festival on 5th May

Ohno Dam

Mitsuba Tsutsuji, a kind of azaleas
I often see this variety in the mountains of Kyoto at this season

From a small arbor

Thank you for reading !