Downtown cherries were declared "full bloom" on the 27th. The annual Chiyoda Sakura Festival, centered on famous spots in Chiyoda Ward such as Chidorigafuchi, Yasukuni Shrine and Kitanomaru Park, began the same day; the weeping cherries in front of the Palaceside Building are in splendid bloom, foreign visitors are taking photos, and the spring mood is in full bloom too.
The festival runs through Sunday, April 7. The Imperial Palace Inui-dori opening is March 30 (Sat) through April 7.
The Palaceside Building is a sponsor. Usually closed Sundays and holidays, it will open specially Sunday, March 31, with the west entrance and other doors open and indoor escalators running. Some first-basement and first-floor restaurants and shops plan to operate (please check each shop for hours).
For hanami visitors, the usual free shuttle "Sakura Festival-go" also runs March 30 and 31, both days 10 a.m.–6 p.m. every 15–20 minutes or so. As in past years a temporary stop "Takebashi Mainichi Newspapers" will be set on the ward road under the expressway behind the Palaceside Building (northwest), just before Uchibori-dori. (See the map at the end for the route).
And further, lunchtime concerts by Vocal Consort Tokyo were held for the first time in the free space beside the Palaceside Building first-floor east entrance, three times during the festival. The first was the 27th; later, April 1 (Mon) and 3 (Wed), each about 30 minutes from 12:30 p.m. The chorus is a professional mixed choir founded in February 2014 by conductor Kazutoshi Shinomi (Tokyo College of Music). It works with 27 young vocalists chosen by audi
tion. The Mainichi Newspapers sponsors their eighth concert "27 Brilliant Voices with Early-Instrument Masters" at Sakura Hall (Shibuya) on April 19, which led to this mini concert at the Palaceside Building, home of The Mainichi Newspapers' head office.
On the 27th nine members took part, presenting nine pieces including spring shoka such as "Haru" and "Oborozukiyo" and "Patrem omnipotentem" from Bach's Mass in B minor. More than 50 listeners gathered around the east-entrance stairs and gave a big hand =photo left.
When you come for hanami, please drop by the Palaceside Building too.
