Downtown cherries are at their peak. The public opening of the Imperial Palace's Inui-dori that began March 30 has drawn crowds every day; on April 1, when the new era name was announced, it was a bit chilly but the Palaceside Building area bustled. Photo above is the stream of people coming down Kii-kuni-zaka toward Takebashi Crossing from the Inui-mon side after the opening, it seems. The familiar angle — the Palaceside Building's white elevator towers beyond the street cherries — is still the best spot where blossoms and building set each other off. (The photo at the end is the March 31 Mainichi morning Tokyo edition reporting the opening.)
The opening runs about a kilometer from Sakashita-mon along the west of Hasuike-bori to Inui-mon
. Some 103 trees of 31 kinds, mainly Somei-yoshino, can be enjoyed.
On April 1, the new fiscal year and the noon announcement of the new era, TV crews gathered in front of Inui-mon, interviewing people coming out and reporting from the spot. =photo right.
As we noted on this blog March 27, the Chiyoda Sakura Festival is also on. Together with the Inui-dori opening it runs through Sunday, April 7 — a cherry-blossom week.
The Palaceside Building is a festival sponsor. Except the last day the 7th, it is open every day. The first floor and first basement have many restaurants and shops, ideal for a rest when you are tired of walking, lunch, or an evening party. Please drop in.
