A visit to Yahiko Shrine in Spring (Apr 20, 2022)

Yahiko Shrine and Park is one of the closest well-known sightseeing destinations for people in Niigata City. Yahiko shrine is historically known as the most prestigious shrine in Echigo (the old name for Niigata).

I usually visit there to pray for the new year in January, which is called “hatsumode”, or to enjoy viewing chrysanthemums at the “kiku-matsuri (chrysanthemum festival)” in November. In mid-April, I had the chance to visit for the first time in a while. The familiar atmosphere of the magnificent shrine buildings, the precinct, and the entrance path lined by Japanese cedars was the same as always.

The cherry blossoms were almost finished and a gusts of wind sometimes swirled clusters of fallen blossoms into the air. In front of the shrine, there was a small park which features a variety of cherry trees. There, I could learn about different cherry blossom varieties and “somei-yoshino”, which was the most popular, was just one of them!