The sakura cherry blossoms were only at about 20% open on Monday. But it was still a beautiful day to be out doing hanami even with the crazy weather.

The sky was bright blue. The clouds were mostly white with patches of gray and dark gray-blue. The contrast between the clouds and the sky made for some good photography.

By Thursday, the sakura blossoms should be around 50% opened. But the weatherman said it might rain that day. If so, take an umbrella or rain jacket and brave the elements. If you take lots of battery power, you’ll have a good opportunity for some wonderful shots of sakura using your camera flash.

At Akamanma in Arashiyama, a cafe gallery along the Nagatsuji Dori, sakura are in bloom! Kyoka Okumura is showing her fine sakura art and sakura goods on the 2nd floor of Akamanma.

Sakura Kyoka art and goods will be on display and for sale at Akamanma in Arashiyama until March 18th. The cafe restaurant gallery is open from 10am to 10pm, but the gallery will only be open until 6pm.

For more information on Sakura Kyoka, visit her website: SakuraKyoka.com or stop by the gallery!

Sakura Tapestry

Akamanma Cafe Restaurant Arashiyama

The hall will be available February 2, March 2, July 6 and August 3.

Anyone wishing to use the hall can obtain an application form from the website Phoenix Hall. Thr deadline to apply is January 29.

For more information call (06) 6363-0211.

Osaka Castle

The Osaka Suijo Bus Ltd. will operate two special evening cruises to view the holiday illuminations in Osaka from December 12 to 25 from the Yodoyabashi Port.

The Romantic Illumination Cruise will be 50 minutes long and feature live music and illuminations in the Nakanoshima district. The cost is ¥2000 for adults and ¥1000 for children.

The Renaissance Illumination Cruise will be 25 minutes long and travel along the illuminated donjons (castle keeps) of Osaka Castle. The cost is ¥850 for adults and ¥400 for children.

For more information, details and reservations call (06) 6942-5511.

The event is open to foreign residents and their family and friends. Attendees need to bring food or drinks.

For more information call (072) 727-6912.

If you wish to experience the Kobe Luminarie, it is best to take the train. Traveling there by car will take much more time out of your day because of heavy traffic. Also, if you visit the area earlier in the month, you will experience less foot traffic, as the event goes on more and more people gather to enjoy it. But if you like crowds, then later in the month is for you.

To get to the Luminarie take the Hanshin Railway line to any of the stations between Motomachi and Sannomiya stations.

NOTE: Illumination area times may change due to weather changes.

At either Sports Day, parents and family members come to the event early in the morning and lay down little picnic mats and chairs to mark off their spots. It’s dog eat dog on Sports Day! If families come late, most of the best spots are taken and finding a good view of the events becomes difficult.

During Sports Day events, hundreds of people with digital still and video cameras line the outer perimeter of the chalked dirt track as they sit or stand positioned to get their best shots they can of their children participating in Sports Day.

Sports Day usually starts 8 or 9 in the morning and ends at 1 or 2 in the afternoon with a break for lunch around noontime. Most people either bring their own bento or one is provided by the school, usually ordered and paid for in advance.  It’s a long day, but one students, faculty and families look forward to every year!

Admission is free.

Participants will meet at the Karasuma-Oike subway station in Kyoto City.

To apply, call (075) 752-3511 or visit the Kyoto City International Foundation website.

There will be a seminar on how to find a job in Japan as well as legal advice on how to get a working visa. The seminar will be held from 10:30 to 12:30 pm on the same day.

Students graduating from universities between autumn 2009 and March 2010 are eligible to attend.

Registration can be made online at the International Foreign Students Association webpage or you can call (06) 6772-7327.

Visitors can answer questions during quizzes about the castle and there will be an artificial snow field for people to play in.

Admission is free!

For more information call (06) 6941-3044.