We've got lots of fun things lined up for this break, and it all culminates in grand sakura fashion

Get ready to see Japan's Sakura Spring Break on this Life in Japan!

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There are many great places to see Sakura in the Tokyo area, but the tickets are limited and many places like Ueno are all sold out.

Not to fear— we got tickets for Shinjuku Park, and are going there to meet up with a new friend and check it out.

That's a weird tree over there!

Look at Anna posing the boys... Oh my goodness!

Anna's getting some shots over here.

So today we have Dr Justin with us! Hi guys!

Tell me, you have a YouTube channel?

Yeah, I have a YouTube channel, Dr Justin in Japan

And I do videos about Okinawa, in southern Japan.

I swim with fish and also do research on mental health and Japan.

I love joining your family today! This is so exciting.

Well it's so fun to have you with us. Thanks for joining us!

Let's do this! Let's do this!

It doesn't look like Okinawa but it's still fun!

What is happening here?!

There we go!

With the introductions done, it was time to explore the park.

Even though the skies were gray, the park was full of beautiful sakura trees of all types in bloom.

It was one beautiful landscape after another, but it comes at a price,

because if you visit Shinjuku park with kids, beware: there's no playgrounds to entertain the kids

and even playing in the fields is prohibited except in one designated area.

But if beautiful scenes are your thing, you'll find it at Shinjuku Park.

These are two very very famous things in Okinawa,

These are from the ocean — they're very sweet and tasty

Sea Grapes?! You eat them just like that.

And this is a famous dessert there that you guys can try.

So these are very Okinawan style. Oh! Cool, thank you!

And with a fun souvenir in hand, the kids let us know it was time to head home.

You getting a free ride, Dude? He hurt his feet

But he has a walking stick. Yeah?

For me, there' nothing quite like Sakura

But at night, in the neighborhoods around where we live,

it becomes something magical that words just can't quite describe.

The next day, we piled into the car and made our way into the mountains.

Ruth's friend Yoshiko invited us out to Odakyu Forest on Lake Yamanaka for a night in a cabin,

so we temporarily left the Sakura behind for an adventure near Mt Fuji.

Wether would we actually see Mt Fuji or not was still a bit dubious.

There we go— we see the cabin in the woods, our place for tonight.

Let's see, what do we have here? How do we open it?

Oh no! We can't stay inside? We'll have to stay out on the porch, huh?

We'll just have to sleep out here, huh?

Don't break it! I did it!

Yea! She did it!

It's just like the school one.

Oh is it? OK let's see. What do we have, guys? This is it.

I claim this corner! You claim the corner?

Everybody sleeps right here!

OK, should we bring our stuff up? I already did. And I'm done.

You did?!

OK everyone! Super quiet! Look, what do you see out there?

A deer! There's deer!

Do you see it out there? Oh my goodness!

How awesome is that?! It reminds me of America.

I know, it is kind of like America, huh?

Can you get a shot of it you think? Oh my goodness, how crazy!

Wow, so cool!

After getting settled in, we did a quick trip to the grocery store before it was time of the main event of the night.

Wow, do we need a flashlight on so we can see?! Well, I don't need one.

Ooooooo

Ooo, look at this! Glory be!

Tonight it's barbecue!

We said a prayer of thanks together and then the feast began! No one would go hungry tonight!

OK, time to eat!

After dinner, there was another surprise waiting.

Oh, here we go, huh Sarah!? Is it finally bedtime now, honey?

No. Yes?!

No, I don't want to... Joshua's bed is all ready.

I don't want to go in there, because I'm not tired.

You're not tired yet? One minute later, he's asleep.

Yes you are, you are ready for bed, Fred.

Here we go. There's nothing like getting out early

You gotta get those early morning shots. That's the way you gotta do it.

Well, yesterday the clouds came down just to this point, and you couldn't see anything above it

But today... it is exactly the opposite.

The clouds are just hovering over the lake now, and you can see everything above it

But when I was down in there you could see anything at all.

We're staying just over here.

Alright, that's beautiful. It's time to get back and deliver some coffee to the crew.

Japanese cabins is kind of just like one big huge sleepover,

The whole room just transforms into — just massive bed.

You heard Daddy snore?! I did not!

You didn't? And I heard Joshua sleep talking.

Yea Becca, you didn't make a peep all night.

Whoa Becca!

I thought Daddy was asleep the whole time and I woke up about 7.

So now the sleepover's over

We gotta get everything just all pulled up and put back so we can head on.

Look! OK let's be quiet everybody, ok?

I can't see.

The big one is looking our way. There he goes!

Picture time.

Picture time - get your pictures!

There's two more coming...

There's three more coming over there

Did you get your shot, Sarah? No.

You did? It's too bright.

What? It's too bright?

Can I go already to the house?

Yea... go go go!

Can I take my phone and take a picture? Sure.

Yea, this is a good place to take pictures.

OK turn around so mommy can see you.

Sarah, did you get a picture? Yea.

You going to send it to me? Yea, wait real quick.

A have a little photographer at work for me here. Very nice.

Did you get a picture too Anna?

On a scale of 1 to 10, what do you think it is? 9

A nine! Wow!

On our way home we stopped at one of favorite parks near Mt Fuji, Sakura Park in Gotemba.

Since the elevation is lower than Lake Yamanaka, these Sakura are just about to bloom

as opposed to the Sakura down near sea level where we live which have already bloomed.

It's fun to have so many different climates near us.

Yes! Let's make it really fast?

You guys ready? Yeah!

After getting our fill of sliding in, it was time to head back home — Joshua had a special appointment he did not want to miss.

What's going on today?

Aiden's going to come to my house! Aiden's going to come to your house?!

For eight hours! Eight hours?!

I can buckle in all by myself.

Oh my goodness, what do you guys think?! Are you ready for a big day today?

Yeah!

What are you going to do first, do you think?

We're going to go to the coffee shop first.

I have my mom's group, and the boys are having their meeting.

Look at it! He's only on the very edge!

One white. Oh, why don't you get this one?

No,

I think you lose. No I won't.

Yes you will.

I knew it! I knew it!

But the ultimate Sakura experience involves getting a bento — a prepared lunch you can either make or buy —

and taking it out with friends to have a picnic under the Sakura.

The Japanese call this Hanami, or blossom viewing, and it is the best way to enjoy the Sakura.

Nate, you want to eat? Oh yes, that looks great!

With the Sakura, huh?

I hope the Sakura doesn't go in our food!

It's a Sakura Picnic time! Oh yes.

Oh yes. Oh yes?

What started off as a cold and cloudy day gave way to beautiful blue skies and warm sunlight

as we enjoyed spring break in just the right fashion.

You see when you can go, and then you jump and then you run, jump and then you run

Jump! Oh good job, Dude!

What do you think there Ben?

Pretty dynamite, huh? Beautiful day!

Yea, just remember you gotta look at the lens and not the screen...

I can't. Yea- ha ha ha!

And that was our Sakura Spring Break this year.

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And until next time, we'll see you on Life in Japan. Bye bye.