Osaka Photography links

Misterpiggy loves looking at other peoples pictures of Japan.  Here's a few photo links from a Canadian photographer who visited Japan in 2007 and fell in love with it.  Hey, that's the same year that Misterpiggy first went there.

Some outstanding pictures of Osaka here:

http://photo.tutsplus.com/articles/shooting-articles/shooting-osaka-japan-photography-examples-and-tips/

And he took some really nice pictures during cherry blossom season in 2011.  The Osaka castle grounds and the Sakuranomiya park are two of the first places Misterpiggy has on his schedule (besides Kyoto).
Only wish his picture taking skills can improve. sigh.

http://www.iheartjapan.ca/2011/04/photographing-sakura-around-osaka-castle/

http://www.iheartjapan.ca/2011/04/photographing-sakura-in-kema-sakuranomiya-koen/

One more day to go before Misterpiggy is on his next adventure!

Cherry Blossom status

This years cherry blossom blooms got off to an early start in Tokyo due to the warmer weather.

http://www.japan-guide.com/blog/sakura13/130321.html

Fortunately temperatures are still cooler in Kyoto and Osaka, so still good news for next week.

http://www.japan-guide.com/blog/sakura13/130320_kyoto.html

Hanami - Cherry Blossom Viewing

Hanami literally means "flower viewing", however, it commonly refers only to cherry blossom viewing.

Here is the cherry blossom viewing forecast for 2013.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2011.html

As you can see, late March is the predicted opening (ie.  "kaika (開花)" when a cherry tree has its first open buds)  and during the first ten days of April, the cherry blossoms should be in full bloom ("mankai (満開)" is the Japanese term for "full bloom")  in Osaka and Kyoto.