Sakura Report 2015 - Visiting Saimyoji Temple Historical Park, An Earthly Paradise of Kanagawa Prefecture

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/4, 1/500 sec, ISO-100)

Today, I decided to come to a mountainous area of Kanagawa Prefecture to see Sakura blossoms in the second half of Sakura Season. The starting point is Shin-Matsuda Station near Odawara.

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/4, 1/500 sec, ISO-100)

I walked to the north through the shopping street. By the way, I found a Sake brewery on the way so I will re-visit this town to go there someday.

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/4, 1/500 sec, ISO-100)

I went straight and crossed the railway. Mt. Matsuda is right in front of me.

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/4, 1/640 sec, ISO-100)

I walked through JR Matsuda Station and...

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/2.8, 1/640 sec, ISO-100)

I walked through a residential area. The weather was pretty nice.

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/2.8, 1/640 sec, ISO-100)

And then, I went across Tomei Expressway

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/2.8, 1/1000 sec, ISO-100)

The entrance to Mt. Matsuda should be around here...

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/2, 1/2000 sec, ISO-100)

Oh, I found it! I'm now going up to Saimyoji Temple Historical Park!

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/4, 1/400 sec, ISO-100)

I went up through comfortable stairs like this.

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/4, 1/1000 sec, ISO-100)

I arrived at Mt. Matuda Herb Garden. My goal was not here so I had a little break in the shade and started to walk again.

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/2, 1/2000 sec, ISO-100)

It was a bit hard to understand which way to go. I walked along a small railway of trains for children. The mountainous path is available from here.

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/4, 1/400 sec, ISO-100)

At the very beginning of the mountainous path stood Weeping Sakura trees. They were like half blooming and half falling. I wish Sakura trees above should be in full bloom...

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/4, 1/160 sec, ISO-100)

The mountainous path was like this. It was quite comfortable and easy to walk on.

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/4, 1/80 sec, ISO-100)

In some places, the path was all covered in the shade.

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/2, 1/200 sec, ISO-100)

After going through the shade, I encountered a locked fence on the way. It seems like this fence is for boars and deers.

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/4, 1/1000 sec, ISO-100)

I arrived at the open space!

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/4, 1/1000 sec, ISO-100)

The sky is so vast... Hmm? Well... I seemed to catch a glimpse of something moving in the sky...

Canon EOS 6D, Tamron SP 70-200mm F/2.8 Di VC USD, Kenko DIGITAL TELEPLUS PRO300 2X DGX (400mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec, ISO-100)

Ahh, it was a paraglider!

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec, ISO-100)

It seems like they were flying from the upper area of this mountain. It must be cool!

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/2, 1/400 sec, ISO-100)

I started to walk again and soon I encountered the second locked fence. Are there many wild animals here? I've indeed found no animals so far, though.

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/2, 1/800 sec, ISO-100)

The fresh green is pretty comfortable.

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/6.3, 1/400 sec, ISO-100)

It was so comfortable that I took a photo of the leaves above my head.

Canon EOS 6D, Tamron SP 90mm F/2.8 Di MACRO 1：1 VC USD (90mm, f/5.6, 1/80 sec, ISO-400)

At the bottom of my legs grew flowers of Fumewort. I might have seen this before, but it must be the first time to take photos of them. I love this purple color with the fresh green.

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/4, 1/100 sec, ISO-100)

I walked and walked, and found some Sakura trees again. It must be the sign that my goal is nearby.

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/4, 1/200 sec, ISO-125)

After a bit of walk from the Sakura trees, I finally arrived at my goal, Saimyoji Temple Historical Park. It was like an earthly paradise. As you can see from this photo, you can come here by car, too. lol

Canon EOS 6D, Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 IIDG HSM (19mm, f/10, 1/50 sec, ISO-100)

There is a small pond at the center of the park. Although many of the Sakura blossoms had already fallen off, I enjoyed the combination with other colorful blossoms.

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/4, 1/200 sec, ISO-125)

It is, indeed, a fairytale-like view.

Canon EOS 6D, Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 IIDG HSM, Kenko DIGITAL TELEPLUS PRO300 2X DGX (38mm, f/22, 1/8 sec, ISO-100)

Last weekend, they had a Sakura festival here. It must be much more gorgeous to be here one week ago.

Canon EOS 6D, Tamron SP 90mm F/2.8 Di MACRO 1：1 VC USD, Kenko DIGITAL TELEPLUS PRO300 2X DGX (180mm, f/11, 1/100 sec, ISO-800)

Here's a macro shot of Sakura blossoms. So lovely.

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/13, 1/100 sec, ISO-100)

The last photo was a view of Matuda Town from my way back to the station. Matsuda Town looks like a good town with a quiet residential area and nature.