I noticed one thing in particular during our last visit to Tokyo. There are so many places in the city center where you can find one or more cherry trees, sometimes more and sometimes less hidden. Many years ago, some clever people made sure that every year in spring, many corners of the city are filled with beautiful blossoms, giving the city at least a temporary splash of extra color.

Like here, for example, at this small shrine in a local neighborhood. We came across it by chance, but I was immediately thrilled and, as usual, I had to express my enthusiasm by taking photos. Some sights I just have to capture and document, and this place is definitely one of them.

The shrine was surrounded by residential buildings and small streets, and perhaps that's why it seemed like a small oasis in this huge city. The one large cherry tree was already in bloom, even if many of the buds had not yet opened. This time we weren't so lucky with the weather during our visit, but in the end we did manage to meet Queen Sakura and to pay our respects to her. And here at this little shrine, she was already showing her best side, which I could only applaud.

These little splashes of colorful white and pink were always a great change in the cityscape of the Japanese capital. It was fun to just walk around and encounter blooming cherry trees over and over again. Tokyo in spring is truly a highlight and I'm glad to have had the chance to explore my favorite city at this time of year.

And I promise... I'll be back. Hopefully again in spring, although the Japanese capital can be fascinating at any time of the year. For now, I'm enjoying my experiences and keep dwelling on my memories....