Hanani Tsubame Festive Emotions

#cherryblossom2024 The procession under the flowers Every year, with the onset of April, the whole of Japan freezes to admire the flowering of cherry trees. The usual pink color is beautiful in itself. However, the city of Tsubame in Niigata Prefecture has taken the sakura festival to a new level — thanks to night lighting and a festive procession. How to get there The festival, which takes place in Tsubama, is easily accessible by car or public transport. If you are traveling by train, you need to take the Joetsu Shinkansen to Niigata Station, and then transfer to the Echigo commuter line and get off at Bunsui Station. It is a twenty—minute walk to the Okozu Shore, and five minutes to the main street of Jizodo. If you are traveling by car, the Okozu Coast is 25 minutes from any of the Nakanoshima-Mitsuke and Sanjo-Tsubame intersections on the Hokuriku Highway. A shuttle bus runs from Bunsui Station, which stops near the riverbank where sakura grows. It is interesting About 2,600 trees bloom along the banks of the Okozu River The Oiran Doyu procession is attended by oiran — high-class courtesans of ancient Japan Sakura in the new world Along the banks of the Okozu River, 2,600 sakura trees are covered with flowers of romantic pink shades every year. It is especially good to come here in the evening, when the flowers are flooded with pink and purple lights, and reality turns into a fairy tale. The procession in costumes Every year, on the third Sunday of April, there is a holiday called Oiran Dotyu. About 70 volunteers are parading under the blooming sakura trees on the main street of Jizodo. The focus is on three courtesans dressed in gorgeous traditional costumes and 15-centimeter wooden patent-leather geta sandals with three "teeth". Some participants carry huge Japanese paper wagasa umbrellas, adding color to the procession.