Shibata Castle my first time visiting for Hanami/flower viewing, our timing was perfect; 98% of cherry trees were in bloom! The perfect blossom is a rare thing, this year we have experienced three so far. There is over one hundred samurai castle in Japan, Shibata was built just after the Sengoku jidai period"Age of Warring States";1467 – 1603 by order of Hideyoshi Toyotomi, one of three unifiers of Japan. The first Oda Nobunaga, a real and tested Samurai off and on the field. The second Hideyoshi Toyotomi, who was low born, in his youth he wandered from job to job, with a stroke of luck, he was taken in by Oda Nobunaga and given the lowest position Sandel-Bearer, he turned this into a fairy tale story! The 3rd Tokugawa Ieyasu he was given as a child hostage to keep the peace between the Imagawa house and Ieyasu’s. I do love Japan, historically, culturally, societal that moves as one, staying the course.
While on “Photo Tour Japan” rest assured participants enjoy a carefree time, with some interesting conversations that have lasted to the wee hours.