Last year the San Diego Japanese Friendship Garden (in Balboa Park)
held its 8th Cherry Blossom Festival. I was lucky enough to be able to attend, and
This year the Japanese Garden is hosting the
9th Cherry Blossom Festival
THIS SATURDAY (MARCH 8TH) from 10:00am - 4:00 pm.
You can read more about the event
&
The event was supposed to be last Saturday, but we had really strange stormy weather
and it had to be moved over a week.
I really recommend checking it out, the garden's beautiful with all the blooming trees!
Admission is $6 general, but $5 for students and seniors/military.
Anyone with a membership pass to the USS Midway Museum gets free admission
into the Japanese Friendship Garden.
They have quite a few traditional Japanese performances (music and dance among
other things), as well as a ton of festival food and craft booths.
Admission is $6 general, but $5 for students and seniors/military.
Anyone with a membership pass to the USS Midway Museum gets free admission
into the Japanese Friendship Garden.
They have quite a few traditional Japanese performances (music and dance among
other things), as well as a ton of festival food and craft booths.
Fortunately I can attend again this year - I have a yukata to wear & I'm
going with my boyfriend - it's his first time! (I wonder if people will be proposing this year, too?)
I'm planning to bring a little journal, to press a couple of
blossoms from this year as a memento and/or for crafts later!
Last year I collected some in a bottle but they just got wilted. The bottle smells
really nice inside though, I wish I could make it into perfume.
Some tips:
*Dress comfortably! There's not much seating other than a couple of benches, or the
seats around the performance stage - prepare to stand! And it's still a bit chilly, so a sweater
is a good idea. (If you're wearing a yukata, bring a wrap along, or a haori if you're fancy!).
*GET THERE EARLY. I had to park on the opposite end of the Park last time.
Unless you don't mind walking, I'd say show up around 9-9:30 for best parking.
You can stroll around and enjoy the rest of the park for an hour or so!
*GET THERE EARLY. I had to park on the opposite end of the Park last time.
Unless you don't mind walking, I'd say show up around 9-9:30 for best parking.
You can stroll around and enjoy the rest of the park for an hour or so!
*Bring a tote or some kind of small bag, to hold your personal things (food, sweater, essentials) as well as any little souvenirs you pick up. Try to pack lightly, & I recommend a bag
that zips or buttons shut securely to protect your things.
*Bring CASH. I don't remember if the booths all take cards as well, but I believe the food
tickets were cash-only as well as some of the small souvenir booths. Just to be safe!
that zips or buttons shut securely to protect your things.
*Bring CASH. I don't remember if the booths all take cards as well, but I believe the food
tickets were cash-only as well as some of the small souvenir booths. Just to be safe!
*Camera! Or your phone for pictures. You definitely want to take photos
of the cherry blossoms, performances, and a selfie or two with the trees can't hurt.
There's also many lovely ladies and gents out in their best festival attire (yukata etc.),
not to mention quite a few people in cosplay.
Most are quite happy to let you photograph them if you ask permission nicely. c:
Some people bring really nice professional cameras (I did that last year, but it was
really bulky so this year I'm sticking with my old point-and-shoot + cellphone cam.)
There's also many lovely ladies and gents out in their best festival attire (yukata etc.),
not to mention quite a few people in cosplay.
Most are quite happy to let you photograph them if you ask permission nicely. c:
Some people bring really nice professional cameras (I did that last year, but it was
really bulky so this year I'm sticking with my old point-and-shoot + cellphone cam.)
*Snacks/some food! It's a fair, with fair food pricing. That said, I do recommend
trying the different standard festival treats. There's a few can't-miss things, personally I love
the taiyaki and snowcones. You can also get food like (legit) ramen and teriyaki bowls, from the Tea Pavilion restaurant at the front of the garden. They will also give water if you've brought a bottle with you. Having a few extra treats to munch on will hold you over (& keep it frugal, I'm big on that)!
If you really want to go all-out you can even prep your own bento box!
(JSYK: The food also has notoriously long lines.)
trying the different standard festival treats. There's a few can't-miss things, personally I love
the taiyaki and snowcones. You can also get food like (legit) ramen and teriyaki bowls, from the Tea Pavilion restaurant at the front of the garden. They will also give water if you've brought a bottle with you. Having a few extra treats to munch on will hold you over (& keep it frugal, I'm big on that)!
If you really want to go all-out you can even prep your own bento box!
(JSYK: The food also has notoriously long lines.)
*Water bottle! STAY HYDRATED. Really important!
*Small book/journal! You'll want this to press flowers/hold anything that you'd like
to keep flat. Last year they had a booth that would make bookmarks with
whatever you wanted, written on them. I had to carry mine around all day to
keep it from wrinkling! This will also keep you occupied in the long lines.
*A sunhat/folding fan - it can get hot in the sun! (I know this contradicts bringing a sweater,
but San Diego does that a lot.) Better yet, bring the SUNSCREEN.
*Picnic blanket! Remember the lack of seating? There's plenty of green hilly areas to throw
down a blanket and relax in the sunlight. Also makes for a nice picnic, with the snacks you've brought or bought at the fair. ALSO makes for a nice blanket to snuggle up under/in, if it gets chilly.
(See how everything on this list links nicely together? That was all on purpose.)
Maybe some blossoms will even float down on you while you're at it!
That's all I have for now! I really hope you take some time and check it out, if you're
in San Diego and you're looking for something fun to do this Saturday. It's
a great cute-date idea, friends/girls' day out (this past Monday was Girls' Day,
what a coincidence!), or even just a fun solo adventure.
Whatever your grouping, it's a really nice Japanese cultural experience.
I'll be making an adventure post with lots of photos after the event as well.
Hoping to see you there!
Isa
but San Diego does that a lot.) Better yet, bring the SUNSCREEN.
*Picnic blanket! Remember the lack of seating? There's plenty of green hilly areas to throw
down a blanket and relax in the sunlight. Also makes for a nice picnic, with the snacks you've brought or bought at the fair. ALSO makes for a nice blanket to snuggle up under/in, if it gets chilly.
(See how everything on this list links nicely together? That was all on purpose.)
Maybe some blossoms will even float down on you while you're at it!
That's all I have for now! I really hope you take some time and check it out, if you're
in San Diego and you're looking for something fun to do this Saturday. It's
a great cute-date idea, friends/girls' day out (this past Monday was Girls' Day,
what a coincidence!), or even just a fun solo adventure.
Whatever your grouping, it's a really nice Japanese cultural experience.
I'll be making an adventure post with lots of photos after the event as well.
Hoping to see you there!
Isa 
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