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Out for an evening stroll down Dankazura on Wakamiya Ōji Street in Kamakura. The sakura trees were ripped out and replanted this year so it's not nearly as beautiful as it was when we lived here from 2008-2010. I took photo at the top of my blog in this spot in 2009. #鎌倉 #Japan #若宮大路

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Spent some time at HARRY Hedgehog Cafe (#ハリネズミと触れ合える空間) in Tokyo today. We had so much fun and are anxious to go back. I made reservations last week before word about this place spread all over the Internet...thank goodness! 😉 #hedgehog #hedgehogcafe #ハリネズミ #tokyo #japan #japanloverme

Sakura Everywhere 🌸

I found this post in my drafts folder and can't believe I forgot to post it...last year!!! Sakura season is very important here in Japan. Stores are decorated and festive the way we decorate for Halloween or Christmas. They're incorporated in food and drink and below are some examples of what I bought last year. I also included a picture of cookies I made.

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We've been here before but not at this time of year. The cherry blossom petals are falling and I loved how they looked on the cobblestone sidewalk at Sakurayama Central Park last week. 🌸 #sakura #桜 #zushi #逗子#逗子の桜山中央公園 #japan #hanami #花見 #park #koen #cherryblossoms #cobblestone

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Another one from Tuesday at Tsurugaoka Hachimangū shrine in Kamakura. The lanterns turned on around 1745. #sakura #桜 #鎌倉 #kamakura #japan #hanami #花見 #cherryblossoms #shinto #TsurugaokaHachimangū #鶴岡

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I had a field trip with my Japanese language class to Tsurugaoka Hachimangū shrine in Kamakura on Tuesday. The cherry blossoms were beautiful and just starting to fall! 🌸 This Shinto shrine is one of my favorites...it's the same one we've been to for many other holidays including New Year's Eve, Coming of Age Day and Shichi-Go-San. Have I mentioned how happy we are to be living in Japan again?! 🇯🇵 #sakura #桜 #鎌倉 #kamakura #japan #hanami #花見 #cherryblossoms #shinto #TsurugaokaHachimangū #鶴岡八幡宮

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Gyokuro Tea KitKats. The tea leaves are grown only in the shade and my Japanese teacher said it is a very high-quality tea. 🍵 #kitkatjapan #キットカット #oiishi #onlyinjapan #kitkats #dessert #Japan #gyokuro #玉露#gyokurokitkats #kitkat

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Yesterday was an absolutely perfect day to spend with friends in the Gumyōji area of Yokohama. We walked, admired the sakura (hanami) and ate lunch along the Ohoka River 🌸 I fell in love with Japan all over again! #桜 #sakura #yokohama #japan #cherryblossoms #ohokariver #hanami #花見 #gumyoji #riverwalk

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A gloomy day today. It poured all day and the wind was very strong in the early evening. So many cherry blossoms were blown off the trees, but even that is pretty! They look like large pink snowflakes falling to the ground. 🌸 #Yokosuka #横須賀 #Japan #sakura #桜 #cherryblossoms

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Bought my daughter some koi fish socks at a store in Kamakura a few weeks ago. She loves them....I'd love to find a pair with sharks for my other daughter. #socks #koi #funnysocks #靴下 #Japan #Kamakura #鎌倉 #instasocks #socklovers

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I found a Mt. Fuji ice mold in #Tokyo and couldn't resist 😂 Dorky? Sure, but I love it 🗻 #mtfuji #fujisan #富士山 #Japan #icemold

Kit Kat Purse

My husband had a work trip to Hong Kong and came home with a KitKat purse for me! I haven't used it yet...haven't quite found the right occasion, but I'm thinking about it for this weekend. :) 

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Happy Peanut Butter and Jelly Day! I made these cookies for our anniversary last year. I post pictures of my cookies at Facebook.com/thekatieskookies if you'd like to see more 😀 #peanutbutterandjellyday! #peanutbutterandjelly #pbandj #peanutbutterandjellycookies #decoratedcookies #royalicing #icingcookies #icedbiscuits #katieskookies #ケイティのクッキー

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It's cherry blossom season and even the vending machines are festive! I saw this at a rest area near #Kofu in #Yamanashi. 🌸 #Japan #vendingmachine #sakura #桜 #cherryblossom

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Took a trip to Kuon-ji Temple (on Mt. Minobu) yesterday in Yamanashi Prefecture. The Sakura were stunningly beautiful and were blooming more than at home. 🌸 #Japan #Yamanashi #Minobu #身延 #身延山 #久遠寺 #山梨 #mtminobu #sakura #桜 #buddism #nichirenbuddism #cherryblossom