Invited guests to the grounds of the Japan Mint in Osaka enjoy a wide variety of cherry blossoms on April 4. (Video footage by Takuya Tanabe)
OSAKA–The grounds of the Japan Mint in Osaka’s Kita Ward opened to the public on April 5 in an annual event to show off the hundreds of flowering cherry blossom trees.
But a lucky 1,900 or so senior citizens and disabled people were invited for a sneak preview April 4 of the various varieties that will soon reach their peak.
This year, 340 trees of 142 varieties have flowers along the roughly 560 meters of pathway where the cherry trees have been planted.
Although only between 20 to 30 percent of the flowers had bloomed, Emiko Kuramae, 100, who came from a retirement home in Higashi-Osaka, said: “I last came here about four or five years ago. The flowers are so pretty, it seems a waste for just us to see them.”
Although the grounds will be open until April 11, advance reservations are required.
The Japan Mint expects at most 306,000 visitors.
All slots have been taken for April 5 and 6, but the hours around noon for the other weekdays still have some open slots.
To make a reservation, call the special number at: 06-7712-2508.
AloJapan.com