A Photographer's Cherry Blossom Escape in a Quiet Coastal City

At this time of year my Instagram feed is swamped with two types of posts — amazing pictures of sakura (cherry blossoms), and people complaining about the crowds at sakura-viewing spots. We all want that perfect photo of the amazing Japanese sakura in bloom, and I want it too! But what I don't want is to battle my way through hordes of people to get it.

That's why, with my limited free time, I decided to do some hanami (flower-viewing) at a local spot in Chigasaki instead of heading into Tokyo.

Capturing Sakura in Solitude

It was a nice day (the only one this past week), so I jumped on my bike, made a quick stop at 7-Eleven for some hanami munchies, and headed over to a small spot near a local river.

Now, I admit that this was by far the "most amazing sakura in Japan" type of spot you see on social media. But it was quiet, and I was basically alone.

Plus, I would rather shoot relatively unknown areas where I can capture unique images, than repeat the same photo of Sky Tree framed by sakura that everyone else is also getting.

The Charm of Local Spots

It can be scary because there is no guarantee you will get great images. However, exploring lesser-known areas of Japan can help you discover unique gems. As a photographer, it can give you a different perspective on what is, quite frankly, a saturated photographic genre.

As I shot both photos and video of the sakura trees at this location, being alone really allowed me to be in the moment. I could fully enjoy the creative endeavor of capturing the natural and fleeting beauty of these particular sakura trees — something I feel would have been impossible at, say, Nakameguro or Yoyogi Park. I was even able to chat with a few locals who wandered by, which I always enjoy doing.

In the end, I thoroughly enjoyed my hour of hanami in the quieter side of Chigasaki. I highly recommend that before you check out the "Tokyo's Top 10 Sakura Photo Spots," see what smaller local spots might be in your immediate area. You never know what hidden gems you might come across, and at the very least, you can enjoy a much quieter, slower hanami.