Cherry blossoms x lanterns

One of the most ethereal cherry blossom experiences is 'yozakura', viewing cherry blossoms at night. Without fail, every year I go to see cherry blossoms at night. When I think of it, I like to get a photo of the lanterns backdropped by the sakura. For many years this was not possible, because I didn't have a camera that could get a good photo at night. So I would just enjoy the sight and take a mental picture. 

A couple of years ago, I finally got a smartphone that can take a relatively decent photo by night. Its a Google Pixel 7A. I am not a photographer, but I do enjoy taking photos and I am delighted I can finally capture some memories at night. I am particularly delighting in being able to capture yozakura. I've probably gone to more yozakura spots in the last two years than the previous 18 years combined!

The photo in this post was taken on April 2nd 2025 at Shiroyama Park in Okegawa. A park known for its somei yoshino cherry blossom trees. They light them up annually for two weeks around the period of their bloom. However, once they decide the dates for the light up they don't change them, even if the trees aren't in bloom. On the night I went the trees had only just started blooming and by the time they were in full bloom the light up event was over!

Do you see any yozakura this year? Do you have a camera that is able to capture good photos in the dark?