Sakura Dream: The Most Beautiful View of Mount Fuji #10

Sakura Dream: The Most Beautiful View of Mount Fuji #10

“Hi, how are you?” “Alright, let’s go see the cherry blossoms!” We’re starting to move forward into the sakura season. I need to hurry up. I’m lucky—the weather looks good and we should be able to see Mount Fuji. The sky is clear. We’ve got a magnificent sunset. I arrive at night. I spend the night near the river where I want to take my photos. I’m rewarded for my efforts. We can see Mount Fuji very clearly. And the sakura are in full bloom. The conditions are perfect. The morning light is fantastic. It feels good to walk along the riverbanks. I must admit, I stayed longer than I had planned. And I fell behind. Alright, let’s get going again. Along the way, I find a great spot to make coffee. So I stop. I built myself a new little table that I can attach to the body of my car with magnets. It was super easy to make and only took me 10 minutes. It’s crazy, this shower of sakura petals! And it’s starting to warm up—it feels nice. This little coffee is perfect. I’m hitting the road again because I’ve got a long way to go. I don’t make it to my destination on time. So I slept at a highway rest stop. The morning sky is on fire. There’s still snow all around. I checked the weather and at the campground I’m heading to, the sakura should be in full bloom. Well, it’s a complete miss. They haven’t even started blooming yet. Since I’m here, I set up camp. Anyway, I’m tired from my nearly sleepless night. The place is nice, and I’m all alone. It’s always nice to camp next to a river. I’m going to make myself a nice breakfast. And then I’ll head somewhere else to try to find some sakura. I’m going to make pancakes—it’s my favorite. Alright, a little coffee as usual. I’m getting pretty good at making these pancakes. Not bad, not bad. It’s a bit cold, but it’s alright. Well, it was a miss, no sakura. But 10 km from here, in the middle of nowhere, there’s a cluster of sakura along the side of the road. Incredible—in full bloom! It’s along a canal that’s not maintained at all. I take a quick photo as a memory. Well, the weather really wasn’t on my side today: I had bad light all day, and now it’s raining. I’m spending the night at a rest area once again. This time, I’m determined to find some sakura. Apparently, at Takada Castle, the cherry trees are in full bloom. Anyway, when I arrive in town, everything is in bloom. Ah, there we go—this time they’re in full bloom, but it’s impossible to find a parking spot in town. Finally, I find a little spot. These sakura are really stunning. I walk around the moat. This little castle is so beautiful. Alright, a quick photo. And it’s time to head back home. Thanks for watching this video. See you next time in another video!

🗓️ *I’m off on an emotional spring adventure through Shizuoka and Niigata! From the iconic beauty of Mt. Fuji’s cherry blossoms to the disappointment of unbloomed flowers, then the unexpected discovery of a hidden paradise… and a grand finale at Takada Castle! – April 8th to 11th, 2025 *🌸🗻☕
🚗 Between Floral Success and Mixed Feelings This trip was a true mix of experiences! In Shizuoka, I captured the perfect shot of cherry blossoms with Mt. Fuji and the Urui River. On the way to Niigata, an impromptu coffee break under fantastic cherry trees was a highlight. But arriving at the Niigata campground was a cold shower: no blossoms… That sparked a frantic search, leading to a magical discovery and a spectacular finish at Takada Castle, despite capricious weather!

*📹 What you’ll see in this video:*
🌸 The iconic photo of cherry blossoms, Mt. Fuji, and the Urui River
☕ A memorable roadside coffee under blooming cherry trees
🏕️ Kirinzan Park Campground in Niigata: free, small but well-maintained… and no flowers!
🧐 A desperate search for cherry blossoms in full bloom
✨ The magical discovery of a hidden old canal covered in sakuras
🏰 The incredible full bloom at Takada Castle
➡️ A journey full of twists and turns, between wonder and disappointment!
📍 Campground: Kirinzan Park (Niigata)

📌 Subscribe for more vanlife and camping experiences across Japan! / @darllon.richard

*【Chapters】*
0:00 Introduction
1:40 Sakura Dream
3:54 Sakura Coffee Break
8:40 Kirinzan Park
10:27 Breakfast at Camp
15:04 Unexpected sakura spot
17:54 Sakura at Takada Castle

#SakuraJapan #MtFujiSakura #JapanCamping #CherryBlossomHunt #NiigataJapan #TakadaCastle #JapanTravelVlog #SpringInJapan #vanlife