Cherry blossom is now blooming in Okinawa. The best place to go is Yaedake, a small mountain in Motobu. To get there head up the 58 to Nago City and follow the road as it bends around to the right. When you see a sign for Meio University take a left and head up the hill past the Nago Pineapple Park and the Okinawa Fruits Land. Keep going straight for another 10 or so minutes and you should see signs for Yaedake.

Cherry Blossom at Yaedake, Okinawa, Japan

This weekend and next weekend will be very busy, so don’t expect any silent contemplation of the transient nature of beauty.

If you are there this weekend then you should drop by the kiln of Nick Centala the American potter based in Motobu. This weekend he will be doing the first big firing of his new wood fired kiln. Should be an impressive thing to see. You can find directions to his place on his website or look out for the sign when you are driving to Yaedake. You can read the Island Icon interview with Nick in an earlier blog  here.