For the first time in the country, Utsunomiya City's LRT (next-generation streetcar), which opened with all new tracks, was used as a tour to visit famous cherry blossom viewing spots, where visitors could learn tips for taking pictures from a professional photographer who accompanied them.
This tour was planned to let as many people as possible know about the famous cherry blossom viewing spots in Utsunomiya City, and approximately 20 people participated.
The participants traveled by LRT and stopped off along the way to visit famous cherry blossom viewing spots such as the row of cherry blossom trees in front of Utsunomiya University's Faculty of Engineering and the green area of Kiyohara Industrial Park No. 3.
Although the cherry blossoms had not yet bloomed in either case, the guides who accompanied the participants received explanations about the types of cherry blossoms and the age of the trees.
Nobuaki Saito, a professional photographer active mainly in the prefecture, told us that if you dare to take pictures against the light, the petals will show through and you can take a different look, and that you can enjoy the contrast of colors by adding in the blue sky. We were taught tips on how to photograph cherry blossoms, such as:
A mother who participated with her 6-year-old boy during spring break said, ``I came to Utsunomiya because my husband was transferred.I didn't know much about this area, so I was glad to learn about the famous cherry blossom spots.I'm looking forward to seeing the cherry blossoms bloom.'' I did.
Mr. Iwabara E, head of the Utsunomiya City Landscape and Greenery Division, who planned the tour, said, ``Utsunomiya City has many wonderful landscapes, so I would like people to see them and enjoy them with their own eyes.''