A Quiet Spring in Hakuba, Nagano 🌸🌿

#cherryblossom25 I thought the cherry blossoms were already over this year, but Hakuba still had plenty of blooms left to offer. This morning, I spent some time at Ode Park's observation deck reading a book. A sudden breeze brought with it a gentle sakura rain, the petals softly landing on my clothes. I couldn’t bear to brush them off. The sky was mostly cloudy, and the mountains of Hakuba appeared and disappeared through the mist. Sitting there, quietly waiting, I found myself reflecting on the ancient people's appreciation of such moments. Unlike the modern traveler, who often has time constraints and is constantly thinking about what’s next, the ancients were masters at savoring the present—immersed in nature’s subtle changes without hurry. Today’s experience was a reminder of how, in stillness, time reveals its beauty. 🌸🌧️ #travel