With approximately 360 Kawazu-zakura trees painting the mountainside in vibrant pink, the annual Matsuda Sakura Matsuri is officially underway! The festival runs until March 8th, 2026, and during this time, the entire town is buzzing with excitement. On Sunday, February 15th, I headed up to the festival grounds. Even from the day before, I could feel a certain "energy" in the air—that restless, joyful hum that tells you a big event is happening. Nishihirahata Park, which enchanted us with its winter illuminations just a short time ago, has now handed over the spotlight to the cherry blossoms.新Stepping out of Shin-Matsuda Station, I was greeted by the sight of tourists arriving one after another. Seeing the steady stream of people making their way toward the mountain is a heartwarming sight for a local resident like me. The town is truly alive with the spirit of spring!The distance and steep incline of the walk from my home were quite taxing, but the view of the cherry blossoms and Mt. Fuji made it all worth it.<br /> Once you reach the top of the trail, the Ashigara Plains stretch out before you, creating a breathtaking landscape of Fuji and the sakura.<br /> Locally grown mandarins from Mt. Matsuda were also on sale—they were incredibly juicy and sweet. After a short break with some matcha and a traditional manju bun, I hopped on the bus heading back down to JR Matsuda Station.Seeing so many visitors enjoying sightseeing in Matsuda is truly heartening for me as a local resident.<br /> Following the Wintersweet (Roubai) Festival, the Cherry Blossom Festival is one of Matsuda’s most iconic events, and I highly recommend it to everyone during its run.