Apr 21, 2015 - 1 min read

Sakura Festival in Dinosaur Kingdom

Carp streamers, blossoms, snowy mountains and dinosaurs

By Takako Sakamoto

Community writer

A dinosaur replica standing at the foot of Katsuyama Bridge with a snowy mountain in the backdrop

Carp streamers fluttering in the wind with pretty cherry blossoms and snowy mountains in the background

On the riverside path people were enjoying the Katsuyama Benten Sakura Festival along Kuzuryu River which flows through Katsuyama City

Carp streamers and cherry blossoms. Katsuyama Castle can be seen in the distance.

Katsuyama Bridge overhung by cherry blossoms. The sign says, 'Kuzuryu River'.

Cherry blossoms, carp streamers and mountains in Katsuyama City

The silver dome on the right is the famous Katsuyama Dinosaur Museum

Lanterns on the riverside walk were donated by local businesses

Carp streamers were also swimming in the breeze above the athletic ground beside the riverbank.

A family picnicking on the riverside path appreciating beautiful cherry trees

Awesome view of cherry blossoms and snowy mountains together

Carp streamers with the Big Buddha Hall of Shindai-ji Temple in the background. In this hall, the Buddha statue, which is bigger than the one in Todaiji Temple in Nara, is housed.

People enjoying the casual stroll appreciating beautiful cherry blossoms on the riverside walk

Pretty cherry blossoms seen framed by the armpit of giant dinosaur replica

A couple on the bridge taking photos of the carp streamers over the river

In mid April this year, a friend of mine told me about a place where I could see carp streamers, cherry blossoms and snowy mountains all together at once, in Katsuyama City. Although Katsuyama is famous for its dinosaur fossils and it has a huge Dinosaur Museum, I didn't expect to see them (i.e. replicas, not the real ones!) together with cherry blossoms. Carp streamers were fluttering in the wind over a wide and beautiful Kuzuryu River and I was awe-struck by the magnificent landscape. Looking at the life-size replica of a dinosaur in nature, with beautiful mountains, cherry blossoms made me wonder what Katsuyama was like in the Jurassic Period. Surely dinosaurs must have enjoyed living in the vast land of Katsuyama!

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By Takako Sakamoto

Community writer

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Takako Sakamoto Photographer 9 years ago

Thanks Olga. Yeah, he was cool, and big. This is to show how big he is (and there are many dinos like him in this city, though they are all replicas. Some even roars!