The cherry blossoms are blooming here in Morioka. I went to see the famous Rock-Splitting Cherry Tree in front of the Morioka Courthouse on Saturday with a Japanese friend, then we walked around Iwate Park and saw the cherry trees there. The cherry blossoms on the Rock-Splitting Cherry Tree are almost perfectly white and the area around the tree is filled with visitors taking pictures. Iwate Park is located in the ruins of a castle and as a result the park is tiered with a tall central hill and two or three levels below. The Sakurayama ("Cherry Blossom Mountain") Shrine is on the north side of the park. The only structures remaining of the castle are the walls, which I saw some children and young men climbing down. The park was filled with groups doing hanami, or cherry blossom viewing. They spread mats underneath the trees and sit and drink sake or beer and eat food they bring with them. Went drinking later in an atmospheric bar, the kind that could be in Cowboy Bebop if it were a little more rundown and in a worse part of town. The bartender wore the classic uniform, with the vest, bow-tie, and upper-arm bands. He gave me a free glass of whiskey because it was made in Pennsylvania. I think whiskey tastes vile, but I appreciated the gesture and drank a bit to humor him. According to my friend the faces I made were quite amusing. I also tried some absinthe, which is legal in Japan, and was disappointed. No green fairy played by Kylie Minogue with the voice of Ozzy Osborne. Tasted like peppermint and it wasn't bad. He had three or four different brands, though, so I'll try another one next time. The bar's name was Lupin, interestingly enough.