Jef's visit

First stop, breakfast at Rouge de Blanc - a cafe with a great view

(L-R): Curry bun and sakura bun for Jef and blueberry bagel for me.

View outside the cafe: Na-no-hana against the snow-capped mountains

Next stop, the 大崎ダム湖公園 (Osaki Dam Park).

Beautiful! Huge colourful koi-no-bori were strung across the reservoir and there were still some sakura left on the trees around the reservoir.
People feeding koi (carp) in the reservoir

Then, my local gelateria, Yummy. I'm now friends with the boss' daughter :)

Next, we drove to 新発田 Shibata, a little castle town in the north of Niigata.

Shibata Castle Ruins Park is a pretty park with lots of sakura trees next to the castle grounds. Many people were walking their dogs in the park.

Jef was happy to finally see sakura!

Much of the castle has been destroyed and only 3 turrets are left standing.

People fishing in the moat.

Pretty tulip-shaped Japanese cakes specially made for the season by a traditional Japanese cakeshop.

Dinner at bento restaurant