For the next two days, I am leading participants on my cross country Cherry Blossom photo workshop tour to the grounds of Matsumoto castle, the remains of Uedajo, and the most pilgrimaged to shrine in Japan, Suwako. All Japanese castles are spectacular and represent some important element of Japanese culture, and Matsumoto Castle is no exception.  The castle was completed in the 16th century, and for nearly 300 years after its completion, and before its complete renovation during the Meiji Era, the castle was ruled by 23 lords of Matsumoto.  As you tour the grounds, you will understand why Matsumoto Castle carries the nickname ‘Karasujo’ or ‘Crow Castle’ as many of the exterior walls are painted a deep ebon, and from many perspectives on the castle grounds, it appear as if the towers are wings, spread wide to encompass all the samurai lord’s domain.  The castle is home to more than 300 some yoshino (Prunus yedoensis) sakura trees which are spread across the grounds.  Having explored this area countless times before, I had mapped out all the best locations for my participants to stroll and enjoy the samurai ambience of the castle grounds while spotting and photographing the faintly pink cherry blossoms.  The next location is Uedajo, a park that has been built around the main gates and watchtower of a castle that was completed in 1583 by Sanada Masayuki, a samurai leader known throughout Japan. The castle is historically important because it endured attacks by Tokugawa Ieyasu’s army not once, but twice.  There are over 1,000 cherry blossom trees here, mostly somei yoshino, but as I have explored this region carefully as well, there are a few varieties and locations that I only share with participants that join my tour.  And speaking of hidden treasures, there is a pagoda which is encircled by glittering, glistening sakura petals at close to the same time every year, and I plan on introducing my participants to the location if the conditions are perfect.  Don’t bother trying to uncover this off the beaten path location with a run of the mill cherry blossom photo tour workshop agency because they will have never heard of it.  This location is a locals only special.  Lake Suwako is home to the most pilgrimaged to shrines in Japan, and with the seemingly boundless amount of cherry blossom trees, it makes sense why the location and shrine are so popular.  The entire lake is surrounded by cherry blossoms of several different varieties, and the shrine is so steeped in history, there is no more authentic Japanese adventure you can take than joining me and photographing these linchpins of Japanese history and culture.