Palm Novel "Traveling Somewhere" Vol. 1 |

There are as many reasons and styles to travel as there are people.
The form of such a journey is gently captured in the "Traveling Somewhere" palm novel series.
The main character this time is a 27-year-old male video director. Recently, my heart was worn out by work, and I decided that I had never seen Hirosaki Park, which is famous for cherry blossoms, so I hurriedly went on a solo trip.

When I got off the train, the smell of the wind was a little different.
The cherry blossoms, which had already begun to fall in Tokyo, had just begun to fray here in Hirosaki.

27 years old. Cinematographer.
If you just look at the title, it may look reasonably well-organized.
This spring, I suddenly realized.
I realized that my emotions were no longer reflected in the images I was taking.

The finger holding the camera still moves.
Editing software can also be manipulated freely.
Views of social media shorts are also strong.

But something is missing.
What do you want to capture and what do you want to convey?
That "something" has gone somewhere.

It was an impulse that I came to see the cherry blossoms in Hirosaki.
A photo that flowed on the timeline of SNS.
At the end of the pale pink tunnel, someone's shadow swayed dimly.
"Come to think of it, I've never seen the cherry blossoms in Hirosaki."
That one thing made me get a ticket.

Walk along the moat of Hirosaki Park.
The rustle of tourists, the laughter of children, the sound of shutters.
But I didn't take my camera out of my bag.

The cherry blossoms at the beginning of bloom are somewhat new,
It's not as glamorous as it is in full bloom, but there is a margin.
I felt that something inside me was gradually seeping into the margins.

I sat down on the stone wall and finally took out my camera.
Look through the viewfinder.
Cherry blossom petals float slowly in the wind.
I quietly captured that moment.

This is a cut that no one will see.
I don't even edit it. I don't even make a sound.
Just keep it quietly in your own memory.

Maybe that's it.
Once again, it may be the "first editing point" to reflect emotion.

■ About the stage of the trip "Hirosaki"

Hirosaki City, where the story takes place, is located in the southwestern part of Aomori Prefecture and is a beautiful castle town steeped in history and culture. Behind the city is Mt. Iwaki, also known as Tsugaru Fuji, which attracts visitors with its seasonal expressions.

Hirosaki Park, centered on Hirosaki Castle, is a tourist spot with seasonal charms, such as cherry blossoms in spring, Neputa Festival in summer, Chrysanthemum and Autumn Leaves Festival in autumn, and Snow Lantern Festival in winter. In the city area, you can enjoy retro buildings from the Meiji to Taisho periods, as well as apple-related gourmet foods that boast the largest production volume in Japan.

<Cherry blossom event information>

Hirosaki Sakura Festival is held from late April to early May every year, and is scheduled for April 18 (Friday) ~ May 5 (Monday, national holiday) in 2025. It is subject to change depending on the flowering status of the cherry blossoms.

Attractions

• Cherry blossoms in Hirosaki Park: About 2,600 cherry trees of 52 varieties are in full bloom. In particular, the old trees of Somei Yoshino, which are more than 100 years old, are characteristic.
• Illumination: Held from sunset to 10 p.m., you can enjoy the fantastic scenery of cherry blossoms at night.

Hirosaki City is a fascinating city where historical buildings and beautiful nature are in harmony. Why don't you visit during the spring cherry blossom season and feel the atmosphere?