Spring is here in Hokkaido and there will be cherry blossoms in May. It was last year when I asked my friend to go to Akkeshi, not only to see the sakura but also to eat oysters. Every year in May, the locals of this small town hold the annual Akkeshi Sakura and Oyster Festival.

Akkeshi is a town located at the Kushiro subprefecture, eastern part of Hokkaido. The town is famous for their oysters and this spring festival is a way of celebrating the bountiful supply of oysters in the month of May.

The Nenohi Park hosts the annual festival, where there are cherry trees of the ezo yamazakura variety. So while our gastronomic senses enjoyed the fresh, succulent oysters, our eyes feasted on the beautiful blossoms of the Sakura trees.