On a late Saturday in May, I took a midday flight from Tokyo to Asahikawa. The forecast had promised clear skies all day, but as the plane descended, a sudden blanket of clouds spread beneath me. Landing at Asahikawa Airport, the temperature was a brisk 9.9°C－a sharp reminder that even in late May, spring in Hokkaido still carries a winter chill.
I unpacked my bicycle and set off, praying for the sun to break through. For an hour, I wandered the rolling hills of Biei, my spirits dampened by a stubborn bank of clouds remaining in the west.
Around 5:00 PM, just as the day began to lean toward evening, the sun finally slipped past the clouds. The Parent and Child trees stood bathed in a soft, golden light.