Japan’s cherry blossom season

Cherry blossom celebrations are well-known around the world. Every year, tourists from many countries travel to Japan in late March and early April to experience the annual cherry blossom season.

So, what is so special about the cherry blossom season in Japan? Let us go through some information about the cherry blossom and its related events.

What is cherry blossom?

The cherry blossom or “sakura” in Japanese symbolizes the coming of spring, prosperity, and hope. It is almost traditional for families in Japan to see the cherry blossom blooms while having a picnic. Cherry Blossom is not just one type of flower. It is vast, with over 100 varieties. The most popular cherry blossom that usually blooms is the Somei Yoshino, a white-colored flower with a touch of pink. Cherry blossom can also appear in other countries. Macon, a city in the state of Georgia, is home to more than 300 thousand sakura trees and was sent over by the government of Japan in 1912 as a gesture of friendship and goodwill.

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The cherry blossom festival

The cherry blossom festivals in Japan are well-known around the globe. Cherry blossom festivals, known in Japanese as hanami, are a popular springtime tradition throughout Japan. However, don’t expect to see flowers everywhere; trees in Japan bloom at different times. The cherry blossom festival, which takes place in late March or early April, heralds the arrival of spring and transforms the environment into a work of art. The season when cherry blossoms, also known as “sakura” in Japanese, bloom in various regions, providing a pleasant picture. They reflect the fragile and fleeting aspect of life which attracts both locals and tourists.

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“Hanami”

Hanami is an ancient Japanese practice of traveling to see cherry blossoms and occasionally plum blossoms flowering in parks and around the countryside. Sakura, the most common type of Japanese cherry tree, may be found throughout the country. In botanical circles, these trees are known as somei-yoshino trees or yedoensis. Hanami translates to “flower viewing,” however it usually refers to cherry blossom viewing. It is thought to have originated over a thousand years ago when nobles enjoyed viewing gorgeous cherry blossoms for inspiration to write poems.

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Sightseeing location

The town of Yoshino in the Nara prefecture of Japan’s Kansai region is undoubtedly the most well-known cherry-blossom location in Japan. The Kii Mountains surrounding the area are carpeted with the blossoms of approximately 30,000 sakura trees, with the season beginning in late March. On Mount Yoshino, the focus of the attraction is a massive cherry tree with branches bending towards the earth with illumination for tourists to sightsee from sunset till midnight.

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