It’s been over four years since I last experienced one of the most beautiful seasons in Japan, Spring. Sakura, also known as cherry blossoms to the westerners is the prettiest sight to witness in Tokyo in the month of April. So you can only imagine how excited I was this year to go for “hanami” (flower viewing).
Sakura season is extremely dear to the Japanese people – it is more than just a beautiful flowering tree. Cherry blossoms only last for a good 10 days before they are washed away, thus serving as a visual reminder of how precious and precarious life is. The underlying significance of cherry blossoms also represent the fragility and beautify of life. So if you ever get the chance of witnessing the cherry blossom season in Japan, make an absolute use of it and embrace this fragile beauty!
My absolute two favourite spots to go for hanami is the Ueno park and Chidoriga Fuchi.
Having lived in Tokyo for over fifteen years, its been a family tradition of ours to go to the Ueno park. The park is best known for the lining up of sakura trees along both sides of the walkway. Rows of cherry trees blossom in white and palest pink flowers.
Chidoriga Fuchi is another place worth the visit. What makes this place so unique is the way sakura trees are planted along the moat and as the sakura petals fall, it leaves a beautiful pink trail in the river.
If you have a chance to be in Japan for the blossoming season, don’t thinking twice, do it! Even after all these years, sakura season remains the dearest to me.
Blessed to have seen the blissful cluster of pink this year, until next time!
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