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Cherry blossom offers unique view of Japan

(08 Mar 2006)

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The flowering of the cherry blossom in Japan, which takes place at the end of March and the beginning of April, is a stunning sight to behold.

As the pink flowers bloom in the spring, groups of Japanese people head outside for traditional cherry blossom viewing parties known as Hanami.

The crowds eat picnics, drink merrily and gaze at the sakura (cherry blossom) before taking countless photographs on tiny digital cameras.

For visitors it offers a unique chance to see a change in the national character, as the hard-working Japanese take a break from the daily grind and relax as they welcome the arrival of spring.

The country is covered with cherry trees, but the Emperor's Palace moat in Tokyo offers a particularly stunning setting for the Hanami viewing. Here the trees have been planted to create a network of canopies over the nearby paths, filling the sky with pink and white blossom.

A warmer-than-average February means that the cherry blossom will open sooner than usual this year. The best time to join in the Hanami party is between March 30th and April 6th in Tokyo, between April 2nd and April 9th in Kyoto and between March 31st and April 7th in Osaka.


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