Cherry Blossoms (Sakura) - Japan

Photographs of Sakura flower

Japanese traditional culture during this time.


During the beginning of the month of April, HANAMI season comes to Japan. The word HANAMI is literally translated into “flower watching.” The flower of choice is the beautiful SAKURA, Japanese Cherry Blossom. Cherry blossom viewing parties (hanami) and cherry blossom festivals are held all over Japan in spring. Sakura is the national flower of Japan, and it's said that there are over four hundred varieties of cherry trees in Japan. The most popular kind of cherry blossom which can be viewed everywhere in Japan is somei-yoshino (Yedoensis). You can view some pictures of cherry blossoms in Japan. Sakura is different from the cherry of other countries. Japanese cherry trees do not yield fruits like other cherry trees. Cherry blossom viewing has been a Japanese custom since the 7th century when the aristocrats enjoyed looking at the cherry blossoms and wrote poems.
People drink, eat, and sing during the day and night. It is like a picnic. People bring food, do BBQ, or buy food from vendors. Among various food people eat in cherry blossom viewing, dango is very popular. It is a chewy snack made of rice flour. At last night, I also joined BBQ (HANAMI) parti with some Japanese friends and enjoyed a lot viewing Cherry blossom....