Cherry Blossom Season Begins In Japan

Above, sakura at the Chidorigafuchi moat, Tokyo Imperial Palace. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.

Spring (Vernal Equinox) officially arrived on March 20 in the northern hemisphere, but in Japan, Spring officially arrived when the cherry blossoms (sakura) begin to bloom.

According to Japan Today:

TOKYO —Spring officially arrived in Tokyo on Tuesday when Japan’s weather agency announced the start of the cherry blossom season. 

Forecasters watching trees at the capital’s central Yasukuni Shrine said the city’s first blossoms had appeared there, marking the beginning of two weeks in which Tokyo’s parks, temple grounds, schools and streets will explode in pinks and whites.

I was able to see the country covered in cherry blossoms in April 2006 when I took a shinkansen trip up to Sendai and Matsushima. I am not really into horiculture, but I have to admit that the pink blossoms were impressive even to me.

To read more, go here.