What’s the big deal

about a bunch of cherry blossoms?

Called “sakura” in Japanese, the yearly blossoming of the cherry trees is an annual touchstone of Japan culture, drawing hordes of locals and tourists alike. The season is short, which is part of the draw. But for tourists, it makes scheduling your visit tricky: you have to make a guess based on past years’ peak seasons, weather patterns (tougher now, thanks to climate change), and even then, don’t forget to cross your fingers.

The blooming tends to happen first in the south, and moves northwards as April progresses and warmth coaxes flowers forth. Our visit was a bit on the early side, but we still saw plenty of blossoms, especially in Tokyo. Our last stop, in the chilly Mount Fuji area, was still in the throes of winter—but even there, a few brave trees were starting to bloom.

It’s a beautiful, ephemeral phenomenon, which brings out the philosopher/photographer in everyone. And in some places, the number of people stalking these poor hapless buds (yes, myself included) outnumbered the actual flowers themselves. I’m sure I’m not the first person to call these crowds “sakurazzi”.

One other interesting feature of the season is hanami, a traditional Japanese picnic under the trees. These range from the simple to the ornate— from a blanket on the ground to a tent and a pet owl on a leash. Even in the cold, many stalwart Japanese families were out enjoying themselves and relaxing the prohibition on eating in public. It was the one time we actually saw garbage cans overflowing.

And in the unlikely event you get tired of all the cherry blossoms, Japan’s still got you covered with all kinds of other flora on view. In short, spring is a great time to visit Japan, so grab a coat* and your camera, and come see for yourself!

*and earmuffs, gloves, hat, scarf and wool socks. It’s cold here!