Hanami in Tokyo & Yokosuka

This year I took a bus tour to see the cherry blossoms (sakura) in Tokyo. It was a beautiful day and the flowers were at their peak. Many people were enjoying hanami (flower viewing), which typically involves lounging on blue tarps and eating and drinking under the trees...with lots and lots of other people!

Sumida Koen

Tokyo Skytree

Weeping sakura (shidarezakura)

Skytree and Sumida River

The most popular place for hanami in Tokyo - Ueno Koen

Hanami time

Awesome setup with shoe cubbies and everything!

Kaneiji Temple

Unusual tree from Kyoto with single/double flowers within the temple grounds

Chidorigafuchi near the Imperial Palace

Yasukuni Shrine

Jizō statues at Zojyoji Temple at the base of the Tokyo Tower

The next set of pictures are from our neighborhood, Sakuragaoka (which literally means "cherry blossom hill"). This year the trees started blooming March 25 and now they are all falling down. In general, the blossoms only last two weeks or less.

Hashi with the sakura in full bloom at a park by our house

Sakura falling

The lanterns are lit up at night

Yozakura - "night sakura"

This is the best my camera can do at night

We walk around this ravine every day

Tokyo skyline with the Skytree way across the bay from our house

Yaezakura - sakura with more than 5 petals

Looking down the hill towards our house

Sakura Season

Ueno Toshogu Shrine

Sakura zensen aka "cherry blossom front"

 

 

It's that time in Japan--Sakura (cherry blossom) Season. The whole country goes mad for hanami, which means "flower viewing" and almost always refers to cherry blossoms. In a nutshell, at worst it's an excuse to cut loose and get drunk sitting on blue tarps in a park.

This year the blossoms opened really early in Tokyo--on March 16, nine days earlier than forecast. Yes, of course there is a cherry blossom forecast. There is cherry blossom everything--Starbucks and other coffee shops come out with special sakura goods, sweets, and coffee drinks.

Of course cherry blossoms are beautiful, but the Japanese appreciation for the flowers goes far beyond that. The ephemeral sakura, which last only a few weeks before falling to the ground in clouds of petals, are a metaphor for the transient and fleeting nature of life. Personally, I like the meaning behind hanami, but I think it's really  over-commercialized, akin to Christmas in the United States. Regardless, it's an occasion that's so distinctly Japanese!

Joining the throngs in Ueno Park

Somei Yoshino trees are the most popular--they look like clouds

Yoyogi Park

Yoyogi had much more of a party atmosphere then Ueno (it's in a younger part of town)