Why Cherry Blossoms Are So Special in Japan? 🌸
Cherry blossoms—sakura—aren’t just beautiful, they’re deeply woven into the heart of Japanese culture. The tradition of hanami (flower viewing) goes all the way back to the Heian period (over 1,000 years ago!), when poets and nobles would gather under the blossoms to reflect on life’s fleeting beauty.
We were lucky enough to catch the over 1,000+ cherry trees at the end of their bloom in Tokyo (depending on the year it’s late March – mid April). We spent a perfect Saturday afternoon in Shinjuku Gyoen, a sprawling park in the heart of Tokyo that reminded us so much of Central Park in New York City—lush and full of people soaking up spring.
What makes cherry blossom season so special in Japan is how fleeting it is. The blooms only last for about a week or 10 days. When I was booking our flight to Tokyo, I hoped we’d get lucky! In Tokyo, the whole city seems to celebrate. Sakura is everywhere – sakura ice cream, sakura sake, sakura festivals, etc. Happy to have been able to experience!
Did you know that the iconic 3,000 cherry blossom trees in Washington, D.C. were a gift from Japan? They arrived in 1912 as a symbol of friendship between the two nations. As we wander under the sakura here in Japan—whether it’s in a peaceful shrine garden or a city park packed with picnic-loving locals—it’s wild to think about how these same blossoms have become a seasonal obsession on the other side of the world.
