Cherry Blossoms – 5 Great Viewing Places
Springtime in Japan is inherently connected with blossoms, and there are many terrific places to visit to see new flowers bloom, some perhaps a day trip away or even in the backyard. Japan, having many Japanese crafts shop, attracts a lot of photographers or artists to shop but also come specifically for cherry blossom viewing. Spring brings forth the crisp air, emerging greenery and Cherry Blossoms in Japan. Cherry Blossoms, "Sakura" is the national flower of Japan and is held in reverence throughout Japan.
A large number of festivals are held to honor and celebrate the beauty of the Cherry Blossom festival. Cherry Blossom festival begins to bloom from the southern island of Kyushu in late March and moves northward blooming in early May in Hokkaido. Cherry blossoms or the sakura can be viewed almost from all the parts of Japan, but to enjoy it best there are places like;
1. Ome-shi Plum Park- a beautiful hill station where the blossoms slopes downwards. The 1,500 trees that cover the sloping hills of the park make it look like mounds of cotton candy. There is also a 300-year-old plum tree to make you feel insignificant in the face of nature. The park's festival lasts from the end of February to the end of March.
2. Fuchu-shi Kyodo no Mori - Fuchu-shi Kyodo no Mori puts a decidedly traditionalist spin on the ume matsuri, which started on the first of February.
In addition to strolling through the garden enjoying the Cherry Blossom festival sight and smell of white and red plum blossoms, visitors have a chance to take part in open air tea ceremonies, to hear performances of traditional musical instruments like the koto, and to drink kuzuyu, a hot sweet beverage made from kudzu starch. Along with the blossoms one can enjoy the daffodils and pheasant's in full bloom.
3. Ushi Tenjin- Ushi Tenjin's ume matsuri particularly celebrates the red variety of plum blossoms, which look striking against the background of the shrine buildings. On Saturdays and Sundays in February, all kinds of goodies are on offer, including plum fruits grown on the grounds, sweets made from them, and plum liquor. Ginger tea and amazake can also be savoured.
4. Odawara Ume Matsuri – spread across the slopes of Mt. Fuji, it’s the best postcard view one can get. With over 35,000 plum trees it is the best place to chill out with family and friends. Also the there is all kinds of live performances, from oversize calligraphy to horseback archery.
5. Baji Koen - Supposedly even the most restive horse calms down when mesmerized by the beauty of plum blossoms in Baji Koen. Baji Koen, or Horse Park, was built for the equestrian events in the 1964 Olympics and is now run by the Japan Racing Association. It is rightly known as a place to see cherry blossoms in the spring, but they have also have a lovely plum grove surrounding one of their seven playgrounds.
Photo by Junko Kimura