We first realised that this country took its spring time seriously when even Starbucks changed the colour of their cups to pink for a few weeks in March and launched a spring campaign with their sweet and yum Starbucks 'Sakura' frappachino.
Exploring parks and open spaces in cities we've lived is something Atholl and I are good at doing. We typically spend hours with the children walking, riding bikes and playing ball most weekends. Yoyogi Park, Shinjuku Gyoen and Meiji Park all lie within a few kilometres from our house. Although quite different, all three are gorgeous expansive green spaces serving as havens in this super busy mega-city.
The Hanami season is a time of watching the flowers bloom. Having being in winter coats forever - given we missed the Ozzie summer this year moving here in September - the first sights of small white blossoms in Yoyogi Park got me really excited. I got hooked into reading the daily Hanami reports (explaining the percentage of blossom opening), working out best spots in the city to see the flowers bloom and naturally making lots of extra trips through Tokyo's parks to see the changes in the colours and growth as the weather warmed up.
The season is relatively short lived (around 2 weeks) and the start is totally weather dependant. It can also be over very quickly if there's a large rain. The opening of the flowers this year took place around the middle of March. During this week I took a trip to Shinjuky Gyoen one morning and was amazed to see the large groups of people (some on organised tours) gathering around the trees discussing the stage of Hanami and taking photographs.
I've had a great two weeks viewing the Sakura often on my own (with my favourite travel companinon
baby Jonah) and sometimes with friends. I loved walking through Aoyama Cemetery one weekend which boasted some bright pink Sakura and also enjoyed a boat trip along the Sumida river to Asakusa (on an informal tour I took with school mums) where we saw lots of cherry trees on the river banks.
I've had a great two weeks viewing the Sakura often on my own (with my favourite travel companinon
baby Jonah) and sometimes with friends. I loved walking through Aoyama Cemetery one weekend which boasted some bright pink Sakura and also enjoyed a boat trip along the Sumida river to Asakusa (on an informal tour I took with school mums) where we saw lots of cherry trees on the river banks.
Another great morning was cycling with a friend along the Meguro river. I borrowed a 'mama chari' - an electric bike with a baby seat for J - and we cycled about 10 kilometres along the banks of the river under white cherry-tree lined avenues. Nakameguro was alive with Hanami parties and even early in the day (we got there for lunch) there was an amazing vibe with street vendors selling pink coloured alcoholic bevies and lots of cafes and bars buzzing.
This past weekend, we spent a few hours in the Kitanomaru Park, north of the Imperial Palace grounds, also an amazing site where the cherry trees dip down into the moat below and it was beautiful seeing the magnificent Sakura against the backdrop of rowing boats on the water. Exiting the station (Kundashita, exit 2) was a breathtaking sight of Sakura. The blossoms are starting to drop so large white piles floated on the water giving a snow-like impression.
What really makes this time of the year special is the festivity around the Hanami. The Japanese celebrate with 'Hanami parties' across all of Tokyo's parks - lining picnic mats under the cherry trees and eating and drinking beneath the cherry blossoms. This obviously gets pretty rowdy in the late afternoons with lots of drinking and partying.
What really makes this time of the year special is the festivity around the Hanami. The Japanese celebrate with 'Hanami parties' across all of Tokyo's parks - lining picnic mats under the cherry trees and eating and drinking beneath the cherry blossoms. This obviously gets pretty rowdy in the late afternoons with lots of drinking and partying.
Although I've photographed more than a thousand trees I still cant get enough. Not only in the parks, but everywhere, sometimes it's the pink cherry tree outside Anna's bedroom window, or driving down the busy Meiji Dori road which is lined with Sakura in full bloom that just takes my breath away and calls for a picture as it's so pretty.
Next weekend, we're off to Lake Kawaguchiko (5 Lakes Fuji area) and we're hoping to catch the tail end of the season, although its been raining this week, so we may be out of luck. Although I'm pretty satisfied that I've seen the best of the Sakura and promise never to comment on the Asian/ Japanese tourists taking endless pictures of Bondi Beach. My iphone camera is overloaded with nothing else than the spring trees...(some of which are seen below across various locations).
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