When cherry blossoms start to bloom. When do cherry blossoms bloom in Japan? Cherry blossom period, photo

Japan in cherry blossom season - what could be more beautiful? This is an amazingly beautiful time, which is considered the best time to visit Japan around the world. At this time, the Land of the Rising Sun turns into a beautiful garden, and for the inhabitants of the Land of the Rising Sun themselves, the flowering of this tree is a real holiday. Sakura is a symbol of spring blossom and natural beauty for every Japanese. Wanting to admire the cherry blossoms, the Japanese go to numerous parks, and leave their cars under the trees so that the sakura decorates them with fallen petals. Whirling in the air like snowflakes, the petals bring a touch of sadness to hanami - the Japanese cherry-sakura festival. Cherry blossom always reminds the Japanese of the frailty of the world around...

There is an ancient legend dedicated to this tree. One day, the god Ninigi descended from heaven to earth, and the deity of the mountain made him an offer to marry one of his 2 beloved daughters. He decided to choose the youngest, whose name was Ko-no-hana sakuya-hime (which means "blossoming" in translation), abandoning the older girl named Ivanaga-hime (her name is translated as "high rock"). She was sent back to her father because she was considered ugly. In anger, the god of the mountain spoke about the idea: if Ninigi would have chosen Ivanaga-hime, then the life of their children would be eternal, strong as rocks. But the choice turned out to be wrong, therefore, the life of future descendants, that is, the Japanese, from the emperor to ordinary people, will become beautiful, but fleeting - like beautiful spring flowers.

At the end of March, the traditional Sakura Matsuri or O-Hanami festival begins in Japan, with a thousand-year history. Every self-respecting Japanese considers it his duty to perform the ceremony of admiring sakura or hanami during this period.
Family members, friends and colleagues gather under the cherry blossoms to honor the kami spirits and welcome the arrival of spring.

Origins of hanami

The tradition of viewing cherry blossoms originated in the imperial court in the third century AD. It became especially widespread in the Heian era - the courtiers spent hours under flowering trees, enjoying light drinks, games and folding poetry.

Nowadays, the Japanese gather with families, student groups, work teams and have picnics under flowering trees, including at night. Night hanami is called yozakura ("night cherry blossom"). Trees in parks and gardens are illuminated from below by small “rights-apu” lanterns, and from above by tall lanterns made of rice paper “washi”, the light from which gently falls on the flowers.

The tradition of hanami has a deep religious meaning for the Japanese. Looking at the flying rose petals, a person should think about the transience of life and its beauty. Shintoists revere the stem of the wild cherry tree as the home of ancestral spirits. Family dinner under his crown on the days of Sakura Matsuri is similar to the custom of the Day of the Dead in Mexico or the Chinese Hungry Ghost Festival. It helps to pacify the souls of the ancestors and enlist their support. Despite the strict labor discipline in Japan, every employer must allocate time for their employees to commit hanami.

Hanami is part of the culture

The cherry-sakura blossom has captured the imagination of the Japanese and often appears in everyday life. For example, there is the Sakura Bank. And when the Japanese are going to name a newborn, they very often write the hieroglyph "sakura" in the name of the child.
Even this word itself serves as a fairly common female name. The back side of the coin is crowned with a cherry tree, and the first song that many Japanese kids memorize is called "Sakura, Sakura."

In addition, now interest in hanami is being massively fueled by commercial and marketing campaigns. From mid-March, the windows begin to burst from
themed chocolate, beer and other packages. In short, during the hanami season, all shops are repainted in pink.

The most famous cherry blossom spot in Japan is Ueno Park in Tokyo's Taito district. At the beginning of spring, about 9,000 cherry trees of various varieties bloom here at the same time. This event makes the park area a place of real pilgrimage for people from different parts of the country. Another popular hanami venue in the Japanese capital is Sumida-koen, located next to the Tokyo Skytree tower. There are more than 600 cherry trees in the scenic natural area along the Sumida River.

There are countless places throughout Japan where cherry blossom viewing is an unforgettable experience. Numerous parks at castles, temples and shrines where the centuries-old traditions of Hanami are preserved.

In the Land of the Rising Sun, a lot of attention is paid to nature, in particular, when sakura blossoms in Japan, the beautiful hanami tradition associated with admiring nature gains strength.

A touch of spring

The whole country adopted this custom, which began in Shizuoka and Odawara. In the last decades of the 20th century, other states in which this wonderful tree grows also adopt this custom.

Entire alleys are created, which acquire the status of attractions. Magical days, in Japan, last a little over a week, after which the petals fall. If the weather is bad, it can happen in 5 days.

When cherry blossoms in Japan, the temperature is 18 degrees. Of course, the south and north of the state are somewhat different in temperature. In total, when answering the question in what month sakura blossoms in Japan, one can take into account both the end of February and the entire spring period.

Efficiency and scale

This event is treated very responsibly, the news reports on the duration of flowering for each territory. Photos of cherry blossoms in Japan are beautiful. In Tokyo, the spectacle can be enjoyed as early as the beginning of April. Information is coming in about how many trees will soon be covered with delicate whiteness in each park. Many people go to see it in Ueno, the most beautiful of parks, or in Shinjukugyoen.

In the latter, you can see 1.5 thousand trees, divided into 75 species. Such a spectacle is incredibly impressive. When sakura blossoms in Japan, a lot of visitors come to the area of which is 626 thousand square meters. m. You can also look into the wonderful Sumida Park, where there are 400 trees. The lighting designed there creates a wonderful atmosphere.

Throwing away worldly vanity

Japan is very proud of its traditions. Cherry blossoms are an occasion for employees of various companies to come out into the air during the labor process along with colleagues and the boss. Everyone knows about the advanced technologies of this country and its rapid progress.

Nevertheless, Japan is the land of cherry blossoms, and nature is paid no less attention here than science. Surprisingly, the inhabitants of this state combine love for natural goods and the ability to adapt the world around them to human needs.

When the cherry blossoms in Japan, people can stop for a while, relax and admire the beauty of the flowers. For some reason, in European states, such simple trifles are forgotten, although they are very important and, in principle, can please no less than some expensive thing that you tirelessly save up for for many months. People are becoming more accustomed to enjoy the expensive toys that appear in TV commercials. But here everything is free and much more beautiful, more natural.

Celebration order

The Japanese can only be praised and respected for such traditions. They set up tent camps in squares where you can buy food or drinks, children's toys. It's kind of like a fair. Everywhere you can see spread out mats and outdoor picnic lovers sitting on them. It happens that it’s hard to win back a “place in the sun”, because the best positions are taken at night.

A plastic mat is spread out, which symbolizes the occupation of the territory. There is a beautiful view in front of people at any time of the day, because there is a backlight installed by the municipality. The most beautiful tones of flowers are shaded. Another interesting detail is the use of small flashlights (“right-appu”) that create illumination from below.

There are also taller lanterns, which are decorated with washi rice paper. The lighting is very soft. Hanami held at night is called yozakura. A special attitude has developed towards the flowers that fall to the ground. They symbolize how the Japanese view beauty.

We are talking about the fact that everything that pleases our eyes is admired, because its age is short, and we need to appreciate those wonderful moments while it shines with splendor. Everything we get used to becomes part of everyday life, no longer having its former weight.

History of occurrence

Such a wonderful tradition arose when the imperial court was functioning, and it was in the 3rd century AD. The peak of its distribution was the Heian era, when the courtiers could be found spending a long time near the trees, dressed in delicate flowers.

Light drinks were also drunk, salon games were held and beautiful poems were composed. The resurgent life itself was embodied in this ritual, which came to Japan from China, to which the then enlightened minds were equal in the early era. Sakura symbolizes the identity of the Land of the Rising Sun, it is its national symbol. From 894 envoys were no longer sent to the Celestial Empire, and the state became more and more independent.

Philosophical meaning

The flowering period is very short, so it is important to take some time to admire this amazing event. It prompts thoughts about the eternal. In particular, about how fleeting life is, but at the same time beautiful, amazing and bright.

In addition, purity of thought and courage are glorified. During the Edo period, this custom has firmly entered the life and culture of the Japanese. Rice is planted at the same time. So it is also a symbol of the harvest, as well as the resurgent nature, a new stage for the whole country.

People believed that flowers had a special spirit to which they made offerings. In parallel, culture developed, affecting this custom. Another peak for this custom is the Tokugawa era, when at the state level it was ordered to create plantations of sakura throughout Japan. Thus, they wanted to strengthen national traditions. If before this custom was followed exclusively by aristocrats, now absolutely the whole people began to join it. So over time it was brought to the official level.

Significance

A very large khanami was carried out in 1598 on the orders of T. Hideyoshi, who was a military leader at that time. He achieved victory over the separatist princes and established unified control over the entire state. In honor of this triumph, a procession was organized, in which 1.3 thousand people took part. They were moving towards Daigo, a temple in Kyoto. This is where the cherry blossoms were celebrated. Many beautiful poems were written about this event and plays were staged in theaters. After that, the Japanese love for tradition became more and more solid.

These trees adorned the center of the political life of the state at the time when the Tokugawa shogunate ruled. By special order, they were delivered by feudal lords, who had to be citizens of Edo for at least a year. It was a period of discovery of new species obtained by crossing.

Spring in Japan can only mean one thing: cherry blossoms.

Sandwiched between long, brutal winter months and humid, hot summers, spring is Japan's most popular time of year for tourism, both domestic and overseas. Cherry blossom tours in Japan allow you to experience this infectious atmosphere, with parks filled with revelers and cherry blossom-scented snacks and drinks lined supermarket shelves.

The cherry blossom front spreads across the country, starting in February in Okinawa in the south and reaching Hokkaido in May. A number of factors can influence cherry blossoms: a particularly cold winter can mean the flowers appear late, mild weather can cause them to appear early, and heavy rain can cause the petals to fall much faster. For this reason, before planning a spring holiday in Japan, you need to study the cherry blossom forecast.

Dates

Cherry blossoms usually begin blooming in Okinawa around January/February, in central Japan around March and April, and in northern Hokkaido around May. In areas located on highlands, flowering begins later than in lowland areas. In Tokyo, flowering usually occurs at the end of March, reaching the full bloom phase around April 5th. In Kyoto, cherry blossoms bloom a day or two later than in the capital, while the mountainous regions around Takayama and Matsumoto bloom about two weeks later, starting in mid-April.

Hanami

A traveler who is lucky enough to buy a tour to Japan and find himself in this country during the cherry blossom season should definitely go to local parks and gardens, grab food and drinks for a picnic and join the locals for hanami (“flower viewing”). It is during this period that the Japanese are most relaxed, and all public places acquire an atmosphere similar to a party.

Typical hanami locations such as city parks, landscaped gardens, castle grounds, and riverside areas are filled with crowds during cherry blossom season. The flowers usually stay on the trees for a couple of weeks, sometimes less if it rains heavily, so visitors have a small time window in which to enjoy the trees in full bloom. Hanami parties are so popular that some companies pay one employee to sit in the park all day, holding a seat for the office hanami in the evening.

Hanami parties can be held during the day and in the evening. Cherry blossoms are especially beautiful at dusk, when the trees are lit by lanterns.

History

The tradition of hanami is centuries old, believed to have begun during the Nara period (710-794), so by participating in a hanami, a tourist is joining one of Japan's most beloved and most revered rituals.

Although the term "hanami" has been used almost exclusively to refer to cherry blossom viewing since the Heian Period (794-1185), historically the Japanese have hosted hanami parties under wisteria and plum blossoms. Today, some older Japanese still gather to see plum blossoms (ume), which for them is a quieter alternative to noisy hanami parties.

In ancient Japan, the cherry blossom was of great importance as it marked the rice planting season and was used to predict the harvest. Moreover, his fleeting beauty was a metaphor for life itself, praised in numerous poems.

The Japanese believed that spirits lived in sakura trees, and they made offerings in the form of rice wine to them. This developed into the tradition of hanami parties, a celebration of food, drink and fun, which is believed to have begun in the court of Emperor Saga and has become a tradition loved by all sections of society.

Sakura flavored products

During the hanami season, a visitor to Japan may think that the country has gone a little crazy because of the sakura. Not only are there many themed events and festivals, but even cherry-scented products on supermarket shelves reflect the coming season.

A trip to Japan in the spring will give tourists the opportunity to taste sakura-chu-hai (sweet alcoholic drinks), sakura dumplings, sakura KitKat, sakura beer, sakura chips, and even a Starbucks sakura flavored latte! What do these foods taste like? Most people would agree that this is a taste that takes some getting used to, with a scent that is somewhere between lavender and soap!

Top 10 hanami places

There are countless superb hanami spots in Japan, and everyone who plans to buy a holiday to Japan has their own personal favorite, so we've compiled a few of the best places from our point of view to give the traveler a place to start.

1. Mount Yoshino, Nara Prefecture

This mountain, with over 30,000 cherry trees, has been Japan's most famous cherry blossom spot for hundreds of years.

2. Shinjuku Gyoen, Tokyo

Tokyo is known the world over as a cutting-edge metropolis with high-rise buildings and flashing neon lights, and while that's true, it also has plenty of green space to take a break from the bustle of the capital and relax. One of the best places in Tokyo where travelers who have bought tours to Japan can watch cherry blossoms is undoubtedly the Shinjuku-gyōen National Park, which has over a thousand cherry trees, where there are both early and late flowering varieties, which means , the cherry blossom season lasts longer here than in other places in the city.

Other great hanami spots in the city include Imperial Palace Gardens, Hamarikyu Gardens, and Ueno Park, so be sure to check out a few of them.

3. Himeji Castle, Hyogo Prefecture

This UNESCO World Heritage Site has survived fires, wars, earthquakes and the Meiji Restoration to be one of the few original feudal castles still in Japan. Surrounded by cherry trees, Himeji is undoubtedly one of the best places to visit in spring!

If a visit to Himeji isn't included on your Japan tour this spring, don't worry - almost all Japanese castles (whether original or reconstructed) are great places for hanami as they are traditionally surrounded by cherry trees.

4. Mount Fuji

Arriving at Mount Fuji in the spring, you can get two pleasures for the price of one, since this mountain is surrounded by cherry trees. There are many places that offer views of Mount Fuji, but our favorites are Hakone, the Five Lakes area, and the northern shores of Lake Kawaguchiko and Chureito Pagoda.

5. Philosophical trail, Kyoto

The Kyoto Philosopher's Trail is a road that runs along a stone-paved canal in the northern part of the Higashiyama area. The trail got its name from the philosopher Nishidee Kitaro, who meditated here on his way to Kyoto University. Along the road, 2 kilometers long, there are also restaurants, cafes, shops and, of course, sakura trees that bloom magnificently in early April. This is one of the most popular hanami places in Kyoto, and those who book a tour to Japan from Moscow, prices for which depend on its duration, will not regret visiting this place. At the same time, you can go on a tour to Japan from other major cities of the CIS countries.

6. Kenroku-en Garden, Kanazawa

Recognized as one of the top three landscape gardens in Japan (considered the best of the three), Kenroku-en Garden in Kanazawa is a great place to visit at any time of the year, but especially during the cherry blossom season. The garden is so large that you can easily spend a couple of hours wandering around it.

7. Miharu Taki-zakura

Miharu Taki-zakura ("Sakura Waterfall in Miharu") is located near the small town of Miharu in Fukushima Prefecture, in the northern Tohoku region of the Japanese island of Honshu. This massive weeping cherry, which is 12 meters high and has a trunk circumference of 9.5 meters, is over a thousand years old. It is probably the most famous tree in Japan and is considered by many to be the most beautiful.

8. Hirosaki Castle, Hirosaki

From the end of April, the park around Hirosaki Castle transforms into a pink wonderland with over 2,500 cherry trees, cherry blossom tunnels, evening illuminations, moats pink with petals, beautiful picnic areas and rented rowboats. If you visit this place from April 23 to May 5, you can become a member of the Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival. This park is one of the top three cherry blossom spots in Japan, so if a trip to Japan in the spring includes a visit to this place, the tourist will have an unforgettable experience.

9. Hanamiyama Park, Fukushima

Another attraction in the Tohoku region, Hanamiyama Park ("flower-viewing mountain") is located on the slopes surrounding a rural community of farmers in Fukushima Prefecture. The park was established by local farmers who began growing ornamental plants and trees in the area and was opened to the public in 1959. Here you can admire various varieties of sakura and other flowering trees with a beautiful view of the Azuma Mountains.

10. Takato Castle Ruins, Nagano

Last but not least on our list is the ruined Takato Castle Park in Nagano Prefecture. It ranks third in the official ranking of hanami places in Japan (along with Mount Yoshino and Hirosaki Castle). Situated on a hill in the city of Ina (Nagano), the park is about 60 kilometers from Matsumoto (where Black Crow Castle also provides a great spot for hanami). In April, there are many yatai outlets set up for the annual cherry blossom festival in the park, and there is also a wonderful illumination that turns on from sunset to 10 pm.

Like many places on this list, Takato Castle Park is packed with people during the cherry blossom season, so tourists who don't like crowds should visit early in the morning and avoid the weekend. Inside the park is the curved Onkyo Bridge, which is one of the most beautiful places during cherry blossom season, but if you take the time to walk, you can find no less impressive places.

to Japan for Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Belarus |in Japan |to Japan

In Japan, there is a national tradition of admiring flowers, which is called "hanami". Cherry blossoms are announced on television in advance in different parts of Japan, and when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, people gather in parks where they have picnics while admiring the beautiful pink and white flowers.

The Japanese poet Basho wrote:
"Under the crown of the tree
Here is the fish, here is the stew.
Cherry Blossom".

In Okinawa, the southernmost prefecture of Japan, sakura blossoms already in January, in Tokyo and Kyoto - in late March-early April, and in the northern regions of Japan even later. Cherry blossoms last about a week. For Buddhists, of whom there are many in Japan, cherry blossoms are a symbol of the ephemeral nature of life.

Hanami continues at night: large and small lanterns are installed in the parks, the light of which gently falls on the flowers:

Hanami is usually associated with admiring sakura flowers, but hanami is also admiring other flowers: Japanese plums (which bloom before sakura), lilies of the valley, sunflowers, carnations, cosmos, tulips.

Interesting Japan and Sakura Facts:

In Japan, the academic and financial year begins in April, and often the first day of work or study for the Japanese on the island of Honshu (Japan's largest island, where Tokyo is located) coincides with cherry blossom day.

During the Second World War, the Japanese planted sakura in the occupied countries (China, Korea) as a sign that these territories are now part of Japan. In Korea, after the end of the war, many cherry trees were destroyed, as they were associated with the Japanese occupation. At the same time, back in 1933, the Japanese scientist Koizumi Genichi stated that the homeland of the most popular variety of Japanese sakura is the South Korean island of Jeju. As for China, the two most famous sakura parks on the territory of this country were planted by the Japanese during the years of China's occupation.

Another Basho poem about sakura:
"Our two destinies
And live between them
Cherry Blossoms!"

The cherry blossom season is a holiday for the Japanese. It is held annually at the end of March and beginning of April. This day is usually spent with family in nature or in parks.

In the mountains covered with mist,

Do not tire your eyes!

And you, like those flowers...

And I will not get tired of admiring you!

Ki-No Tomonori

In Japan, spring comes when the whole country is painted in white and pink. This is how cherry blossoms bloom.

The Japanese call it wild cherry or mountain cherry. These flowers are considered the national symbol of the country and embody all the beauty of Japanese women.

In Japan, sakura blooms everywhere - in the mountains, and on the banks of rivers and in parks, in total there are more than 300 different species.

Sakura tender

Foam of revived flowers

Melts with dreams

Sadness from loss

Stronger every minute

Heart squeezes

Glide past on the water

Boats habitually

Cut the stern beauty

Life is illogical.

Barkov Andrey

Hanami - Cherry Blossom Festival

The Japanese are so fascinated by the beauty of cherry blossoms that they introduced in their country the ritual of admiring this tree - hanami.

This is everyone's favorite holiday. Sakura begins to bloom annually at the end of March. To admire this breathtaking spectacle, the Japanese go to nearby parks. The day for observing khanami is considered a day off.

Before the holiday is approaching, all the media report when the sakura will begin to bloom, and in what places it is best to observe this process. According to approximate data, in Tokyo, it begins to bloom in late March-early April, in Kyoto - from April 4 to 16, in Osaka - from April 5 to 13, in Sapporo - from April 12 to 20.

lasts cherry blossom several days, and sometimes only a few hours, and this is associated among the Japanese with the transience of everything earthly. This period is an excellent occasion to make a trip to Japan. Warm weather can speed up flowering, and cold weather, on the contrary, slows it down.

Cleaner than snow, a glimpse of spring,
blooming slightly pinkish-white.
Under the sakura sky, the distant side,
blossoms dawns the first meeting.

The country of the East is a wonderful country,
She managed to grow such a miracle.
You are sakura, still very young,
And already managed to conquer me.

So I want to hug you,
And let, like snow, the color shower with pink
or just lie at your feet,
Even if the bitter cold stings your skin.

But if you look into your eyes
There, everything shines with radiant light.
The heavens reflect the warmth in them,
And from the heat all the cold melts with snow.

Oh sakura, I fell in love with you
Your color is singing under the rising sun.
Please, my love
be a muse and give me inspiration...

Khanami festivals are very popular among the population of the country - after all, this is a great occasion to spend time with family and friends. Some Japanese even travel to the cities of the country, in each of them watching cherry blossom.

History of Hanami

The history of the holiday has about 17 centuries. At that time, it was held for aristocrats, and later ordinary people joined in admiring sakura. In the Tokugawa era, it began to be planted throughout the country to observe cherry blossom could as many people as possible, and in the Meiji era, on the contrary, cut down, since these trees began to be considered a symbol of feudalism. But this did not last long, and hanami became the favorite holiday of the Japanese.

Sakura and the latest technology

Period cherry blossoms is very short, but the Japanese have come up with a way to extend it by creating an artificial tree. On its branches are not fresh flowers, but burning LEDs. Also for those who wish not only to constantly see, but also to feel the aroma cherry blossoms- exhibitions of flavored paintings are arranged in museums.

Heaven with earth

Connected in a shaky plexus -

Mist rising from the sea

Penetrated into flowering crowns

Mountain sakura.

Akiko Yesano

At the time of flowering
Cherries are like clouds -
Isn't that why
The soul became more spacious
Like a spring sky...

Kamo Mabuchi

mountain cherry
moonlight
Filled with cherry in the mountains.
I see under the wind
Trembling passed through the trees, -
So the flowers will fall?!

Kagawa Kageki

spring rain
Caplet .. Or maybe tears?
Cherries are falling...
Who in the whole world now
Will not mourn separation from flowers?

Otomo Kuronushi

Ah, no matter how much you look at the cherry petals
In the mountains covered with mist,
Do not tire your eyes!
And you, like those flowers...
And I will not get tired of admiring you!

Ki-No Tomonori