CHERRY BLOSSOM THE EPHEMERAL BEAUTY OF JAPAN
Cherry trees blossom as if it marks the official start of spring in Japan. It requires a certain temperature, and the blossom starts from the south of the country: Stretching from south to north, the blossom line indicates the beginning of spring, and the Japanese Meteorological Agency officially reports where the “cherry blossom front” is for the spring temperature report. Starting in Okinawa, the southern most island of the Japanese archipelago, it takes about a month to reach to the northern most point on Hokkaido, the northern island.
The visual beauty of cherry blossom is also extraordinary: With its sensitive pink color, the petals shine elegantly in the daylight and are illuminated gloriously at night. Even at the end of the blossoms, the petals fall so beautifully, and it looks just like very light pink snowflakes: Flowers are so fragile that a warm spring rain can easily cause the petals to fall. This ephemeral beauty symbolizes the transience of human life; the flowers are beautiful but short-lived, and the end of the blossom is sentimental. This is translated into the traditional Japanese samurai spirit, the belief that life was brief and beautiful, just like the cherry blossom.
The beauty of cherry blossom went even overseas: At the Paris Exposition Universelle in 1867, progressive European artists were fascinated by the exotic beauty and the new sense of beauty from the country of the rising sun. This was the beginning of the new style trend known as Japonisme, which prominent artists such as Van Gough, Lautrec, Manet, Renoir, Degas, Monet, Gaugin and more followed. In 1912, the Japanese government gave 3,000 cherry trees to the US government as a token of friendship. Today, these trees blossom every spring, which draws the whole Washington area to celebrate the beginning of the spring.
Being such a symbolic and important tree, cherry trees have been planted everywhere in Japan – public parks, school yards, historic sites, river banks, deep mountains and so on - so that they can enjoy the blossom everywhere. Hanami, the cherry blossom viewing, is the traditional activities among the Japanese people, and under the trees are the best spot for hanami: People picnic with food and beer, sometimes with sake as well. Eating, drinking, chatting and singing, people celebrate the natural beauty and the start of the warm season. Stroll around wherever you go in Japan and find your own spot for hanami. Some hanami locations became nationally famous over the years and, along with the local interest, these are spring destinations that guarantee the spring view of the fantastic Japanese beauty.
(When to go: early to mid April)
A one-hour train ride from the central Nara, where the very first capital of Japan was built in 710, is Yoshino Mountain, part of the Kii mountain range, which is a UNESCO world heritage sites “Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range.” The 8km (5 miles) long mountain range is filled with cherry blossom from the end of March to early April with 30,000 cherry trees on the mountain side, which is divided into four sections from the lower level to the top; Shita-Senbon (bottom thousand trees), Naka-Senbon (middle thousand trees), Ue-Senbon (upper thousand trees) and Oku-Senbon (back thousand trees). Since the trees blossom from the lower section to the top, Yoshino Mountain has plenty of visitors for longer time. In addition, the mountain view from a distance is also famous as the pink color spreads gradually from the bottom to the top.
There are almost 200 kinds of cherry trees in Yoshino Mountain, and the majority of them are shiro-yama-zakura (white mountain cherry). However, the most major kind in Japan is called Somei-Yoshino, which is translated as Yoshino Cherry, named after this famous cherry mountain Yoshino.
Access: From Osaka Abeno-hashi Station, take Kintestu Minami-Osaka Kyuko Line for 85 minutes to Yoshino. Take the gondola from the Yoshino-San station to the mountain top. Shuttle bus service will be available during the top cherry blossom season. It is a good hiking mountain if not taking the gondola.
(When to go: Late March to Early April)
This is one of the most famous temples in Japan, and cherry blossom may not be necessary to lure tourists to this place. However, Kiyomizu-dera Temple was so significant even centuries ago that many cherry trees were planted. They all grew large over the centuries and now gorgeously light up the spring at the Temple. The view of the cherry trees from the famous wooden platform of the Temple is absolutely stunning, and has been amazing people for centuries.
Maruyama Park, Kyoto
(When to go: Late March to Early April)
No question about not to visit this park that is located in the center of Higashiyama, the old entertainment center of Kyoto when it was a capital. Surrounded by several historic and tourist sites, this is the most famous public park in Kyoto and easy to stop by to enjoy the cherry blossom while strolling around the historic Kyoto.
The cherry tree that makes this park so special with cherry-blossom viewing is shidare-zakura, drooping cherry tree, which stands mysteriously, glamorously and romantically. With the exclusive traditional cityscape, the cherry view is tremendously unique in Kyoto.
Chidori-ga-fuchi, Tokyo
(When to go: early April)
Tokyo is bustling even when the cherry trees are blossoming: The parks around the Imperial Palace in central Tokyo are where the locals gather to enjoy the blossoming cherry trees, and the most famous is Chidori-ga-fuchi. Just a few minute walk from a few subway stations in Tokyo’s central district, this park serves as an urban oasis and the 0.5 mile long promenade and the boathouse provide you the best view of 260 cherry trees planted around the moat. The natural pink color of the cherry trees is contrasted on the stone wall of the moat, which presents a very unique and tasteful contrast. Night time has a different beauty of the blossoms that are all lit up.
Hirosaki Castle, Aomori
(When to go: Late April to Early May)
The most famous place to celebrate the late beginning of spring in northern Japan is around this historic Hirosaki Castle that was built in the 17th century. With more than 2,600 cherry trees, Hirosaki Castle is the largest cherry blossom viewing site in the northern part of Honshu, the main island of Japan. The trees are planted around the Castle Ruins, attracting more than 2 million people every year for viewing the beautiful pink colors and walking under the cherry tree tunnels while petals are gracefully falling. Besides the historic locations like Horisaki Castle, Aomori Prefecture still has deep nature preserved to this day, and peripheral areas are great nature and adventure destinations: one of UNESCO’s world heritage sites, Shirakami-Sanchi mountain range, is accessible by car from the City of Hirosaki.
Access: Take domestic flight to Aomori Airport (70 minutes from Haneda, Tokyo). Take the bus from Aomori Airport for one hour to Hirosaki.
Matsumae Park, Hokkaido
(When to go: End of April to late May)
The beginning of spring in Japan’s northern island starts from here: When cherry blossoms are over in most of the country, Matsumae Park in Hokkaido becomes the cherry blossom capital of Hokkaido. With almost 10,000 cherry trees, the Matsumae Park also attracts visitors with the historic Matsumae Castle, which was finished in 1854 by the local Matsumae Clan and became the last castle built in the traditional Japanese style. The castle was carefully restored and turned into one of the most popular destinations in Hokkaido, the major destinations for winter resorts and rich seafood regions that serve fabulous sushi and seafood cuisine.
Access: From Hakodate, the southern gateway of the island, take JR Esashi Line for 73 minutes (40 minutes by the Hakucho Express), and take the local Hakodate Bus Line for two hours to Matsu-Shiro.
— Nori Akashi: Marketing Specialist at the New York Office of JNTO
Japan National Tourist Organization
New York Office
One Rockefeller Plaza, Suite 1250, New York, NY 10020
TEL: 212-757-5640 www.Japantravelinfo.com
