Cherry Blossoms

Sakura   Hanami    Hanamatsuri

What do these all have in common?

Cherry Blossoms, lots and lots of Cherry Blossoms. 

Sakura is the Japanese name for the blossoms. There are Sakura flavored food items everywhere this time of year. Starbucks Sakura Latte, McDonalds Sakura burger, Sakura ice cream, cake, tea, and many more sweets. Clint and I both rired a few and neither one of us was wildly impresses though he liked it more than I did.

It makes sense to Have so many flavored Things, Sakura Flowers Are everywhere There IS a whole Festival dedicated to Them-Hanamatsuri. UNLIKE Other Festivals this One Seems to BE a time of year Rather than One day. As soon as the Blossoming Trees start it is all anyone talks about. The trees are everywhere. They have tiny flowers that range white to fuchsia and are beautiful.

hey are used as decorations on store fronts in window displays and even the theme of our kindergarden graduation decorations.

 

People gather in large parks to look at the flowers this is called hanami. They bring big blue tarps (yes always blue) and sit down with food and drinks to enjoy the view. Families often prepare of purchase bento meals and bring sake and spend a few hours admiring the blooming trees. We went to Tokushima Castle Park and it was fun seeing all the people out on their tarps enjoying the day.

Kyoto I supposed to be the best place in Japan to Sakura. I was lucky enough to go when Jessica and David were visiting. We went to the philosopher walk way which is lined with Sakura. Everyone and their mother was also there, making the experience less than amazing but I'm still glad we went.  

While Jess and David were visiting we also headed up into the mountains for some good Inaka (rural) fun. There were far fewer people and we enjoyed the cherry blossoms immensely.