Did you know that Japan has two kinds of flower as national flowers?
It's chrysanth and cherry blossom.
For me as a Japanese person, both seems very Japanese.
Chrysanth was originally the flower for all the ceremonial functions.
But lately, there are many optional flowers for wedding and chrysanth has been used only for funeral and graves.
So, the image of chrysanth is something not so happy nowadays.
However, it was originally a very nobel flower.
And Sakura -cherry blossom- is one of the biggest symbols of Japan and Japanese spring.
Sakura season is when we normally gather and have party under Sakura trees, which is called "Hanami" in Japanese.
Every year in the end of winter, we see Sakura blooming date forecast and we all somewhat look forward to the dates as the day when spring begins.
There are lots of Sakura spots all over Japan and the famous ones get so crowded every year.
And here is the Sakura blooming dates forcast for 2016!
Temperature of March is forecasted to be about the same or higher than the average years, so the Sakura blooming should be a bit earlier than average years.
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Tokyo: Mar 21-26
Fukuoka: Mar 21-25
Shizuoka: Mar 22-27
Nagoya: Mar 23-28
Kochi: Mar 23-27
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Hiroshima: Mar 24-30
Osaka: Mar 26-31
Kyoto: Mar 26-Apr 1
Kagoshima: Mar 27-31
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Fukushima: Apr 2-7
Kanazawa: Apr 2-9
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Akita: Apr 16-22
Aomori: Apr 20-27
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Sapporo: May 1-5
Kushiro: May 14-18
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The best dates for Hanami at Tokyo should be around Mar 25.
I was surprised that Tokyo is the earliest place among Japan for Sakura blooming and it means that Tokyo is one of the hottest places in Japan!
I know it's been getting hotter and hotter, but.....
Anyway, here are also the famous Sakura spots in Tokyo.
Chidorigafuchi Park
Yasukuni Shrine
Hamarikyu Gardens
Shiba Park
Ark Hills
Tokyo Midtown
Meiji Jingu Gaien
Kyu Shiba Rikyu Gardens
Toyama Park
Rokugien
If you visit Japan or live in Japan, you should go out and see Sakura and how excited Japanese people get under the Sakura trees!
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