Be careful where you lay your picnic blanket and treat the trees with the respect they deserve. From local websites and news reports to tracking apps, there is no reason for you to miss the start of the season. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Advertiser Disclosure: Many of the credit card offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies from which we receive compensation. The sea of pink petals set against the white walls of the castle is possibly one of the most beautiful settings in which to view the sakura. Hanami is such a special time. They are now a peaceful and enjoyable location for coming together to capture the hanami. While all the blossoms are beautiful, not all are the same. Why Is the Cherry Blossom so Culturally Important in Japan? Upgraded Points, LLC uses reasonable efforts to maintain accurate information on the site and prior to applying for any credit card offers found on UpgradedPoints.com, all visitors should review other features of such credit cards including but not limited to interest rates, annual fees and transaction fees, and should determine the suitability of such credit cards considering their own individual financial position. The Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival (, Kawazuzakura Matsuri) is held yearly from early February to early March in the city of Kawazu, located . This is a perfect way to experience the blossoms, local cuisine, and get out of the busy city center. Get our travel tips Delivered to your inbox, Shizuko Mishima is a life-long resident of Japan and author of "The Sushi Kit.". Cherry Blossom Night with the Washington Wizards. As the most popular and often crowdedspot in the city for cherry blossom viewing, the focal point of the hanami here is the tall shidarezakura (weeping cherry tree) that visitors flock to see in the springtime. You should also be aware that there will usually be a few days between the date of the first bloom and the date of the full bloom. The Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival is an annual spring celebration of Japanese arts and culture organized by the Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia, with tremendous support from title sponsor Subaru of America, Inc. However, it's really difficult to predict cherry blossom dates far in advance, so planning a trip specifically to see the blossoms is tough. Top viewing spots like Maruyama Park, Mount Yoshino, Himeji Castle, and Fuji Five Lakes are some of the most atmospheric places in the world and are wonderful places to see the beautiful blooms. While you may have had the chance to spot cherry blossoms in the US, nothing beats cherry blossom season in Japan. They can also spend time exploring the Matsumae Castle, Ryuunin Temple, Kozenji Temple, Sakura Museum, and Matsumae Shrine which can also be found within the park grounds. click here to leave your comment. Visitors come from all over from mid-March through the middle of April to picnic and party under the cherry trees. Revelers come to celebrate the season with picnics and parties that run late into the evening when lanterns light the way. The delicate flowers of the sakura are a huge part of Japanese life, culture, and history. With some 350 trees in full bloom, these late-blooming, double-petal varieties are some of the rarest in the city, making a visit to this unusual location very worthwhile. However, the festival dates are usually the indicator of the cherry blossoming readiness. The castle moat turns pink from the floating blossom petals, and the trees look stunning set against the backdrop of the castle itself. Various spots located in the Fuji Five Lake region offer amazing views of the cherry blossom trees, and from mid- to late April, you can experience hanami while taking in this world-famous landmark. Hot Tip: Once you know where to see the cherry trees blossom and when to get there, keep in mind that hanami can get very competitive as everyone wants to ensure that they get the best spot. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Need more time to experience the beauty of the blooms? While at the festival, youll be able to enjoy local crafts and food, take trips on the boating lake, and enjoy music and colorful dance performances. This year's theme is . Cherry blossoms are often featured in works or art and even tattoos to depict the Japanese concept ofmono no aware, the wistful realization that "nothing lasts forever.". Washington's cherry blossoms date back 111 years to an original 1912 gift of 3,000 trees from the mayor of Tokyo. 2023 FESTIVAL: MARCH 20 - APRIL 16 . Most trees only bloom for a few days, so its important to know when the best time to visit each of the different locations will be. Poor winter conditions can add a week to either side of the expected dates, but as a general rule of thumb, the milder the climate, the earlier in the year the blossoms will open. Still, the pretty pink blossoms look particularly spectacular under the lanterns at night, making this a popular location to experience hanami. The 2020 cherry blossom season was essentially wrecked in real time by the creeping shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic, which was moving across the country just as the festival was holding press . Weather conditions can cause the seasons to start a week or so earlier or later than the previous year, but usually, they do not vary by much more than that. The National Cherry Blossom Festival is one of the premier events each year in the nation's capital. Masks are recommended, but not required outside of the music performance. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Bring a kite to fly or enjoy the crafts available to participants of all ages. Another spectacular castle surrounded by cherry blossom trees is Takada Castle: an estate in the Niigata prefecture two hours northwest of Tokyo. The Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival is the largest celebration of Japanese culture in the United States. Enjoy the blooms at the Tidal Basin while experience live performances that celebrate the friendship between the US and Japan. You can check tour prices and availability here. Get ready for spring and check out all the attractions! During the middle of April, the Osaka branch of the national mint offers over 500 meters of cherry-tree-lined paths located within the grounds of this prestigious building. Click here to see a list of advertisers that we work with. The weather plays a large part in the process, and if the months and weeks preceding the hanami season are mild, the blossoms will be more likely to open early. Cultivated many centuries ago, the Somie Yohsino is one of the most commonly found cherry trees in Japan. No country knows how to enjoy and celebrate the natural phenomenon of the cherry blossom season better than Japan. Arguably no country celebrates the cherry blossom with the excitement of Japan, but the country is hardly the only place on earth with a large assortment of these flowers. Hot Tip: You can take a 3-hour cherry blossom and food tour with a local around the neighborhood that surrounds Osaka Castle. All rights reserved. This year is special because it is the 110th anniversary of the gift of the cherry trees. People view cherry blossoms along the Potomac River in Washington on March 20, 2022. Being just a short bus ride from Kyoto station, Nijo Castle surprisingly still manages to be one of the less crowded locations for viewing. Later during the celebrations, the blossoms are illuminated when night falls, adding a whole new dimension to the beauty of hanami. The Japan Meteorological Corporation provides viewers with an early cherry blossom forecast from the start of the year and has start and end dates for the hanami season in various locations up and down the country. Another late bloomer, the Ichiyo tree, doesnt even start to flower until mid-April when it starts to produce fresh green leaves and soft pink petals. About Seattle Cherry Blossom & Japanese Cultural Festival History . From the color of the blossoms to the shape and form of the tree, each variety of cherry tree is as beautiful as the next. The castle and gardens are open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. from March to October 15, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from October 16 to February. Some of the most commonly used terms include: The exact dates for the cherry blossom season in Japan vary depending on where in the country you are headed. There are hot and cold sake stalls, takoyaki (squid balls) to try, and the addictive karaage (Japanese fried chicken) is always within an arms reach. Japan is known around the world for its cherry blossom festivals. The festival features over 24 hours of Japanese cultural performances on four stages (including J-Pop, traditional Japanese music, and martial arts) and a diverse range of cultural exhibitors, artisan and commercial vendors of traditional and contemporary Japanese goods, and Japanese and other food and beverages. From Bowers Museum: "Welcome spring following the tradition of a . The ancient farmers also used the blooming of the sakura flowers to help them understand when the time was right to plant their rice crops, helping to keep famine at bay. Shinjuku Gyoenis open every day between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. but closed on Mondays. Join the JICC and others at the Blossom Kite Festival. In this exhibition, the JICC, in collaboration with American University, wants to showcase the works of Hiroshige and celebrate his legacy on social media by presenting recent photographic interpretations of Hiroshige's ukiyo-e, submitted to us through our call for entry! Cherry Blossom Festival Japan Naha (Okinawa) Credits: Pedro Cambra In Okinawa, the estimated average first bloom is said to start in late January. When you use our Website, we or our service providers will assign your browser a unique identification number stored in a file on your computer (Cookie) unless you have disabled Cookies on your computer. Cherry blossoms normally begin blooming in January in Okinawa, and reach their peak in late March to April in the Honshu region. Sat, Mar 18, 2023. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. We also gather and archive basic Website logging statistics including the daily number of visitors to our Website, originating server locations and server or browser domain names. Over 200,000 visitors drive along the road every year, and there is usually plenty of space to park up and walk the path through the blossoms before enjoying the food stalls and other attractions that come during the hanami season. The castle is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. all week. 49th ANNUAL CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL DOWNTOWN DENVER | SAKURA SQUARE Thank you to everyone who made the 2022 festival a great success! Tucked away beneath the skyscrapers and alleyways, Shinjuku Gyoen is a gorgeous green refuge full of traditional gardens and a quaint traditional tea house. Isshin-Ji is a 30-minute walk from the Tsukano Onsen bus stop, or you can drive. The blossom viewing in Japan is believed to have first started in the Nara period of the countrys history between 710 A.D. and 794 A.D. Email needed if you'd like comment updates. Better yet, get yourself a waterproof backpack to make sure items like your travel camera are completely protected. Today, visitors come from all over the world to join in the celebrations that mark the beginning of spring, while admiring the delicate pink cherry blossoms known as sakura.. Featuring a variety of events throughout the city, the festival brings a taste of Japan to Philadelphia and highlights Traditionally, the local cafes and restaurants that line the river fill their patios and terraces with seats, making this festival a real community affair. Located outside the city of Osaka, Settsukyo Park is surrounded by a scenic valley offering a beautiful location from which to see the cherry blossoms. Japan is known around the world for its cherry blossom festivals. The National Cherry Blossom Festival's signature Opening Ceremony is an artistic celebration of the 1912 gift of trees from Tokyo to Washington, D.C., and an. The park is open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. all week. For those who would like to enjoy a more scaled-down celebration of spring, there are plenty of lesser-known viewing spots where visitors can picnic in peace. For many thousands of years, the act of observing them has been celebrated during the season of Hanami.. During late March through to early April, the cherry blossoms reach full bloom, creating a beautiful sea of pink blossoms contrasted against the blue of the ocean where the castle grounds jut out to meet the water. It is also one of the most densely covered trees, with over 100 petals per bloom, giving the Kikuzakura a look and feel of a cloud of soft pink petals. Wherever you are in Japan, there are so many great places to view the blossoms. Shinjuku Gyoen is a more peaceful base from which to enjoy the cherry blossoms, and visitors come here instead of some of the busier venues to quietly enjoy the breathtaking sight of 1,300 cherry trees blooming at different stages. Cuts to the bark or roots of the tree can lead to rot that spreads across the whole tree, causing it to die. Cherry trees can bloom right through until May the further north you travel, so dedicated sakura viewers can head north to enjoy even more sakura spotting. Meguro River Cherry Blossom Festival 2023 Dates: Mid March Early April 2023. ENTERTAINMENT EATS & TREATS MARKETPLACE FUKUBUKURO BAG During hanami season, viewers can enjoy a variety of events, including live music and traditional performances. Home to over 4,500 different plant species, Kyoto Botanical Gardens is home to the largest conservatory in Japan and a popular destination for those looking to join in with the hanami celebrations. The 2020, 2021 and 2022 sakura blooms took place without foreign tourists, who were locked out of Japan by Covid-related travel restrictions (which are now a thing of the pastyay! Many of the credit card offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies from which we receive financial compensation. It's also fun to patronize festival vendors who sell various foods and souvenirs, such as regional crafts and specialty food from the region. Golden Week falls at the end of April and the first week in May with four consecutive Japanese public holidays. Weve assembled the ultimate guide to visiting, experiencing, and enjoying Tokyo. The copper-colored leaves and creamy-yellow petals create a cloud-like scenery that really does stand out from the rest. With nearly 1,300 cherry trees dotted throughout the park, visitors come to picnic on the open lawns as the cherry tree petals fall around them. 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