Come see the cherry trees of a water constellation
and the round key of the rapid universe,
come touch the fire of instantaneous blue,
come before its petals are consumed
Cherry blossom fever is on its way! Japan's first cherry blossom forecast for 2021 was issued on January 14. It's not long now until the sakura-loving nation is decked out in pastel pink. Here's what you need to know about one of the most famous events around!
Japan is known around the world for its cherry blossom known as hanami in Japanese, cherry blossom festivals are an important custom and are held all over Japan during the spring. If you are planning a trip, here's what you need to know about this Hanami Festival.
Hanami literally means "viewing flowers," but it generally indicates cherry blossom viewing
The Symbolic Significance of the festival
Because cherry blossoms are beautiful and fleeting—the blooms often last no more than two weeks—they have become symbolic of the impermanence of beauty. Cherry blossoms are often featured in works or art and even tattoos to depict the Japanese concept of mono no aware, the wistful realization that "nothing lasts forever."
Hanami is the ancient tradition of going to enjoy the blooming of cherry blossoms (sakura) and sometimes plum blossoms (ume) in parks and throughout the countryside in Japan. The most popular kind of Japanese cherry tree, sakura, can be found all over the country.
Gorgeous flowers are the main attraction at the cherry blossom festivals, but there are a variety of traditional Japanese performances presented during these festivals. You might want to consider joining a tea ceremony held under the cherry trees; it can be quite the memorable experience.
It's also fun to patronize festival vendors who sell various foods and souvenirs, such as regional crafts and specialty food from the region.
To excited to know more about the cherry blossom, have a look at what are the 10best placed in Japan for the Cherry Blossom festival.
Yodogawa Kasen Park
Kyoto is arguably the best city to see cherry blossoms in Japan. The stunning collaboration of the beautifully preserved historical buildings and the charming cherry blossoms can be enjoyed only in this ancient city of Japan. While most of visitors head to the city center of Kyoto for cherry blossom season, there are also several amazing spots to enjoy Kyoto’s beautiful cherry blossoms outside of the city. Since the historical area of Kyoto tends to get extremely crowded, many locals go outside of the city to enjoy cherry blossoms in a peaceful atmosphere
Yodogawa Kasen Park is a national park covering a vast river area that straddles Kyoto and Osaka prefectures. The park's Sewaritei area in Yawata City is located on a 1.4 kilometer-long bank between the Uji and Kizu rivers, where they converge with the Katsura River to form the Yodo River.
Around 220 Yoshino cherry trees line the park's footpaths, making it a very popular Kyoto cherry blossom viewing destination.
Peak viewing: Early April
Settsukyo Park: Picturesque beauty
Takatsuki City and the Settsu Gorge are easily accessible from Osaka in about 40 minutes by car or 70 minutes by train or bus. As one of Osaka Prefecture's most scenic areas, it boasts a natural environment reminiscent of ancient Japan and inhabited by a wide variety of wildlife.
The gorge's Settsukyo Park was opened in 1956 and has camping and athletics areas throughout. Here you can surround yourself in nature and enjoy the murmur of the Akuta River and sunlight shining through the trees.
Settsukyo is a valley continuing upstream of Akutagawa River that flows through Takatsuki city and is known as a scenic spot with a rich nature. Many visitors come to enjoy leisure activities such as hiking, camping and mountain stream fishing. The surrounding area is maintained as Settsukyo Park, and there is a “Sakura Square” with about 800 cherry trees on the southern side. The area will be busy with many visitors during the cherry blossom season, but the scenery of cherry blossoms blooming in amongst beautiful nature is a stunning sight.
At the northern end of the park, you'll find the 15-meter Shirataki waterfall and the otherworldly rocky cliffs of the "Settsu Yabakei" gorge itself. On the 4-kilometer hiking course alone, you can see about 1,300 cherry trees as you soak in the valley's natural wonders.
Best viewing: Late March to early April
Settsukyo Sakura Festival
・Venue: Settsukyo Park Sakura Square
・Date: Late March to early April (Festival and other events. Bonbori lanterns and park illumination on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.)
・Admission: Free
・Information: 072-675-0081 (Takatsuki City Tourism Association)
Expo' 70 Commemorative Park: The Tower of the Sun and Osaka Cherry Blossom Competition
The Expo '70 Commemorative Park was built on the site of the Japan World Exposition (Osaka Expo) held in 1970. It's home to numerous cultural and leisure facilities such as the National Museum of Ethnology, sports fields, and hot springs.
But the attraction with the most presence is the symbol of the Osaka Expo, the "Tower of the Sun" designed by artist Taro Okamoto. There's a healthy competition between the tower and the cherry blossoms for domination of the scenery in spring. Other types of flowers, in bloom year-round, also beautifully decorate the park.
The park’s cherry blossom festival is held from late March to early April. The view of the park, dyed a vibrant pink by around 5500 blooming cherry trees of 9 varieties, is an absolute masterpiece! Expo ’70 Commemorative Park’s cherry blossom festival has also been chosen to be one of “Japan’s Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots.” During the cherry blossom festival, the park’s hours of operation are extended until 21:00 (last entry at 20:30), and the trees are illuminated at night. Both sights, with gorgeous cherry blossoms in the daytime and bewitching cherry blossoms shone on by lights at nighttime, are worth seeing!
Ninnaji Temple: A must not miss thing
Ninnaji Temple is known for the late-blooming Omuro-zakura cherry trees. About 200 Omuro-zakuras are planted on the left side of the center gate.
Since the usual height of the Omuro-zakura trees is as low as 2 meters, you can enjoy their cherry blossoms at eye level.
The Omuro-zakura trees with the five-story pagoda as a backdrop are a magnificent sight that has not changed since the Edo period in the 17th century.
Along a path through the omuro-zakura grove, cherry blossoms bloom in profusion to the left and right at a lower position than most other cherry trees. This gives the impression of passing through a pink hedge as one walks along this path. The low rise at the end of the path affords a view that should not be missed. The height here raises the visitor’s line of sight above the level of the trees, allowing one to observe a five-storied pagoda to the east as though it were rising above pink clouds.
Satsukiyama Park: The symbol of Ikeda City
Satsukiyama Park, in northwestern Osaka Prefecture's Ikeda City, is a large park at the foot of 315-meter tall Satsukiyama. Somei Yoshino cherry trees and Yamazakura spread from the entrance at the foot of the mountain to the Hinomaru Observatory at the summit, and you can also enjoy the view from the train window as you arrive.
In the park's free Satsukiyama Zoo (closed on Tuesdays) you can interact with Australian wombats and wallabies, adding to a full day of blossom viewing.
The park is renowned for cherry blossom and Autumn Color. In early April, 35000 trees cover the a large part of the mountain. There are five hiking trail with stunning view of the Osaka Pain
Best viewing: Late March to early April
Ikeda Satsukiyama Sakura Festival
・Venue: Satsukiyama Park Ikeda Castle Ruins Park
・Date and time: Saturdays and Sundays from the end of March to the beginning of April from 10:00 to 15:00 (The cherry blossoms are lit up at night from late March to early April every year.)
・Admission: Free
・Information: 072-754-6244 (Ikeda City Airport-Tourism Division)
So friends, Hope this helped a lot and definitely do not miss the Cherry Blossom view. Have a look at this and you wont be able to resist yourself from there to blog and vlog about this.
The view here is just amazing and the other benefits plus the additional lake, natural sceneries is definitely a cheery on the top feeling.
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