‘Tis the hanami (flower viewing) season in Japan again, and I thought I’d share one of my favorite sakura stroll experiences in Japan. While the famous spots are often in popular tourist destinations like Tokyo and Kyoto, one thing I realized the first time I experienced spring in Japan is there is quite literally sakura trees everywhere. You’ll especially see this riding trains with views of cities and countryside zipping by, sudden spots of gorgeous streams of glistening water or peacefully paved paths lined with trees exploding in pink and white, large patches of flowers on the hills flowing down into the neighborhoods below, a burst of blossom randomly here and there in someone’s yard or at the entrance of a factory or lining the outskirts of a school. They plant them all over, since there’s a lot of love for these flowering trees in Japan, a love that has spilled over into the rest of the world, with many yearning to experience strolling under the gentle pink petals falling like snow.
There are different ways to enjoy the sakura season. There’s the classic picnic under the blooms with friends or coworkers, often on blue tarp or sitting on a red cloth covered bench eating some sweets paired with tea. You can also just be walking to work, school, or the train station and happen upon a lone blooming tree or a stretch of street lined with them. Some more epic experiences include cruising under flowers on a boat down a river canal, riding through clouds of pink blossoms on a picturesque old train, swooping by them on an amusement park ride, or getting to a spot where you can view the trees in full bloom with a breathtaking backdrop view of the sparkling ocean filled with smaller islands under a cumulous cloud painted sky.