{"id":8957,"date":"2020-04-09T01:00:35","date_gmt":"2020-04-09T01:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.sg\/stories\/cherry-blossoms-japan\/"},"modified":"2022-07-11T20:44:44","modified_gmt":"2022-07-11T20:44:44","slug":"cherry-blossoms-japan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.sg\/stories\/activities\/cherry-blossoms-japan\/","title":{"rendered":"Sakura Season in Japan 2020: When & Where to See Cherry Blossoms"},"content":{"rendered":"

Japan<\/a> has always been a tourist hotspot, regardless of the season. However, when springtime comes around<\/a>, the tourists flock to the country for one reason only: cherry blossoms. Due to its immense popularity, many people consider the cherry blossom to be Japan’s national flower.<\/p>\n

The cherry blossoms’ blooming period will last only about 14 days before they wither away. Because of its fleeting nature, the cherry blossom has become a symbol of renewal and new beginnings. During sakura season, locals and tourists alike take part in hanami <\/em>(cherry blossom viewing) and have parties in areas where there are cherry blossoms. If you’re interested in finding out the best places to go cherry blossom viewing in Japan this year, read on below!<\/p>\n

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A Brief History of Cherry Blossoms<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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Cherry blossoms, or sakura<\/em>, have a special significance in Japanese culture and the celebrations that mark their arrival have been going on for more than 1000 years. The first recorded history of hanami<\/em> <\/strong>\u2013 picnicking under the cherry blossoms \u2013 can be traced back to the 8th century. Originally practised by the royal court as a way of marking the spring harvest, the custom gradually spread to the wider population and took on more spiritual undertones.<\/p>\n

Symbol of Life & Death<\/strong><\/h4>\n

18th-century Japanese scholar, Motoori Norinaga, saw the cherry blossoms\u2019 brief period of flowering as a metaphor for life and death. He wrote about this extensively and incorporated cherry blossoms into his philosophy of mono no aware<\/em>, which roughly translates to a moment of sadness about the transience of life.<\/p>\n

Centuries later, cherry blossoms remain a permanent fixture in Japanese art, literature, and philosophical outlook. These trees are deeply symbolic and have often been given as gifts to other countries.<\/p>\n

The blossoms are also used in a number of local Japanese dishes. Pickled blossoms are added to hot water to produce a ceremonial drink known as sakurayu<\/em>, while the leaves that follow are often used to wrap up children\u2019s sweets and candy.<\/p>\n

Japan Cherry Blossom Forecast by Region<\/h2>\n

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\"streetCredit: Agathe Marty<\/a> \/ Unsplash<\/span><\/p>\n

Cherry blossom blooming dates vary slightly among regions in Japan. Regions to the south of the country tend to see earlier blooming dates compared to regions up north. Tokyo has one of the earliest blooming dates in the country, while in Aomori, you’d still be able to see cherry blossoms well into April.<\/p>\n