Cherry blossom season is a huge deal in Japan: spiritually, socially and commercially.
Spiritually because the Japanese believe the cherry blossom, or sakura, is symbolic of life. The life of a sakura flower, like ours, is fleeting. Sakura flowers only bloom for a few days. But oh when they do it's glorious. Gorgeous blossoms of joy blush everywhere in Tokyo heralding Spring is here, Spring is here. Clusters of trees line the streets and parks creating a magical world of frothy pink, white and sometimes yellow, billowy clouds. It's like stepping into heaven or a gigantic cloud of cotton candy.
When the cherry blossoms begin to die, they rain down from the branches in a cascade of fluttering blossoms that look like snow. It's magical and the impression and implied meaning is not lost on the Japanese - treasure life, because like the sakura, it's fleeting. I like it. I agree. Savor life. I think I'll have another glass of wine. What the hell. You only live once, right?
Socially, because the season is celebrated with "Hanami" or cherry blossom viewing parties. Did somebody say "party"? Hanami consists of laying out blue tarps under the cherry trees and indulging in food and lots of alcoholic beverages of your choice. Companies send the lowest ranking salary man to reserve a space under the cherry trees and the poor guy has to sit there all day until his coworkers join him. Thankfully I have Russell. He's my salaryman.
And commercially because it seems every company has a sakura flavored product on the shelves during this time. Cherry flavored Kit Kats, sparkling wine, lattes, ice cream, gum. You name it; they've got it - all cherry flavored.
Since Russell and I are amateur Hanamists, (technical term I just made up) we decided to start slow. No blue tarp the first time. We checked out a couple of sources for the best places to view the blossoms, packed a bottle of rose (sakura colored of course) and headed out.
The best source for cherry blossom viewing I found is http://japan-guide.com/. Not only do they have a list of the top 100 cherry blossom viewing locations in Japan and Tokyo, but they also report on where, and more importantly, WHEN, the blossoms are the best and how they are progressing through the season. The report I read that day said the cherry blossoms in Ueno Park had the most trees in bloom at 50% to 80%, so we headed there.
You may recall Ueno Park is the site where Russell decided we should "cut through the zoo" on our way to the Tokyo museum. Let's be clear. There is no cutting through a zoo. Zoos take a lot of time. So this time I steered him clear of any signs for the zoo, or pandas, that might lure him into making that suggestion again.
The first thing we saw was not a cherry tree, but rather, a mobile Suntory Whiskey bar in a converted shocking yellow VW van. The Japanese know how to party! The van was selling ice cold Suntory highballs. Nice.
Thank you sir, why yes I would love another.
The next thing we saw were two gorgeously abloom cherry trees. One was a weeping cherry tree and the other the most common cherry tree in Japan, known as the Somei Yoshino.
My new favorite cherry tree - weeping.
It's so beautiful it does make you want to cry - for joy.
Since we didn't pack a picnic, food was our first order and we headed to the concession stands. I do love Japanese festival food.
The place was busy, especially for a Thursday.
Noodle man. My hero. These are so good, and cheap.
Our Japanese feast: street noodles, croquettes and fried rice balls with Japanese mayonaise.
After lunch we walked around the expansive park to admire the cherry blossoms.
Cherry trees lining the pond 50% to 60% in bloom.
Usually this pond is filled with lotus flowers.
But they're all dried up now - that's the brown stuff in the forefront.
Ok, that's pretty.
Of course we HAD to try the sakura flavored ice cream....
What I love about this photo is the guy's tongue is sticking out.
The MJ of ice cream servers.
Um, your cone is lopsided.
Cherry tree tunnel.
Some guy feeding birds.
Looking back across the pond.
Oh yeah, that's nice.
They are really pretty up close.
On the far side of the pond there was a flea market going on. Or should I say camera market?
There's gotta be an instamatic in here somewhere.
I thought this was an interesting picture.
Can you find the German swastika stamp?
Apparently "swastika" is not a German word, it originated from India sanskrit and translates to any lucky or auspicious object and in particular a mark made on a person or thing denoting good luck. You see the symbol a lot in Japan where it denotes something related to Buddism. In Buddism the swastika is the symbol of Buddah. In Japan it's called Manji. You see the symbol on Japanese maps and signs all the time. I've even seen it on the tiles of some temples.
Apparently the swastika is one of the oldest symbols on Earth and can be found in all religions and traditions, on all continents. Who knew?
Post card ready
While the cherry trees flanking the pond were quite beautiful, and the flea market was interesting, we still hadn't seen the iconic salary men partaking of sakura flavored sake on blue tarps. I thought maybe we hadn't seen any because it was only Thursday. But then we cut up back towards the Tokyo Museum. The crowds thickened and so did the noise.
The lane was lined with cherry trees and lanterns which must be lit up at night. Wow, I bet that's pretty.
Crowds ambling under the cherry trees.
Ok, now we get it. Apparently this is where all the action was. In this part of the park, not by the pond, the cherry trees were 80% in bloom. They created a magical cloud of pink billowy sky above us, and about five thousand of our closest Japanese friends. Tarps were everywhere, as well as, drunk salary men. There was one guy, (I wish I had taken his picture), wearing no shirt and just some cheetah-print pedal pushers. Yes, a guy in cheetah-print pedal pushers. I told Russell, maybe later, he should wear that outfit. He was loud, obnoxious and clearly intoxicated. Not Russell, the cheetah wearing salary man. I can only imagine what this place would be like on the weekend. Note to self - stay far, far away.
Ok, now I get it. Wow!
These pictures do NOT capture the wonder or beauty of the trees.
This must be gorgeous at night with the cherry blossoms all up lit.
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