Mar 062011
Japan is famous in foreign countries for the beautiful pink cherry blossoms (Sakura) that bloom from mid-march to the end of March.
It is possible to do other hanami in Japan than the Sakura.
From mid-february to mid-march, you can find in a lot of places Ume blossoms. Ume are Japanese prunes.
Here are a couple of pictures that have been taken in Shinjuku Gyoen, in Tokyo. Enjoy!
I’ll try to publish pictures with cherry blossoms when they’ll bloom, in two weeks.
Michael
Hi Michael,
Your photos above especially the cherry blossom really revive me with lots of hope. I have been reading blogs and info on website, teling that sakura normally falls at end of March to early April. As I’m going to travel to Tokyo from 12th Mar to 18th Mar this year, I’m a bit disappointed because my travel period is like 1 week earlier to see sakura.
I will be staying in Shinjuku, and my hotel is quite nearby ti Shinjuku Gyoen. That means I manage to see cherry blossom, yay! Thanx Michael. Will be waiting anxiously for your next photos update.
Btw, hows the weather like in Tokyo? Heard some of them said, its still light snowing there. Whats the temperature like in Tokyo?
Hope to hear from you soon.
With thanks and best regards,
Cheryl
Well, the period of Sakura this year is planned to be on the 29th of March in Tokyo.
I saw it yesterday on the weather forecast.
Perhaps I’ve been a little bit too much optimistic when I wrote my post.
Btw, if you are in Tokyo from the 12th, you may be able to see the Ume blossoms.
They weren’t completely open when I took those pictures so going seeing them next week-end will be the perfect timing!
Temperature is getting cold in Tokyo or the last couple of days.
It is really varying, so I would think that this year’s sakura are going to be strange.
Hello Michael, great pictures! Those pink blossoms are the trademark of Japan.Whenever I see them, I imagine a Japanese temple in the backdrop. I used to want to go there just to see the cherry blossoms in bloom. It’s quite recently that I learned about the ume blossoms but I also love them too. I like their different colors, but I love them most when they are very bright pink. I think they look like that in the very late winter. Do you know if they also grow in countries that are more temperate like in South East Asia? Thanks and I hope you’ll have time to holler me back.
I am sure you can find some in China or Korea for example.
However, cherry blossoms you can find in Japan are a little bit special as they bloom before the leaves grow to make the bloom even nicer.