What is cherry blossom festival in Japan?

The Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival, known as ‘Sakura’, signifies the welcoming of Spring. The cherry blossom festival is a celebration of the beauty of nature throughout Japan that sees the Japanese gather together for food, drink, songs and friendship while the flowers are in bloom.

Why do Japanese celebrate cherry blossom festivals?

Hanami is a long-standing Japanese tradition of welcoming spring. Also known as the “cherry blossom festival,” this annual celebration is about appreciating the temporal beauty of nature. People gather under blooming cherry blossoms for food, drink, songs, companionship and the beauty of sakura (cherry blossoms).

What is special about cherry blossoms?

The national flower of Japan, the cherry blossom – or Sakura, represents a time of renewal and optimism. The pops of pink mark the ending of winter and signify the beginning of spring. Due to their quick blooming season, cherry blossoms also symbolize the transience of life, a major theme in Buddhism.

Which country is famous for cherry blossom?

Not many people know that cherry blossoms not only grow and bloom in Japan. They are also in another country. Most people take a vacation to Japan to see cherry blossoms. Even, Japan has a nickname as The Land of Sakura.

Do cherry blossoms represent love?

What Do Cherry Blossoms Mean? Cherry blossoms hold elevated status in China, signifying love and the female mystique (beauty, strength and sexuality), but nowhere in the world are the elusive flowers more cherished than in Japan, home to thousands of cherry blossom trees.

Why is it called cherry blossom?

Its flowers are nearly pure white, tinged with the palest pink, especially near the stem. They bloom and usually fall within a week, before the leaves come out. Therefore, the trees look nearly white from top to bottom. The variety takes its name from the village of Somei (now part of Toshima in Tokyo).

Is Sakura only in Japan?

Species cherry blossoms are found throughout the world being especially common in regions in the Northern Hemisphere with temperate climates, including Japan, China, and Korea, as well as Nepal, India, Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan, and several areas across northern Europe.

Are cherry blossoms only in Asia?

When is the Cherry Blossom Festival in Japan?

Japan’s famous cherry blossom festival season begins around the end of March and lasts for approximately 2 weeks, depending on location. Cherry trees can bloom right through until May the further north you travel, so dedicated sakura viewers can head north to enjoy even more sakura spotting.

Where does the name hanami cherry blossom festival come from?

It’s said that the origin of hanami dates back more than a 1,000 years to when aristocrats enjoyed looking at beautiful cherry blossoms and wrote poems inspired by them. Unlike the aristocrats of yesteryear, today people in Japan make fun a key component of cherry blossom viewing.

Where can I see the cherry blossoms in the world?

Cherry Blossoms Elsewhere in the World. Hanami is also celebrated to a lesser extent in China, Korea, and Taiwan. Smaller celebrations can be enjoyed throughout the U.S. and Europe. One of the biggest festivals in the U.S. is in Washington, D.C. The capital city is host to the National Cherry Blossom Festival.

What is the significance of Sakura in Japan?

Significance of Sakura: Cherry Blossom Traditions in Japan. Even at night, viewing spots are crowded with people enjoying the blossoms in a beautiful, romantic atmosphere. Couples go at night to enjoy the special mood created by cherry blossoms. Hanami at night is called yozakura.