Boots are better than shoes as they will prevent water from slipping in over the top of the shoe, and if it has been raining, walking around parks, tourist attractions, and open spaces can make it tricky to avoid puddles. And dont forget to check out this regions bonus festival: the Fuji Shibazakura, or Pink Moss Festival, that is held just 3km from Lake Motosuko and invites visitors to walk and picnic amongst a blanket of vibrant pink flowers, perfectly contrasting the iconic crisp blue mountain. Home to over 300 cherry trees, Osaka Castle Park is one of the most popular places in the city to celebrate the hanami and the beginning of spring. 2022 commemorates the 25 th Anniversary of Festl, ushering in a new era of hybrid programs during this anticipated return to in-person events. The Cherry Blossom Festival returns to the Japanese Friendship Garden in March 2023! He has also lived in places such as Australia, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Mexico. The temple is just 15 minutes walk from Daigoji station, and the best time to see the sakura is from late March to early April. The festivities truly come alive at night here with fairy lights and illuminated paper lantern trees. One of the biggest festivals in the U.S. is in Washington, D.C. SAAM Art & Me Preservation Family Workout . This year is special because it is the 110th anniversary of the gift of the cherry trees. 2023 FESTIVAL: MARCH 20 - APRIL 16 . Hot Tip: Once you know where to see the cherry trees blossom and when to get there, keep in mind that hanami can get very competitive as everyone wants to ensure that they get the best spot. From late April into May, some 2,500 cherry trees form beautiful blossom tunnels that are illuminated at night. The Cherry Blossom Festival holds the honor of being one of the longest, continually running ethnic festivals in the State of Hawai'i - originally started in 1953. With unique-looking, bell-shaped petals, the Kanhizakura is one of the most beloved cherry blossoms the world over. The shrine is open from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. all week. More than a million visitors head to the 400-year-old castle every year to view the 2,600 trees that bloom throughout the park surrounding the castle. There is always 2021 . The copper-colored leaves and creamy-yellow petals create a cloud-like scenery that really does stand out from the rest. These days, viewings are more about eating, drinking, and coming together to celebrate the beginning of spring. In addition, guests can watch daily live performances and shop from different food and merchant vendors. 1150 18th Street NW, Suite 100 Washington, D.C. 20036 . For most major cities the blossom happens towards the end of March and into April. Picnics, food stalls, drinking, and songs are all part of the celebrations. D.C.'s cherry blossoms are expected to peak between March 22 and March 25 this year. Join us for a special, early performance by Opening Ceremony performers, Minyo Crusaders. The row of cherry blossom trees along the Meguro River is one of the cherry blossom viewing spots in Tokyo, which was visited by about 3 million people during the cherry blossom viewing season before the corona crisis, but for the three years until last year, people refrained from cherry blossom viewing to prevent the spread of infection. Hot Tip: You can take a 3-hour evening cherry blossom and food tour of the Demachiyanagi area of Kyoto with a local guide. Goryokaku Park is considered one of the best places in Hakodate to experience the hanami season and one that is very popular all year round. Further north, and in bigger cities like Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, blooms dont usually take place until somewhere around the middle of March and later into April. In fact, the Japanese even have a proverb that translates to practicality over aesthetics, meaning the experienced hanami enthusiasts know that the blossoms are only a small part of the overall celebrations. People bring home-cooked meals, make barbecued foods, or buy take-out food to mark the occasion. Places. Considered to be one of the very best landscaped gardens in Japan, Kenrokuen Garden is as famous for its stunning grounds and traditional Japanese gardens as it is for its cherry trees. The Annual Cherry Blossom Festival celebrates the Japanese heritage and culture through live entertainment, food and drink, a marketplace and informative exhibits and demonstrations. Isshin-Ji is a 30-minute walk from the Tsukano Onsen bus stop, or you can drive. Opening: Exploring Hiroshige and His Influence on Social Media. It will NOT be published. Click here for more details. The parade will feature colorful helium ballons, elaborate floats, marching bands, entertainers and performances blooming with energy. Sat, Mar 18, 2023. At the south side of this extensive park lies a cherry blossom garden that is home to about 800 trees, as well as lawned areas and childrens playgrounds. The weather plays a large part in the process, and if the months and weeks preceding the hanami season are mild, the blossoms will be more likely to open early. To ensure you are ready for anything the elements have to throw at you, make sure you pack: Dress for the rain and expect to wear a waterproof jacket throughout your stay. Japan is known around the world for its cherry blossom festivals. During late March through to early April, the cherry blossoms reach full bloom, creating a beautiful sea of pink blossoms contrasted against the blue of the ocean where the castle grounds jut out to meet the water. Known as the Jindai Zakura, the tree is the oldest of the official 3 most ancient cherry trees in Japan, believed to be over 2,000 years old. Her work has appeared in Travel + Leisure, USA Today, Michelin Guides, Hemispheres, DuJour, and Forbes. TEL: 202-238-6900 | FAX: 202-822-6524 | jicc@ws.mofa.go.jp, 1981new Date().getFullYear()>1981&&document.write("-"+new Date().getFullYear()); Japan Information & Culture Center, Embassy of Japan, Tidal Basin at Independence Ave. and 17th St. NW. Golden Week falls at the end of April and the first week in May with four consecutive Japanese public holidays. Celebrate the end of cherry blossom season with the Pink Tie Dinner! Cherry blossom season, also known as the sakura or hanami flower-watching season, brings life and magic to Japan each spring. The aristocrats of days gone by often wrote poetry or painted pictures to celebrate the beauty of the cherry blossom. That bond has inspired the National Cherry Blossom Festival, the largest annual celebration of Japan-U.S. friendship, which always brings a feeling of joy and renewal. The increase in visitors that come to enjoy the season has not gone unnoticed by Western brands either, with companies like Starbucks and McDonalds in Japan offering sakura-inspired products like cherry-flavored drinks and pink burger buns. Better yet, get yourself a waterproof backpack to make sure items like your travel camera are completely protected. The dates below are according to the Japan Meteorological Corporation's official cherry blossom forecast as of February 24, 2023. Nishi Park also offers some fantastic views out across Hakata Bay and the islands that lie on the edge of the ocean from the observation deck that is popular all year round. The humble cherry blossom has been an important part of Japanese culture for centuries. Jillian Dara is a freelance journalist and fact-checker. The lantern is lit by the Embassy of Japans appointed Cherry Blossom Princess. Northern parts of the country can still see temperatures dip below freezing at night time, so layers are your friend, and you may even want to consider thermal base layers when its really cold. The Cherry Blossom Festival runs March 11 through March 13, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with admissions closing at 5 p.m. Located next to the Yasaka Shrine, the park is easily reached on foot or by public transport. They also light 3,000 lanterns at night (between 6-10pm), which makes this a breathtaking place to take nighttime pictures or just watch the amazing contrast of illuminated flowers, castle, and lanterns. You may even find yourself in the midst of a cherry blossom festival! Located within the city of Kanazawa, the park is easy to reach using the famous Japanese bullet trains and other local transport, and the best time to see the sakura is early to mid-April. The small, delicate pink sakura and ume plum blossoms flower at different times throughout the season. The forecast is based on various factors, including temperature lows in autumn and winter, and past area data. Hanami is such a special time. The Japan Information & Culture Center (JICC), Embassy of Japan and the National Museum of Asian Art have teamed up to present a retrospective of the influential anime director Satoshi Kon, including a new documentary about his life and work! With delicate petals that are light pink in color (almost white) and pretty 5-petal blossoms, the Somei Yoshino creates a blanket of color during the hanami season. The sea of pink petals set against the white walls of the castle is possibly one of the most beautiful settings in which to view the sakura. In fact, there are over 600 hybrid and wild cherry blossom species in Japan, many of which feature mutations that include changes in the size, shape, and number of petals, the size and density of the flowers, and of course, the color. Adding 2 or 3 sakurazuke flowers into a cup of hot water produces a lightly-flavored, pretty-looking beverage that is known as sakurayu. This traditional hot drink is often enjoyed at gatherings such as parties or weddings. Blossom viewing areas are the perfect places for people to enjoy the transitory season together, usually accompanied by performances, stalls, and activities. The very first festival to coincide with the country's first blooms the Motobu Yaedake Cherry Blossom Festival in Okinawa is normally. So popular are the seasonal festivities, it can be hard to find a space in some of the more popular viewing locations. The gardens are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. all week. This year, NHK WORLD-JAPAN is generously releasing a series of free documentary videos. During hanami season, viewers can enjoy a variety of events, including live music and traditional performances. As night falls, the blossoms are illuminated with paper lanterns, and the park is the perfect place to see the sakura from the end of March through to the middle of April. Hirosaki Castle Park Cherry Blossom Festival 2023 Dates: April 23rd to May 5, 2023. During the middle of April, the Osaka branch of the national mint offers over 500 meters of cherry-tree-lined paths located within the grounds of this prestigious building. How Cherry Blossoms Are Celebrated in Japan, The Symbolic Significance of Cherry Blossoms, Getty Images / Driendl Group / The Image Bank. Weve highlighted the best places to see them in this article. click here to leave your comment. Some of the most commonly used terms include: The exact dates for the cherry blossom season in Japan vary depending on where in the country you are headed. Shinjuku Gyoen is a more peaceful base from which to enjoy the cherry blossoms, and visitors come here instead of some of the busier venues to quietly enjoy the breathtaking sight of 1,300 cherry trees blooming at different stages. Considered to be the longest row of cherry trees anywhere in Japan, a drive along this stretch of the Nijukken Road is like driving through a tunnel of cherry blossoms. When Is the Cherry Blossom Season in Japan? The park is a short but steep walk from Omachi Nishi-Koen Station or you can take the bus to the imposing entrance at torii gate. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. As one of the most modern temples in Japan, visitors also come to enjoy the extensive grounds and see the Shwa Daibutsu, the tallest seated bronze figure of Buddha in Japan. The riverside cherry trees form a tunnel of soft pink blossoms that are accessible 24 hours a day, and visitors flock to enjoy the food stalls and party atmosphere that descends in the park during hanami. Email needed if you'd like comment updates. Enjoy the blooms at the Tidal Basin while experience live performances that celebrate the friendship between the US and Japan. Featured Image Credit: The temple is considered to be one of the most important temples of the Shingon sect of Japanese Buddhism, and its a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. People view cherry blossoms along the Potomac River in Washington on March 20, 2022. During hanami, the area is famous for a rare sight known as the sea of clouds where 15 different varieties of cherry blossom fill the temple grounds with unusual colors such as green and yellow. Settling down for a picnic here is a must the view is so picturesque. Is in Washington on March 20, 2022 6 p.m., with admissions closing 5! 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