The Sun Came Out Today and Soon the Sakura Will Too!

     It was a genuinely beautiful day in Tokyo today. I couldn't believe how warm it was, perhaps because I had grown so accustomed to the bitterly cold February days of Maine. By moving to Tokyo I was able to take my surroundings from a chill 10 degrees farenheit to a warm 56 degrees farenheit. I have to be honest, It's fricken awesome. Not one part of me misses the cold New England weather. Since I can't afford to ski anymore and I don't spend much time doing winter sports it had become a long and arduous season in which I was stuck inside wishing it was warmer so I could go for a run or take a photo walk around the neighborhood. In Tokyo I can go running whenever I like. Better yet, I can sign up for any of a million offered dance and yoga classes, go running, and enjoy the sun even in the "winter." We have experienced a little snow here in the past two months but the cold has been nowhere near what I was used to back home. Today, especially, was beautiful.

     I stepped out the door this morning in a T Shirt and felt the warm sun wake me up faster than any cup of coffee I've had this week. It was welcome after last weeks somewhat chilly weather. I spent a moment feeling the sun on my shoulders and watching it shine down on the cute garden behind our apartment. It reminded me that Cherry Blossom Season (Cherry Blossoms are known as Sakura in Japanese) was coming soon. As I walked up to the bus stop and put on my headphones I thought about how excited I was to see my first Sakura blooming in the early spring. Every time I've come to Japan until now has been in the dead heat of summer, when there are still beautiful gardens to view around Tokyo, but sadly the Cherry Blossoms are long gone. They only last a couple of weeks and then they are gone until next year. This symbol of seasonal beauty has come to represent so much in Japanese culture and society. "They have been used to symbolize the transience of life; this symbolism meshed well with the teachings of Buddhism. Also, since cherry trees blossom en masse, they have also been used as metaphors for clouds. Fallen blossoms, not to be ignored, are likened to snow and later, as a metaphor for a warrior killed early in life" (Baird, M: Symbols of Japan).

     Every year the Japanese prepare for Cherry Blossom season by planning picnics or walks through the famous spots for watching the trees. As the season moves north through the country, people make their best guesses of when the best time for viewing will come that year. Since it varies by a week or two every year, you can imagine how tough it is to guess the exact time in which they will be "best." By talking to a few people around me, I've come to figure out that there are also a few spots in Tokyo that should be avoided during this time due to crowds. The most cited spot to avoid was Ueno Park because, apparently, people will camp out overnight to get the best spot for their family/friends and therefore the casual observer and/or visitor might be overwhelmed and never find a good spot to sit. Again, this is just hearsay, but I'm going to try to find an ideal spot that is considered "less traveled" for my viewing. I really want to take this in, and take some fabulous photos, so I'm planning on having everything I need in a backpack the week that is scheduled to be "best" and then judge for myself which day I should head out. We'll see how it goes! These are the average days of "first bloom" as reported by
About Japan.com for 2008, 2007, 2006, and 2005:

March 28

March 20

March 21

March 31

This gives me a little help, but obviously I'll have to judge for myself what seems to be appearing on TV and around Tokyo when the time comes!
 Gambarimasu! (I'll do my best!)
If you have any advice on good viewing spots that are lesser known/traveled, please let me know! Thanks!
Lady Jones