"Cherry Blossoms" Japan by MINOSUKE

To us Japanese, cherry blossoms (sakura) are special. We love sakura so much. Sakura is the symbol of spring.
In Japan, from Kyushu to Hokkaido, sakura (the kind of 'someiyoshino' in this picture) can be seen everywhere. (In Okinawa they have a different kind of sakura with dark pink blossoms.) In early spring, meteorological observatories announce the forecast of the date of the first five sakura blossoms' coming out in each prefecture. The blooming of sakura very often becomes the topic of news or conversation throuthout Japan. The first bloom of sakura can be seen in the middle of March in southern Japan and the front line of sakura go northward until the last bloom in Hokkaido in May. So if you come too late to enjoy sakura in Osaka or Tokyo, I recommend you to go to northern Japan.
There are many kinds of sakura in Japan. The one we see anywhere in Japan is someiyoshino. Its blossoms come out ahead of leaves. In the suburbs or in the hillside, we see wild cherry blossoms. Its blossoms come out with leaves.
We also have weeping cherry blossoms and double flowered cherry blossoms. We can enjoy various kinds of sakura from March to May.

at Himuro Shrine, Nara

There is a huge shidarezakura (weeping cherry) tree in Himuro Shrine, Nara. This shrine is very near Todaiji Temple, so you can easily go there.
The cherry blossoms of this kind bloom earlier than someiyosshino. The last week of March will be the best period to enjoy them.

Taken in the same place as the first picture

I took this picture at the foothill of Nijouzan Mountain which is located between Osaka Prefecture and Nara Prefecture.
My parents live in the suburbs of Osaka and I drove them there to enjoy the beautiful sakura.