"When the moment is right, Hanami" Top 5 Page for this destination Cherry Blossoms (SAKURA) Viewing Tip by Bunsch

When I was a child, we visited Washington DC almost every spring, so as to see the wondrous sight of the cherry trees in full bloom around the Tidal Basin. We thought there were a lot of cherry trees in DC. (Well, there are.) But compared to the number of cherry trees in Japan, and the impact of their blooming on the populace, we had nothing to boast about. Cherry blossoms are serious business throughout the country. If you happen to be in a modern building which streams video into your elevators, providing stock quotes and weather forecasts, you are also going to see a prediction about how the blossoms are doing. A chill in the air as the buds swell is cause for consternation. But eventually the forecasters announce that the trees are 80% or more in bloom, and suddenly what seems to be the entire population goes a tiny bit bonkers. Hanami, the art of viewing cherry blossoms, can take place anywhere there are cherry trees, but in fact people tend to flock to some of the larger parks. Recommended carry-ins include a tarpaulin or blanket on which to sit, something to eat, and (especially) something alcoholic to drink.

Directions: In parks throughout Tokyo. Special good vantage points are Yoyogi, around the Ark Mori Building, Meguro River, and Shinjuku Gyoen. Only the last charges an admission fee.