Sakura

Cherry blossom (sakura) season ended a while ago, but it was one of the most spectacular things I’ve experienced in Japan so I figured I’d put up some pictures to give you an idea of what it is like.  The thing is, sakura trees are everywhere in Japan.  When the trees start to bloom, it’s like the whole countryside is exploding in blossoms.  They last for about two weeks, then they blow away to make way for the new green leaves.  

The river that runs through town is lined by cherry trees.  Here's the river before the blossoms:

And after:

You really can't get away from them.  Here are some pictures outside my school:

Some cherry trees are very famous and attract tons of tourists.  Here is a tree that isn't famous, but looks to me as beautiful as the tourist sites I visited:

This is the big one.  "Takizakura."  It is over 1000 years old.  It is one of the three most famous trees in all of Japan.  And I live only seven miles away.

And the tourists:

 
The symbolism of sakura in Japan is very interesting.  Yes, the sakura represent beauty, but they represent mortality -- something here one day and gone the next. During sakura season you have to be careful to appreciate each look out the window, because tomorrow the blossoms might all be gone.