[English/Japanese] The day before yesterday, the Japan Meteorological Agency announced that cherry blossoms had bloomed in Tokyo. In Japan, this time of year’s weather forecast reports not only temperatures and conditions but also the status of the cherry blossoms. Hanami, a traditional Japanese event, began 1,300 years ago and is popular with foreign tourists. In this issue, we introduce hanami etiquette. 1 The star of the show is the cherry blossoms Cherry blossom viewing means eating and drinking under the cherry trees. Cherry trees are very delicate. When you eat, do not place a sheet at the base of the cherry tree. The base of the tree is where it breathes, so place your sheet away from it. Also, do not break cherry branches just because their blossoms are beautiful. Cherry blossoms decompose easily. If you break a branch, you may have to pay a fine for damage to property. Please be careful. 2 Park rules During holidays at this time of year, the number of people viewing cherry blossoms in parks increases greatly. Some parks are lit up at night and become popular date spots. Each park has different rules, so check the park rules before going to hanami. For example, some parks prohibit bringing alcoholic beverages, while others forbid the use of fire. Also, be sure to take your trash home and clean up properly before you finish your hanami. Even though it is spring, nights can get very cold, so bring warm clothing. 3 Cherry blossom motif goods Hanami is not limited to parks. During this season, you will see many cherry blossom–inspired decorations around the city and in stores. At cafes, you can enjoy cherry blossom latte art and pink cakes. At general stores, you can find products printed with cherry blossoms. Because they are available only during this season, they are popular as souvenirs. Look for them! Hachioji, where our school is located, has many famous cherry blossom viewing spots. Some parks are lit up at night, so be sure to visit them! Tokyo announced two days ago that cherry blossoms had opened, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. In Japan, at this time of year the weather forecast reports not only temperature and weather but also the condition of the cherry blossoms. The traditional Japanese event hanami began 1,300 years ago and is popular with foreign tourists. This time, we introduce hanami manners. 1 The cherry blossoms are the main attraction Hanami means eating and drinking under the cherry trees. Cherry trees are very delicate. When eating, do not place a sheet at the tree’s base. The tree’s base is where it breathes. Lay your sheet away from it. Also, do not break branches just because the blossoms are beautiful. Cherry trees rot easily, and breaking a branch can be punished as property damage with a fine. Take care. 2 Park rules On holidays at this time of year, the number of people enjoying hanami in parks increases greatly. Some places are lit up at night and become popular date spots. Park rules differ, so always check a park’s rules before having hanami there. For example, some parks ban bringing alcohol, and others prohibit using fire. Also, take your trash home and clean up properly when you finish. Although it is spring, nights can be very cold, so don’t forget warm clothing. 3 Cherry-themed goods Hanami is not only in parks. In this season you can see many cherry blossom–themed decorations around town and in shops. At cafes, try cherry blossom latte art and pink cakes. At gift shops, you will find items printed with cherry blossoms. Because they are seasonal, they are popular as souvenirs. Please look for them. Hachioji, where our school is located, has many famous cherry blossom spots. Some parks are lit up at night, so be sure to visit them!

"Carrier of Spring" Location: Flower Expo Memorial Park Tsurumi Ryokuchi Date Taken: 2022/3/17 Weather: Cloudy I caught 📸 a whitetail that stays in the early-blooming Okamezakura We tend to look at the cherry blossoms around us and the whitetails themselves, but if you look closely, you will find a lot of pollen on the beaks of the whitetails. I realized that by sucking the nectar of flowers and carrying pollen, we are able to enjoy spring.

Photographed 🌸 in a row of cherry blossom trees near the sand dunes When I was shooting, a bee attracted by the beautiful pink petals came to play, so I thought it was a chance and released 🐝 the shutter ⋆︎*゚∗

There is also a park children's playground in Ishigaya Park in Akashi City, Hyogo Prefecture, which families visit every year with their own lunch boxes, and it is the best lunch box to eat while being enveloped in the scent of plums.

Magestic view of mount Fuji. The snow caped mount fuji with early blooming pink cherry blossom. It also tells you the end of winter and the beginning of Spring. The photo was taken in month of February in Matsudayama herb garden in Kanagawa prefecture

Autumn sky Cherry blossoms 🌸 in autumn Mt. Fuji in autumn Cosmos on the shore of Lake Kawaguchiko is in full bloom and Mt. Fuji upside down in the morning Kawaguchiko Yamanashi Prefecture - Photo taken 2021/10

Autumn Cherry Blossoms 🌸 Cosmos At Aichi Ranch, Aichi Prefecture

The sunflowers I found on the road at night were cool, so I took a picture!

Blue poppy flowers at Hakuba Goryu Alpine Botanical Garden Climb by gondola.

In Shiga Prefecture, I went to see hydrangea on a rainy day! This year, the best time to see it is long and you can enjoy it.

I've never seen a cherry blossom more beautiful than this. I hope that the day will return when everyone can see the cherry blossoms with a smile without worrying about anything.

A collaboration of cherry blossoms and snow photographed in Sugamo last year. It's so beautiful that it's hard to forget.

A dream-like photo taken by Fushimi Jugokufune that condenses the beauty and kindness of spring. When Corona is over, I want to go with my family and friends again!

Beautiful view, looks like Mt. Yoshino if I'm not mistaken? Either way, I totally agree. Can't wait for corona to be over so I can finally take my mask off and walk around and smell the fresh air. During the spring when the cherry blossoms were in bloom I was walking on a street with cherry blossoms and took my mask off for a second no one was around and I realized it was the first time I'd had my mask off outside all spring. Smelling the cherry blossoms was amazing, just a full year of wearing a mask and you nearly forget what nature smells like. Hopefully, come spring next year I'll be able to walk outside and smell the cherry blossoms and whatever else is blooming in the area. I'd love to be able to go traveling again just like normal and be able to take in not just the sights and sounds, but the smells as well. Until then, just gotta keep hanging in there! Edit: This is Takami no Sato, not Mt. Yoshino. I was mistaken. They look very similar though!

Kyoto City Fushimi-ku Tsurugawa Togokubune In the Edo period, it was an important transportation route from Kyoto to Osaka, but now it is a sightseeing route while leisurely looking at cherry blossoms and sake breweries.

Exhibition Sakura Festival This year, cherry blossoms and snow were seen at the same time

In Towada City, Aomori Prefecture, this is a Yabusame tournament held only by female jockeys around the time the cherry blossoms are in bloom. Female jockeys dressed in glossy kimono carry bows, ride on horses of Japan traditional lineage, and fly quickly through three targets while frying dust. Originally, Yabusame is an event performed only by men as a Shinto ritual, but in the modern era of the 21st century, the gender difference between men and women has been abolished, and the ancient martial arts and equestrian traditions Japan that have been handed down from ancient times have been adopted and passed on to the future, and the world fascinated by the glossy Japanese costume caress is worth visiting this land and seeing.

In Towada City, Aomori Prefecture, this is a Yabusame tournament held only by female jockeys around the time the cherry blossoms are in bloom. Female jockeys dressed in glossy kimono carry bows and, when mounted on horses of Japan traditional lineage, run through the dust and quickly shoot through the three targets. This year's tournament was full of cherry blossoms.

In Towada City, Aomori Prefecture, this is a Yabusame tournament held only by female jockeys around the time the cherry blossoms are in bloom. Last year, it was canceled due to the influence of the new coronavirus, but this year it was held with corona countermeasures. The cherry blossom front reaches the northern tip of Honshu around mid-April. The Yabusame Tournament, in which petting children in glossy Japanese attire unfold, heralds the arrival of spring in this area along with the cherry blossom front.

Spring in Japan Nemophila field

A small greenway in Setagaya Ward. I captured the moment after the rain of scattering flowers.

Night cherry blossoms at Chiba Castle

Sakura, fluffy.

This is an evening walk to see the splendid Yae cherry blossoms and rape blossom fields on the river of the Chikuma River in the Hokushin area of Nagano Prefecture.

This is an evening walk to see the Yae cherry blossoms on the river of the Chikuma River in the Hokushin area of Nagano Prefecture.

This is an evening walk to see the Yae cherry blossoms on the river of the Chikuma River in the Hokushin area of Nagano Prefecture.

This is an evening walk to see the Yae cherry blossoms on the river of the Chikuma River in the Hokushin area of Nagano Prefecture.