Kumanozakura, recognized as a newly identified cherry variety It blooms earlier than Someiyoshino and has deeper color than Yamazakura Photographed in the Mine District of Kozagawacho.

At the moment when a long winter was about to end, I felt spring within a rolling whirl of power. In that early spring, the resilience of nature gave me the energy to live.

The tallest self-supporting broadcasting tower in the world, Tokyo Sky Tree, and Japan’s symbol of spring, the cherry blossoms. This photograph captures a moment where cutting-edge technology and nature cherished since ancient times show perfect harmony. In Japan, cherry blossoms are more than mere flowers. They symbolize new beginnings and the poignant beauty of a fleeting moment. In this composition, the tower’s urban, sharp steel frame is gently outlined by soft pink petals, reflecting both the energy of ever-changing Tokyo and the unchanging beauty of the four seasons. The clear blue sky contrasted with vivid cherry blossoms embodies Japan’s warm hospitality toward visitors. Through this single image, we hope you can feel the breath of tradition and innovation that Japan proudly offers.

I photographed this scene in the plum grove of Kenrokuen Garden, one of Japan’s three most celebrated gardens. In this historic garden I sought to capture the passage of time played by the plums and the quiet vitality hidden within them, rendering both with a dreamlike interplay of light that blurs dream and reality. A single drooping branch holds a few delicate pink blossoms, and countless floating orbs of light—bokeh—wrap around them. Those many bokeh spheres symbolize layers of time linking past and future and the glitter of innumerable lives. I composed the shot to lead the eye to the central blossom, emphasizing its fleeting beauty and refined dignity.

A plum grove in Katsuragicho, Wakayama Prefecture, is planted on the slope of a hill. Unlike the plum groves in the Kinan Region, nets are not set up to catch the fruit at harvest. I believe the mountain visible beyond the grove is Mount Izumi Katsuragi.

Tsukigase Plum Valley Ume Festival Now ongoing! Thanks to the cold weather, the plum blossoms are likely to last longer✨ The area around Lakeside Village Tsukigase is at its best, too✨ Photo courtesy of yasunori okamoto

A photo of Hamarikyu Gardens near my office on March 5th. Returning from a business trip after a week, the gardens are in full bloom with rapeseed flowers.

Photographed on February 18, 2014. The red plum blossoms line the approach to Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine. 🌸

Photographed on February 20, 2014. These are the red plum blossoms along the approach to Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine. 🌸

"Mimosa Draped in Spring Light" Mimosa, a flower that announces the coming of spring. I wandered through the park because I had to see those yellow blossoms. After a while, I happened upon a mimosa tree bathed in the light of dusk. The sinking sun backlit it, making each tiny flower glow as if translucent. In that soft light, it felt as if spring itself stood there. Japan’s spring arrives with warm light. I captured that gentle atmosphere in this single frame. 📍Location: Yamada Pond Park 📷Camera: Nikon Z6II 🔍Lens: 70-200mm f2.8 VR S

Tsukigase Plum Valley Plum Festival Now underway! At its peak♪ Please come and visit! This Sunday looks like it will be busy again. Saturday, which we worried about weather-wise, looks fine✨ Photo courtesy of Yasunori Okamoto

On March 4th, while on a business trip to Nagoya, I stopped by Hisaya Odori Park and took a photo under the Nagoya TV Tower with Kawazu cherry blossoms in full bloom.

Tsukigase Plum Valley Plum Festival Now underway! At its peak♪ Please come during a quiet weekday moment! It looks like this Sunday will be crowded again. The weather is a concern, but visitors who come on Saturday will likely be able to enjoy it more leisurely✨ Photo credit: Yasunori Okamoto

Tsukigase Plum Valley Plum Festival Now on! At peak bloom♪ Please come during a calm weekday time! On the hill opposite the Plum Museum stands a splendid weeping plum tree✨ Photo courtesy: Yasuki Okamoto

[Isehara Flower Report] 2026.03.03 We report on the flowering conditions around Isehara City. Okame cherry blossoms along Ōyama New Road are at their best. Soft pink blooms line the roadside, hinting at the arrival of spring. In Maruyama Castle Ruins Park, a few almond flowers were seen in bloom, but many buds remain. We look forward to further flowering.

Photographed on March 1, 2014. I went to see the Nakamachi Tourist Information Center exhibition “Kai-awase and Hina Doll Tour.” Today is the Doll Festival. 🎎

This photo was taken on a day during spring break when I had nothing planned. The cherry blossoms were just starting to open, and the spring weather put me in the mood for a walk, so I went out by myself. Since it was a rare chance, I decided to go somewhere I don’t usually visit and walked from Yamato Station to Seya Station. Along the way, I was drawn to a small shrine whose name I didn’t know and stopped by. The shrine grounds were almost empty, and I was struck by how old the place felt. Amid it all, an especially weathered torii gate and a single cherry tree looked so beautiful that I felt a sudden wave of nostalgia and took this photo.

This is a spring scene viewed from Motohakone in Kanagawa Prefecture. The combination of Mount Fuji, Lake Ashi, fresh green foliage, and a torii (shrine gate) looks like a painting.

Photographed on March 1, 2014. After the monthly ceremony at Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine, I relaxed at Starbucks Kanetsuki‑dōri Store. I had an Earl Grey bouquet and a tea latte, and an Earl Grey Basque cheesecake.

This is a shot capturing the vibrant duet of mimosa and cherry blossoms blooming within the grounds of Kuramae Shrine in Taitoku, Tokyo Metropolis. A lush stand of mimosa fills the foreground while the cherry blossoms in the background are softly blurred, giving the whole frame depth and a rich density of color. I emphasize the joyous contrast of yellow and pink that signals spring’s arrival, conveying the shrine’s pure atmosphere alongside the energetic radiance of life in spring.

My first visit to Japan turned magical when I found a lone Sakura at the entrance to Ueno Park, blooming early on the first day of March. Locals, tourists, people of all ages, and even birds were enjoying the symbol of Spring. To immortalize their joy, I simply had to photograph the birds enjoying the blossoms. I feel proud of this photo, and very lucky to have witnessed such a magical Spring moment in the heart of Tokyo.

Nana Field Road 2026 in Kamogawa City, Chiba Prefecture runs through Sunday, March 8, 2026. Feel spring in a field of four million rapeseed flowers. Stay at a partner hotel in Kamogawa City to receive a free flower-picking ticket (10 stems). It takes about two hours from Tokyo Station by train, express bus, or car. It is an 18-minute walk from Awa-Kamogawa Station.

Tsukigase Plum Valley Plum Festival Now underway! More areas are coming into full bloom♪ Please come and visit! Photo credit: Yasunori Okamoto

Here are spots where flowers are at their best in March ✨ 1. Fukujusō at Hinata Ooka A natural colony of fukujusō (Adonis ramosa) spreads across about 2,000 square meters on the rolling hills of the Hyūga District in Oooka, Nagano City. On well-kept slopes, fukujusō bloom proudly with the majestic Northern Alps as a backdrop. Typical peak season: mid-March 2. Fukujusō at Nanaoekosaka More than 30,000 fukujusō carpet the steep east-facing slopes. This dense stand of fukujusō, said to be the finest in northeast Shinshu, is a spectacular sight. Typical peak season: early to late March Note: You will walk about 500 meters along a mountain path from the parking area, including uphill sections, so please wear comfortable shoes such as sneakers. 3. Roukaku Plum Garden (Shinshu Shinmachi) Around 1,000 small ume trees and red-plum varieties are planted here, offering delicate blossoms set against the flowing Saikawa River. Typical peak season: late March to early April The Nagano Convention & Visitors Bureau website summarizes flowering conditions around Nagano City 🌼 #plum #love flowers #scenic flower views #Nagano City