Japan #2: Cherry blossoms
The Japanese sign for “Sakura” (meaning cherry blossoms) looks like this:
It shows a woman (the sign to the lover right), wearing a hair ornament next to a tree…
Go to Japan in April. Visit cities like Kyoto, Nara and Himeji. You’ll see beautiful trees with white and pink flowers.
I imagined that they would smell nice, but they actually don’t. They don’t smell at all. A little disappointment. But they look amazing. And if you’re lucky, you’ll be standing under some trees on a windy day, and you’ll be surrounded by small, soft flowers, like you’re trapped in a snow storm, only it’s warm and soft. And you’ll find flowers inside your clothes for days reminding you.
Bring your girlfriend, and kiss under the cherry trees…
I took lots of pictures of Sakura. See my Sakura Flickr photo set here. There are loooots of pictures of Sakura at Flickr now, and the best ones are found here.
Wikipedia has more about Sakura, and about the Prunus Serrulata (Japanese Cherry).
Sakura, a well-known and ubiquitous symbol of Japan, are represented on all manner of consumer goods, including kimono, stationery, and dishware. Cherry blossoms are an enduring metaphor for the ephemeral nature of life, and as such are frequently depicted in art, and are associated with both samurai and kamikaze.
Japan-guide.com has a great list of places where the cherry blossoms are beautiful. I can highly recommend the Heian Shrine in Kyoto (what a wonderful park!)…
The Philosopher’s Trail in Kyoto…
…and the Himeji Castle:
twin_lens at Flickr has posted two very detailed lists of where to see the best blossoming in Kyoto, one for plum blossoms and one for cherry blossoms. The season is almost over now, so bookmark it for next year.
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http://brilliantdays.com/rowling-in-kyoto/ Japan #3: Did J. K. Rowling visit Kyoto? | brilliantdays.com
