Breath-taking Sakura... AKA Cherry Blossoms

I have seen the Cherry Blossoms in Washington, D.C.

I have seen all the online pictures of Cherry Blossoms in Japan.

Please, I own every single Cherry Blossom bubble bath and smell good that Bath & Body Works makes.

I thought I knew about the flower, smell, look and coverage of the Cherry Blossom.

I have NEVER seen anything like the Cherry Blossoms here in our area of Kanagawa, Japan.

The flowers are called Sakura (saw-cur-a). Sakura Season is short and highly valued. There are national calendars to tell visitors when the trees will bloom in each geographical area. There are vacations that sell out in hours to simply go look at flowers! They have their whole school year set so they can have the vacation during Sakura season.

That is like Texas planning Spring Break around Bluebonnets.

It's nuts!!!

I thought people were just exaggerating. In my head I was going, "Come on, how GOOD could FLOWERS be?" I mean, I can go to Costco and grab some pretty flowers.

How could some flowers excite the calm and quiet Japanese?

How can a few buds on trees make people plan their whole vacation around the chance they might get to see them?

I was wrong.


The whole area is covered in hundreds and hundreds of huge, blossoming white and pink flowers. One day you go to sleep, and the next day you are assaulted by blooms.

The Sakura are tee.totally, overwhelmingly gorgeous! Just look at a few of these trees. They are HUGE!

Here's the only issue I have with Sakura season.

It is way too short! Once the blooms show, they will open completely and FALL OFF in less than 14 days! Seriously?!?!?

The locals call is "Spring Snow". You walk out and see the sidewalks and streets look like hail has hit the area.

You can, literally, watch as the Cherry Blossom "Snow" falls to the ground. You know the end is near. The site makes even those in a hurry, stop and take notice of the beauty.



I took the girls out to take their pictures on a Thursday. They were thrilled to play around in the fantastic park by post. They were even okay with posing for me, for "just a couple" of pictures. Look at that beautiful tree behind them.

Three DAYS later I went back with the boys to take their pictures are that same tree was EMPTY! I had to find another tree. It's no where near as full. How can that have happened in three days?

The beautiful park has only a few days left of Sakura season. The locals know it. There were people everywhere! It was like trying to take a picture in front of the Disney Castle, I just could not get a shot without other people in the background.

It is crazy! How can beauty fade that fast?

At least we got to see it. We will never forget it.

This is the simply beauty and wonder of Nippon.

This is Japan at it's best.

Take time today to smell the flowers, wherever you are in the world today!

Happy Sakura,

~Aggie Amy