Tokyo’s cherry blossom season reached its peak on Monday, captivating both tourists and locals as they marveled at the fleeting beauty of the sakura trees, which bloom with delicate pink and white flowers. Known for symbolizing fresh beginnings and the transient nature of life, the cherry blossoms provided a mesmerizing spectacle for those gathered at the city’s prime viewing spots.
Crowds flocked to popular locations, setting up picnics and taking photographs beneath the elegant dark branches of the cherry trees. Among the visitors was Christian Sioting, a tourist from the Philippines, who expressed his awe, saying, “Honestly it feels pretty amazing to be here. It’s honestly better than we expected. And it only comes around every once in a while and only for a short span of time.”
Sioting reflected on the impermanence of the experience, saying, “It’s an ephemeral experience and we’re pretty happy that we got to be here and to witness it in full bloom too.” The Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA) had declared the country’s most popular cherry tree variety, “somei yoshino,” to be in full bloom across Tokyo just the day before, marking the culmination of the annual cherry blossom season.
While this year’s blooming dates align with averages, experts note that climate change and the urban heat-island effect are contributing to the earlier arrival of sakura blossoms, with trees now flowering approximately 1.2 days earlier every decade. Ralf Ng, a visitor from Hong Kong, shared his excitement, saying, “Seeing photos is another thing, but being here, (to) really see the sakura in your eyes… it’s really amazing.”
The weak yen has contributed to a surge in tourism, with Japan seeing a record 36.8 million visitors in 2023, according to national tourism statistics. This influx has been evident in Tokyo, where locals like Kayoko Yoshihara, 69, organize annual picnics under the blossoms with friends. Yoshihara shared her thoughts on the significance of the cherry blossoms, saying, “After enduring the cold winter, the cherry blossoms bloom and it makes you feel like you’re motivated to head towards summer.” When the trees are at full bloom, she added, “it’s so beautiful that you just become speechless.”
As the cherry blossoms come to an end, the ephemeral nature of the sakura season serves as a poignant reminder of life’s fleeting moments, drawing people together to experience this natural wonder in Tokyo’s vibrant spring.
