Japan's cherry blossom season has arrived

Sakura: Japan's cherry blossom season has arrived - Each year with the arrival of spring, Japan's landscape is transformed by the beautiful blossom of the cherry tree (sakura in Japanese). There are many legends linked to various flower traditions, but one thing is certain, Sakura brings a breath of fresh air to the country's culture and cuisine. How? Click on the gallery and find out!

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Season - In Japan there is a proverb that says that the year only really begins after the cherry tree blossoms.

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Sakura day - The flower is so important that it has its own day! Sakura is celebrated on March 27.

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Species - There are several different species of sakura in Japan, among them, the most famous is the somei-yoshino.

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Colors - The most well-known color is pink, but there are other types of sakura which blossom in other colors, such as white.

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Popularity - Sakura is so popular in Japan that it's engraved in 100 yen coins.

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Blossom - The flower literally travels through the country, as it begins to bloom in the south and then spreads to the north.

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From south to north - This movement, which usually begins in Okinawa and reaches up to Hokkaido, is called Sakura Zensen and means 'cherry blossom front.'

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Cycle - The sakura bloom lasts about 10 days.

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Tradition - Due to its transient nature, cherry blossom is associated with the tradition of the Samurai, who often died too early in battles.

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Blooming phases - Each phase of the cherry blossom is celebrated in Japan.

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Flower names - Did you know that flowers are named according to the amount of petals they have?

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Hitoe - Hitoe is the name given to flowers with up to five petals.

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Hanyae - Flowers that have between 5 and 10 petals are called Hanyae.

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Yae - Flowers with more than 10 petals are known as Yae.

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Festival - The Hanami Festival celebrates the cherry blossom and the arrival of spring.

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Daytime - During the festival, friends gather and have a picnic under the tree in some park during the day, just to enjoy the beauty of the cherry blossom.

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Nighttime -

But some prefer to do the Yozakura, which consists of gathering at night and enjoying the beauty of light reflected on the cherry blossom.

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Names - The cherry tree is so popular in Japan that there are girls named Sakura.

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Cuisine - Sakura is also present in Japanese cuisine. This delicacy, for example, is called sakura mochi, a typical Japanese sweet.

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Cuisine -

Sakurayu, a tea made from cherry blossom, is also very traditional.

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Legends of Sakura - Sakura is at the heart of some legends and traditions of Japanese culture.

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Sakura and love - In ancient times the cherry blossom was considered a symbol of love, and when women adorned their hair with Sakura it meant they were looking for love.

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Princess Sakura - An equally famous legend is passed from generation to generation says that a princess descended from heaven and landed on a cherry tree.

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Princess Sakura - There is another version of this legend that says that when the princess fell she turned into a flower.

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Princess Sakura - Legend has it that the princess was called Konohana Sakuya Hime and that the cherry tree was named sakura as a tribute to her.

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Deity - There is another theory about the name Sakura. The name is a reference to a deity linked to the cultivation of rice called 'Sa.' According to this belief, 'Kura' is the name of the place where the deity lives, hence the name 'Sakura.'

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Where to see Sakura? - One of the best places to enjoy the cherry blossom is Yoshinoyama, in Nara Province.

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Yoshinoyama - Usually, by mid April, it is estimated that about 30,000 cherry trees are in blossom there.

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A nature spectacle called sakura - If you are planning a trip to Japan in the spring, be sure to check if the region you're going to is in cherry blossom season!

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