Japanese Cherry Trees

Cherry Blossoms

The cherry blossoms are the unofficial flower of Japan. This is one celebration that has been apart of Japans culture for many years.

There are many species of cherry blossoms that bloom in just a couple of days in spring. The citizens of Japan celebrate the bloom under trees during hanami, having parties.

WHEN THEY BLOOM:

The viewing of the blooming trees can be watched very easily. You can just sit under a tree and enjoy the site of the blossoms in full bloom. In certain places and dates you can see the most beautiful sites like in: Sopporo (May 5), Hakodate (May 3), Sendai (April 12), Tokyo (March 28), Yokohama (March 28), Nagoya (March 28), Takayama (April 16), Kanazawa (April 6), Kyoto (March 31), Osaka (March 30), Nara (April 1), Kobe (March 30), Hiroshima (March 29), Takamatsu (March 30), Matsuyama (March 28), Fukuoka (March 26), Kumamoto (March 24), Kagoshima (March 26), and Naha (January 19). There is an average for each city on witch day the trees will bloom. Not only that, but the need a milder climate and not too much rough geographical location or they will not grow well. On the island of Okinawa, their trees bloom as early as January; Hokkaido, their trees bloom as late in May; and Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka can bloom in late March or early April. The whether has a big part in the blooming too because if it is colder, the blooming can be delayed for two weeks

The celebration is relatively short. Within one week the blossoms will be in full bloom and in about one more week they will be done with. Strong winds and rain can effect the duration of the flowers drastically.

TYPES OF CHERRY TREES:

There are many types of trees that they see in Japan like:

Somei Yoshino (Yoshino Cherry)

late March, early April

Growing during the spring, the Somei Yoshino is the most popular cherry tree in Japan. Somei Yoshino trees have a pinkish tinted to their five petals.

Yamazakura

late March, early April

Yamazakura is a type of cherry tree that is grown wildly from Japan, which grows in hill or mountain areas. The blossoms have five small petals that are slightly pink.

Shidarezakura (Weeping Cherry)

late March, early April

Shidarezakura are like weeping willows. They have drooping branches and have five petals (and some trees can have blossoms five or more petals). The latter bloomers are called Yaeshidarezakura.

Ichiyo

mid April

The Ichiyo has twenty petals on one blossom and have fresh green leaves.

Ukon

mid April

The Ukon has twenty or so petals on each blossom (they have a golden-copper like petals and are easily recognized).

Kanzan

Mid to late April

With the many type of yaezakura, the Kanzan is the biggest type. The Kanzan blossom has about thirty-fifty petals and has light brown-copper leaves.

Fugenzo

mid to late April

The Fugenzo blooms latter like the yaezakura and has about thirty-forty petals on one blossom. When they bloom, they have a pinkish tint to them, but latter they become a dark pink. The fresh leaves are coppery brown.

Shogetsu

mid to late April

The Shogetsu is a late blooming yaezakura that are pretty big and have white blossoms that have about twenty-thirty petals each (they have fresh leaves are green).

Kikuzakura (Chrysanthemum Cherry)

late April, early May

The Kikuzakura has one hundred petals for each blossom! It is also one of the latest blooming trees. In fact, by the time the blossoms are in bloom, the leaves are already developed (they are so big that they might even cover the blossoms).

WERE THEY CAN BE SEEN:

Ueno Park

(A couple of steps from the Ueno Station)

Japan's most crowded, noisy, and popular cherry blossom spots is the Ueno Park. It has more than one thousand trees along the street leading towards the National Museum (it is around Shinobazu Pond). There is no fee to enter to see the blossoms.

Shinjuku Gyoen

(It is only a five min. walk from the Shinjuku station)

This large park has more than one thousand cherry trees. It has over a dozen types in Western and Japanese style gardens. You must pay a two hundred yen fee to enter, and the park is open from 9:00am and 4:30pm.

Chidorigafuchi

(At the subway Kudanshita Station)

Cherry trees decorate the moats of the former Edo Castle around Kitanomaru. There is no admission fee. Rowing boats are available for rent where another one thousand cherry trees are planted.

Sumida Park

(A few steps from Asakusa Station)

The park extends for a few hundred meters on both sides of the Sumida River. There is no fee to enter. Hanami can also be enjoyed from boats that cruise the river.

Aoyama Cemetery

(Five minute walk from the Nogezaka subway)

A straight road going through the cemetery is a lined and is covered by hundreds of cherry trees. There is no fee to enter

Koishikawa Botanical Garden

(Five-ten minute walk from the Hakusan Subway)

This garden is a spacious