Every year the gorgeous cherry blossoms show up for just a moment in Japan, transforming the country into a whimsical land of delicate shades of pink. During this period, the air is filled with a certain romantic element, a festive whimsy if you will, as locals and travelers alike come out to view the gorgeous blooms. These cherry blossoms, known as sakura, decorate the parks and streets of Japan, and signify that spring has well and truly come.

When the spring cherry blossoms bloom, it is only for a short duration before the petals fall and the blooms disappear. Many Japanese people make the most of this time with Hanami. Hanami is a cultural word for flower viewing, most specifically used during the cherry blossom season. During hanami, families and friend groups go to the popular cherry blossom viewing areas such as Ueno Park in Tokyo, and picnic or simply sit and enjoy the sakura blossoms. People either hanami during the day or at night. During hanami, the parks and such get extremely crowded, and many people reserve spots much in advance.

Cherry blossoms are a huge part of the Japanese culture. You can find foods flavored in sakura flavor, decorations of cherry blossoms, and in cultural pastimes as well. With the beautiful flowers only being in bloom for such a short amount of time, who can blame anyone for wanting to make the most of it!