Japan #10 - 'Hanami' Flower Viewing It is a wonderful Japanese custom to celebrate ...

... the beautiful new blossoms in spring when the days are getting warmer and nature awakens from its winter sleep. I was a bit sad that I missed the cherry blossom festivities by a few weeks only as business trip schedules unfortunately don't consider special touristic needs. In addition, the cherry 'sakura' tree bloom isn't easy to predict even though a special blossom forecast - the cherry blossom front - attempts to. And it lasts for only a week or maybe two. When the first buds burst people fill the parks for celebrating under the flowering trees and creative illuminations make the nights unique, too. The Japanese cherry tree doesn't grow fruits so it lives only for the few days of bloom in great beauty. It builds up the blossoms only to throw them off when perfectly finished. I have experienced the cherry bloom festivities in Hamburg many times - the biggest in Germany. They are a great party including perfectly arranged fireworks and I always hoped to see them in their home country. I have to come back another year. For now, I found this beauty in a park which gave its best to compensate.