The Cherry Blossom

What is the ritual of hanami?

Hanami celebrates the fleeting beauty of cherry blossoms. Commonly known as “flower viewing,” it is the ancient practice of gazing upon the flowers.

In ancient times, farmers would pray, make offerings, and prepare a feast under the cherry blossom trees, believing it would bring an abundant harvest. These days, hanami is an annual event everyone looks forward to. Come spring, family and friends gather for picnics and parties under the trees, sharing food, drinks, and songs.

Somei Yoshino (Yoshino Cherry)

The most common variety of cherry blossom, Somei Yoshino has five petals per flower. The flowers appear pale pink at first and become whiter as the days go by. They bloom in bunches of three to four flowers, with green leaves replacing them once the petals have fallen.

These flowers start blooming from mid-March to late April.

Kanzan

Kanzan is one of the “double-blossom” sakura, a group that includes varieties with more than ten petals per flower. These late-blooming flowers are recognisable by their rich pink colour and full clusters. Their fresh leaves are coppery.

Kanzan cherry blossoms usually start blooming in mid-April in Tokyo.

Gyoiko-zakura

Gyoiko-zakura is known for its pale green petals, sometimes with pink lines or tinges. Another variety, Ukon, features yellow-green blossoms.

Gyoiko-zakura’s green petals are sometimes compared to the colour of Heian-era aristocratic kimonos. It is a type of yaezakura, with multiple layers of petals.

Shidarezakura (Weeping Cherry)

Shidarezakura stands out with cascading branches adorned with delicate blooms. These graceful trees add a unique charm to Japan’s spring scenery.

Weeping cherry trees (しだれ桜) have thin, drooping branches that hang down like threads, earning them the nickname “itozakura,” or thread cherry blossoms. Their history dates back to the Heian Period, around 1,200 years ago.

Depending on the variety, their flowers can be pink, white, or red.

Kikuzakura (Chrysanthemum Cherry)

Kikuzakura, or the chrysanthemum cherry, is a type of yaezakura with many layers of petals. Its soft colours range from white to very light pink, and a blossom can have as many as one hundred petals.

These late-flowering blossoms appear around late April and early May. One place to see them is Ishikawa Prefecture’s Kenrokuen Garden. The rare Kenrokuen Kikuzakura is said to have as many as 300 petals per flower.

Kanhizakura (Bellflower Cherry)

Kanhizakura has deep pink, bell-shaped flowers that do not fully open. Native to Taiwan and Okinawa, it blooms there as early as January and February.

In Tokyo’s parks, it usually blooms around mid-March, making it one of the earlier varieties.

Yamazakura

Yamazakura has slightly pink blossoms with five relatively small petals. Its fresh leaves develop alongside the flowers, giving the tree a softer appearance than Somei Yoshino.

In the Kanto region, Yamazakura typically blooms between March and April.

1. Each of the 400 cherry trees in Amsterdam Forest has a Japanese or Dutch female name. The trees were donated by the Japan Women’s Club in 2000 to commemorate 400 years of friendship between the Netherlands and Japan.
2. Cherry blossom petals are used in Japanese teas and sweets.
3. Blossoms are not always pink. Their colours can include white, ivory, green, and yellow.
4. Macon, Georgia, is known for its hundreds of thousands of Yoshino cherry trees.
5. Peak bloom is fleeting, often lasting around a week, depending on the variety and conditions.
6. Ornamental cherry trees are grown for their beauty rather than their fruit.