The annual rite of spring in Japan, cherry blossom season involves viewing and sitting under "sakura" trees and taking in the fluffy pink flowers, which drop off about a week after they appear. The blooming of sakura begins in the warmer south and moves north. Japan designates certain sakura trees for monitoring across the country, and considers a region to be in bloom when at least five or six flowers can be counted on its trees.
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A sparrow drinks the nectar of a cherry blossom in full bloom at Ueno park in Tokyo, April 2, 2015. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi) |
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Japanese Zen practitioners, "Komuso", in traditional religious outfit parade, playing the bamboo flute, or shakuhachi, as cherry blossoms are in full bloom at Ueno park in Tokyo, April 2, 2015. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi) |
