Sakura

Sakura is undebatably the most famous seasonal flower in Japan. It is the symbol of spring. People from all over Japan look forward to this season, when they can roll open their picnic mats and gather over a neatly-packed bento and cans of beer while viewing the pretty cherry blossoms.  It is undoubtedly the most awaited season after the long cold winter months. Sakura viewing signals the start of the warm season of spring.

Plum blossoms

What signals the blooming of sakura? Most people from outside Japan do not know that before sakura blooms, an equally beautiful and stunning flower worthy of praise and gaze flourishes. It is the plum blossoms, known as Ume in Japanese.

Ume, like Sakura, come in many varieties. It also can be seen everywhere in Japan. Many foreigners have mistakenly thought Ume as Sakura. Dazaifu Tenmango Shrine in Kyushu is a famous place for plum blossom viewing which occurs in mid-February to March. Here is the exact address: 〒818-0117 Fukuoka Prefecture, Dazaifu, Saifu, 4 Chome−7 宰府４丁目７−１ Dazaifu Tenman-gū

Nanohana

Yellow, yellow, yellow everywhere. Another awesome blooms in spring is Nanohana.

They usually grow near riverbanks and ricefields. Its bright yellow color will surely brighten up your day.

Wisteria

One of the most fragrant and amazing spring blooms is Wisteria. There are also many varieties but  the most common is the purple one.  It blooms from a tree and spreads wide. One of the most famous wisteria viewing place is the wisteria tunnel which can be found in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka.

This is the exact address:

〒805-0045 Fukuoka Prefecture, Kitakyushu, Yahatahigashi-ku, Kawachi, ２丁目２−４８ 河内藤園

Azalea

Another spring blossoms that paints the surroundings with different waves of colors is Azalea. It is known as tsutsuji in Japanese. It can also be seen typically anywhere. In the park, the neighbors’ garden, temples and shrines, sidewalk. It looks like small lilies.

There are so many flowers that bloom in spring. Not only Sakura. They bloom everywhere. They come in many different vibrant colors. Some are fragrant, some are not. All these flowers make spring a season to look forward to. And all these flowers, sad to say, are short-lived. Two weeks, three weeks, a month maybe and they’re gone. They fall to the ground and be swept by the wind. Gone in the soil. Another year to wait.