In Japan, the flowering cherry trees, known as sakura, signal the return of spring. The beautiful blooms are short-lived – they last about two weeks – which makes them also a metaphor for fleeting youth and beauty. They are popular subjects of painting and poetry, and their yearly return is celebrated with flower-viewing picnics and festivals throughout the country beginning in April.
The beauty of these pink flowers never gets old. Here’s a compilation of the best photos of this year’s cherry blossoms in Japan. Time to stop and smell the sakura.
Share the beauty of these flowers with your friends!