Tokyo City

Rejoice for the end of winter is nearly here, and one of the best times to be in Japan is almost upon us. I am speaking, of course, of cherry blossom viewing or hanami. Just picture it! The weather will soon be warmer, the days longer, and it’ll be time again to gather with friends and family under a canopy of those exquisite pink blossoms. Just in case you happen to be new to Japan and Japanese culture, hanami means “flower viewing,” not just any flower but cherry blossoms. In a nutshell, hanami is a picnic with many more flowers and is sometimes accompanied by music and entertainment. Considering the crowds of Tokyo, it can often end up being more like a picnic at a festival. When will the blossoms bloom? Of course, we need to know when precisely the trees will burst forth with their lovely pale pink flowers. This year, the metropolis will see blossoms starting the week of March 20th.  Every year, the Japan Meteorological Administration (JMA) puts out its “sakura forecast” to show the northward progression across the country of the best times to experience “peak blossoming.” You can find this information online in many places,…