Tokyo Day Trips

The weather will soon begin to get warmer, the days longer, and it’ll be time again for “hanami.” If you’re new to Japan and Japanese culture, Hanami means “flower viewing,” but not just any flower will do. We’re talking about Japan’s symbol of all things cute, beautiful, and like the flora itself, fleeting; cherry blossoms. Basically, Hanami is a picnic, though with the flowers, and often lights and music, it is more like a picnic at a festival… At least that’s how it usually is; of course, we’re living in a “new normal” until enough people get vaccinated against COVID-19, so the view of thick crowds of people spending time under the pink trees is going to look a bit different again this year. When will the blossoms bloom? Of course, we need to know when precisely the trees will burst forth with their lovely pale pink flowers. Every year, the Japan Meteorological Administration (JMA) puts out their “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, but here is my favorite: 2022 Cherry Blossom Forecast (japan-guide.com) ⚠️  Special COVID-19 Considerations!! 🚨…