Cherry Blossoms- March 10-April 4, 2020

One of the things that most excited me about living in Japan was the opportunity to experience their cherry blossoms. The Japanese people even have a word for it: Hanami. It means 'flower viewing' but typically refers specifically to cherry blossoms (occasionally to plum blossoms). Once the season started I took every opportunity I could to see them. My hanami was made a bit more challenging by the slowly tightening restrictions on movement caused by COVID-19, but all in all I considered it a success. I hope you enjoy the pictures. I have grouped them based on location.

This first set was taken at a park near my house:

Ueno Park:

Showa Park:

Yokota Air Base:

Kamanofuchi Park:

Baiganji Temple:

All of the cherry blossom illuminations were canceled so we had to take advantage of this random tree in a park near our house:

The cherry tree in front of our house:

Other trees in our neighborhood:

Trees along the path I walk frequently with Dash:

Despite our restrictions I enjoyed hanami very much.