Japan, famous for the cherry blossom (sakura 桜 in Japanese)

In Japanese, cherry blossom is ‘sakura’ (most commonly used kanji is 桜 which means ‘spring flower’). In Japan, sakura are not only nice to look at, they are renowned around the world and steeped in tradition within Japan. There many annual festivals (such as the Samurai Parade during Cherry Blossom season). We went to a festival in April in Okayama and saw Japan’s beautiful cherry blossoms from Fukuoka to Tokyo.

Below are my photos of Japan’s cherry blossom, from all over the country.

Photo of Japanese cherry blossom (sakura) at a Kyoto temple

Photo of Japanese cherry blossom (sakura) at a Kyoto temple. Me in front of the sakura and Sanjūsangendō (三十三間堂 in Japanese, which means 33 bay hall, as 33 is a sacred number in Buddhism) in Kyoto.

Cherry blossom trees surround a Japanese Edo period water garden

Cherry blossom trees surround a Japanese Edo period water garden.

Japanese cherry blossom trees (sakura) in the Kyoto temple gardens

More Japanese cherry blossom trees (sakura) in the temple gardens.

High resolution photo of the Japanese cherry blossom.

High resolution photo of the Japanese cherry blossom. View the close-up of the cherry blossom tree by clicking the image above to view a higher resolution photo.

To see the Japanese cherry blossom, the best time to travel to Japan is their spring in late March and throughout April. There are many festivals throughout the entire country, especially at the many temples, like the one below at Kyoto.

"Japanese cherry blossom motif on the ticket for Kiyozumi temple in the mountains of Kyoto.

Japanese cherry blossom motif on the ticket for Kiyomizu temple in the mountains of Kyoto.

Cherry blossom and Japanese buddhist shrine

Looking through the cherry blossoms at a shrine in Kiyomizu?temple, Kyoto, Japan.

Sakura at Okayama Castle.

Looking at Okayama Castle (a 400 year old castle named 烏城 'u-jo' in Japanese) through the cherry blossoms.

Sakura, the Japanese cherry blossom.

Sakura, the Japanese cherry blossom.

Related post: A panorama of a Japanese cherry blossom festival at Okayama.