Japan in the Sakura Season
With the arrival of spring, flowers started to bloom everywhere. In Japan, between March and May, sakura adorns everything.
The blooming of sakura, known as the Japanese cherry tree, is celebrated with festivals in Japan. If you are fond of Far Eastern culture and want to visit Japan, the best time to travel would be the spring months when the sakura blooms.
Sakuras, which create an enchanting atmosphere with their pink flowers, have important meanings in Japanese culture as well as their beauty. In Japanese culture, sakura symbolizes life, since it heralds spring.
However, as it withers very quickly, sakura also symbolizes death. These flowers fall without fading in their rosy state, and for the Japanese this indicates the union of life and death.
According to legends, samurai used to draw a sakura and take it with them before going on a dangerous mission. In this way, they found the strength to return by remembering the beauties of life and at the same time they remembered how untimely death was. At the same time, sakura symbolizes the rebirth of Japan.
The Japanese believe that sakura brings them good luck. Therefore, life-changing decisions such as starting a new job, getting married, etc. are made in the season of sakura. In fact, the academic calendar in Japan begins with the blooming of sakura. For this reason, one task of meteorology is to predict the blooming dates of Japanese cherry trees.
Sakura Festivals, called Sakura Zensen, begin with the blossoming of trees and are celebrated all over the country. These festivals, also called “Hanami” flower viewing party, have been held since 710 AD and everyone goes outside on the streets during these festival times.
Outdoor parties are organized, the Japanese have a Sakura picnic with their families, that is, they have a picnic under the sakura trees and watch the sight of these flowers.
Night trips to celebrate the blooming of the Sakura are called Yozakura. In Yozakura, special lighting is made to reveal the beauty of the flowers, and the surroundings are decorated with paper lanterns.
Another interesting fact about sakura is that here are special specialists called “Sakuramori” who are specially trained to take care of these trees and take care of the sakura. These experts work to make trees live longer and grow healthier.
During the Sakura Festival, foods, souvenirs and products suitable for this period are also released. Sakura-flavored desserts and drinks will appeal to you if you like floral aromas. You can also buy clothes, glasses, etc. with a cherry blossom pattern that will serve as souvenirs.
During the Sakora Season, the only downside to traveling to Japan will be the crowds. If you are going to travel in Sakura Season, if we talk about the most visited cities Tokyo
and Kyoto, Tokyo’s Ueno Park, Yoyogi Park, Shinjuku Gyoen, Chidorigafuchi, Sumida Park, Asukayama Park, Meguro River, Inokashira Park; Philosopher’s Path in Kyoto, Maruyama Park, Arashiyama, Shrine are among the places where you can see these flowers.
It is worth noting that Sakura season lasts as short as 1-2 weeks, therefore you should strictly follow the calendars announced to coincide with the sakura season. You can meet the same Japan you see in movies in Tokyo. Crowded streets, neon signs, technology…
Kyoto, on the other hand, is known as the city of temples; Here you can see Japanese history more closely. You can visit temples and see beautiful examples of ancient Japanese architecture.
Japanese Architecture
Although we think of high skyscrapers and buildings furnished with the latest technology, traditional Japanese architecture in fact started in the 5th century AD.
In this architecture, the effects of Chinese culture are also seen. These examples, which we see mainly in temples, are structures made of slightly raised wood, tile or reed bushes are used, and minimalism and simplicity are at the forefront. One of the prominent elements in Japanese architecture is the Shoin-zukuri technique.
This technique was born with Zen philosophy and is a Japanese residential architecture used in many different places such as army mansion, temple guest hall. This architecture
forms the basis of today’s Japanese houses.
Like Zen philosophy, Buddhism, which spread in the 16th century, also influenced architecture. You can visit Tenryu-ji, Kiyomizu-dera, Nanzen-Ji and Ninna-ji temples in Kyoto, where you can see beautiful examples of traditional Japanese architecture.
Also in Kyoto, the Higashiyama District is a region where you can see traces of history and
examine the architecture of traditional Japanese houses. Compared to Kyoto, a more modern and contemporary architecture emerges in Tokyo.
Many historical buildings in Tokyo were heavily damaged due to the Great Kanto Earthquake and World War II. For this reason, the rebuilt city bears more modern traces. Tokyo Skytree, the Tokyo Tower, and the Imperial Palace, which is the second tallest building in the world, are among the important structures to be seen in Tokyo.
Japanese Cuisine
When talking about Japan, it is impossible not to mention its cuisine. The reason why Japanese cuisine, which have an influence on all world cuisines, is so popular and delicious is that they cook using many techniques and every dish includes the five flavors known as bitter, sweet, added, salty and spicy.
During a visit to Japan, you should definitely eat sushi and you will encounter many beautiful sushi makers. However, for those who do not like sushi, there are also different types of food, since Japanese cuisine is quite wide.
Apart from sushi Tempura seafood and vegetables are also quite famous. Miso soup with plenty of protein, made with a paste made from soybeans, fish-algae broth, tofu cheese, sliced fish pieces and green onions; Ramen, which consists of wheat noodles, meat, soy sauce and a broth prepared with various meat-bones, is among the Japanese cuisine delicacies you can taste.
There are also many famous restaurants with Michelin stars in Tokyo. You can also try these world-famous restaurants by making a reservation before your trip.
Japanese architecture and Japanese culture are quite different, and if you are interested in Far Eastern culture, Japan is one of the places you must visit. Especially if you coincide with the blooming of pink flowers and sakura, it will offer you fascinating views.
Prepared by: Nilsu Kotil
References
https://www.oggusto.com/lifestyle/japonya-kiraz-cicegi-sakura-festivali
https://yolgunlukleri.net/kyoto-gezi-rehberi-tavsiyeler/
https://oitheblog.com/2019/12/04/tokyo-gezi rehberi/https://tr.euronews.com/2020/05/18/sakura-nedir-japonya-n-nyeniden-dogusu-simgeleyen-kiraz-cicegihttps://archi101.com/donemler/japon-mimarisi/
https://www.lezzet.com.tr/lezzetten-haberler/japon-yemekleri
