Everything kawaii is valued by a certain segment of the Japanese population – usually young Japanese schools girls and female office workers.  But this is not an indication that they are thoroughly modern – many also embrace the ancient ways of Japan and are often seen dressed in Yukata or Kimono for special occasions and ceremonies like the annual pilgrimage to admire the cherry blossoms each spring.

You can identify those that practice the religion of “kawaii” by the mass of cute anime characters that dangle, click and chime as they madly text their way through most activities.  Some even drive their kawaii eco-friendly pink cars to the local temple or shrine for a bit of old fashioned prayer.

But, wait, could this be the priests car strategically parked under the cherry tree?  Nothing can be ruled out in Japan…

This is an entry into the July Japan Blog Matsuri hosted by Gakuranman.

Image Credit:  Personal Collection

In his own words:

“One afternoon during Hana-mi (Cherry Blossom Viewing season) My wife took me along a river that is near our home. Little did I know that this river would meander through this perfect little paradise.

Negawa is the stream between Koushu kaido and Tamagawa that runs along the north of Tachikawa Sports Park which is a baseball stadium.  To get there you can take the JR Chuo line and transfer to the Tama Toshi Monorail Line.  Get off at the Shibasaki-Taiikukan Station (one stop from Tachikawa-minami) and walk right (west) or left (east towards Kunitachi) along the river. This picture was taken on the east side.

I hope your readers enjoy the picture and I hope some of them actually take the time to go there. They will not be let down. It’s actually 10 times more beautiful in real life.

Here is a Google Map of the Negawa Stream in Tachikawa (in Japanese)”

See more of TokyoDan’s photos of Negawa Stream or visit his website, TokyoDan.com.

This and other great images of Japan can be found in The Nihon Sun Japan Photo Gallery.

Just last Saturday, I made my first visit to Shinjuku Gyoen and found the spring flowers of Japan starting to bloom.  The grass hadn’t even turned green but  photographers surrounded the few cherry blossom trees that had overcome the cool spring weather to show their delicate pink  blooms.

This lovely young Japanese woman was having her picture taken in front of the Old Imperial Rest House (Shinjuku Gyoen map) in the park and was dressed in a kimono decorated with waves of sakura (cherry blossoms) along the base and sleeves.  She completed her traditional attire with a gold obi and added a modern touch with flowers in her soft flowing curls.

Despite the weather, a few people were relaxing and enjoying bento (boxed lunches) in the park.  The couple below chose a perfect spot to ponder the cherry blossoms don’t you think?

I enjoyed my stroll through the Shinjuku Gyoen and found it to be an oasis of calm in a very busy part of Tokyo.  The cherry blossoms and the young woman in the kimono were a bonus…

The best way to celebrate the flowers of spring in Japan is to head out to a local park or garden for a stroll or a picnic – it’s a popular pastime so be prepared for crowds!

Below are some of the flowers of spring and some of the best places to enjoy them in Japan.

Cherry Blossoms (Sakura)

The 2009 cherry blossom forecast (site in Japanese) indicates that the sakura (cherry blossoms) will start blooming in Okinawa around March 20th, in Tokyo in the 25th, and in Hokkaido by April 20th.   The life of the cherry blossoms is short, only about five to twelve days, so you need to act fast and plan well to take in these blooms at their peak.

With over 1,500 trees, Goryokaku Park in Hokkaido is a beautiful spot for a hanami party (cherry blossom viewing) as are Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden and Ueno Park in Tokyo.  Be sure to check out the 15 best places to see the cherry blossoms in Japan to take in these iconic Japanese blooms at their best.

Plum or Apricot Blossoms (Ume)

Did you know that during the Nara period (8th century), the blossom of the ume tree was preferred over the cherry blossom?  The sakura blossom didn’t overcome the popularity of the ume blossom until the Heian period (794-1185).

Ume blossoms can range in color from almost white to a bright pink and are often mistaken for cherry blossoms.

The fruit of the ume tree, the Japanese plum is considered good luck in Japan, that is if you eat one each morning! It’s just one of the common superstitions in Japan.

Take in the Yushima Ume Matsuri in Tokyo until March 8th or the Yugawara Ume Matsuri until March 15th in Kanagawa.

Peach Blossoms (Momo)

The peach holds a special place in the hearts of the Japanese is said to be useful in driving away evil.  This concept is the basis for the popular folk tale Momotaro, where a young boy is found floating in a giant peach and grows up to defeat demons.

See a multitude of peach trees at Togenkyo in Wakayama prefecture.

A visit to Japan’s parks and gardens is always an pleasurable experience but one that definitely shouldn’t be missed in spring.  Be sure to peruse our guide to the regions of Japan to find beautiful parks and gardens that you can fit into your itinerary.

Image Credit:  Personal Collection & Flickr, Peach Blossom