Photos: Photos: Japan’s fleeting panoply of cherry blossoms returns

The arrival of the cherry blossom or Sakura season is deeply symbolic in Japan. It only lasts for around one week in the end of March or early April and marks the beginning of spring. It is claimed that the short-lived existence of the blossom taps into a long-held appreciation of the beauty of the fleeting nature of life, as echoed across the nation's cultural heritage.

Updated on: Apr 01, 2019 11:11 AM IST

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A couple on a boat admires cheery blossoms as they enjoy a tea ceremony in a river in Yokohama, near Tokyo. People all over the country were out to enjoy cherry blossoms this weekend as the country’s iconic flower neared or entered full bloom. (Shuji Kajiyama / AP)

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Even Japanese Emperor Akihito (L), and Empress Michiko were out to witness the weeping cherry in Kyoto Gyoen national garden in Kyoto. This year everything is imbued with an extra meaning. It’s the last cherry blossom season of the Heisei imperial era that began with Akihito’s ascension in 1989. The current emperor will abdicate this April. (Yosuke Mizuno / Kyodo News via AP)

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A man looks at cherry blossoms in almost full bloom in Tokyo. The mix of colours and varieties in combination with the surrounding greenery vary widely from region to region, with each region’s season having their own special and unique charm. (Issei Kato / REUTERS)

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Cherry blossoms nearing full bloom are seen in Tokyo. Japanese poetry celebrating the beauty of the cherry blossom points to Yoshino in Nara Prefecture as the locale for the most ancient and famous varieties. Yoshino’s cherry blossoms date back 1,200 years and cover entire hilltops when in full bloom. They are expected to peak on or around April 8 this year. (Issei Kato / REUTERS)

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Women take a selfie under cheery blossoms along a river in Yokohama. The bloom of the cherry blossom or Sakura is a month long celebration of the beginning of spring, new life, and nature. (Shuji Kajiyama / AP)

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A man rides a bicycle under cherry blossom trees in Tokyo, Japan. The transience of the blossoms and their exquisite beauty has lent itself to rich symbolism in Japanese culture and art, often been associated with mortality and a graceful acceptance of destiny and karma. (Takashi Aoyama / Getty Images)

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While there are over 200 cultvars of cherry blossoms in Japan, the most popular is the Somei Yoshino with its nearly pure white flowers tinged with the palest pink which bloom and fall within a week. (Issei Kato / REUTERS)

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Visitors take photos under illuminated cherry blossoms in full bloom at Ueno Park in Tokyo. Every year the Japanese Meteorological Agency and the public track the blossom as it moves northwards through the nation. Hanami, or picnicking under the blooming trees is a centuries old practice and eagerly looked forward to. (Issei Kato / REUTERS)

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Illuminated Cherry blossom trees are seen at the Meguro River in Tokyo. With Sakura trees outside nearly every school and office building, the fiscal and school years also coincide with the bloom on the mainland. (Takashi Aoyama / Getty Images)