The Motobu Yaedake Cherry Blossom Festival on Okinawa is the earliest cherry blossom festival in Japan. The trees begin to bloom in January, covering Mori Koen Park with pink flowers. Explore Okinawa's capital, Naha, and visit Shuri Castle, the former royal palace of the Ryukyu Kingdom.
There are over 1,000 cherry trees on the grounds of Kiyomizudera Temple in Kyoto. Blossoms arrive in late March, filling the air with their sweet scent. The Buddhist temple dates to 798 and was built around a waterfall. Visitors can drink from the pond where the water gathers. The water is said to bring wisdom, health and longevity.
Hamarikyu Gardens in Tokyo, is a landscaped garden surrounded by a seawater moat. In April, the trees are lit up in anticipation of hanami. The Aoyama-bochi cemetery and the Imperial Palace are also favorite places to have a picnic and view the majestic trees.
www.welcome.city.sapporo.jp/english
Early to mid-May is the best time to visit Maruyama Park, the most famous place for cherry-blossom viewing in Sapporo, with more than 1,700 cherry trees, including those on the grounds of Hokkaido Shrine. Take a side trip the Sapporo Beer Museum and sample Japan's oldest and most famous beer.
Trip Tracker is compiled by Joy Guest. Is there a vacation or excursion that interests you? E-mail jguest@adn.com or comment online at adn.com/life/travel.
"The word hanami literally means 'looking at flowers.' The real 'moment' of hanami is not so much looking at the flowers on the tree but watching with a tinge of sadness as they fall from the tree, flutter in the spring breeze on their short journey to the cold earth below. It's a beautiful but melancholy reminder that all life must come to an end." -- www.japan-zone.com/culture/hanami.shtml
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