Picnic under the Sakura

Picnic under the Sakura | Tokyo

Spring has finally sprung and there is no better way of celebrating this glorious season than gazing at sakura in Japan.

I wasn't even planning to be in Japan for the cherry blossom season. Each area has such a narrow window for sakura that it was a wonderful surprise to be in Tokyo when the blossom was at its height. I had naively imagined myself writing haikus with blossom floating around me. In reality, about a million people and I crowded into Ueno Park to witness the event of the season! Surprisingly, it didn't matter that there were hoards of tourists and locals. In a bustling megacity like Tokyo, it was practically a miracle that we all managed to find a certain amount of peace, marvelling at this natural wonder.

Many of the locals were picnicking under the blossom and their spread was incredible, from mouth watering noodle dishes to yakitori. I got very jealous and so headed towards the many food stalls in the park. I bought some Okonomiyaki which are vegetable pancakes with cabbage in the middle, coated in a special sauce. The pancakes were so tasty, I particularly enjoyed the contrasting textures of the fluffy pancake and the crunchy cabbage. This picnic was so much better than the usual sandwich and a packet of crisps!

Ladies lunching, Okonomiyaki and prayers in Ueno Park.

Now that I had more energy to brace the crowds once more, I visited a garden that lit up an ancient sakura tree at night. The tree dominated the sky, its soft pink petals were practically glowing against the stark black backdrop. This scene was one of the most enchanting scenes I have ever witnessed. The crowd hushed as we approached this natural wonder.

It was a truly remarkable day.

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