Sakura (Japanese kanji : 桜 or 櫻; katakana: サクラ; hiragana: さくら) is the Japanees name for cherry trees, and their blossoms. In English, the word “sakura” is equivalent to the Japanese flowering cherry,[1]and their blossoms are commonly called cherry blossoms. Cherry fruit (known as sakuranbo) comes from a different species of tree.
Sakura is also a given name. The word “sakura” changes to zakurawhen used in a compound word such as “shidarezakura”.
Every year the Japanese Meteorological Agency and the public track the sakura zensen (cherry-blossom front) as it moves northward up the archipelago with the approach of warmer weather via nightly forecasts following the weather segment of news programs. The blossoming begins in Okinawa in January and typically reaches Kyotoand Tokyo at the end of March or the beginning of April. It proceeds into areas at the higher altitudes and northward, arriving in Hokkaidōa few weeks later. Japanese pay close attention to these forecasts and turn out in large numbers at parks, shrines, and temples with family and friends to hold flower-viewing parties. Hanami festivals celebrate the beauty of the sakura and for many are a chance to relax and enjoy the beautiful view. The custom of hanami dates back many centuries in Japan: the eighth-century chronicle Nihon Shoki (日本書紀) records hanami festivals being held as early as the third century CE.
Most Japanese schools and public buildings have sakura trees outside of them. Since the fiscal and school year both begin in April, in many parts of Honshū, the first day of work or school coincides with the cherry blossom season. ( From :http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakura)
Cherry Blossoms (Sakura)
The cherry blossom (sakura) is Japan’s unofficial national flower. It has been celebrated for many centuries and holds a very prominent position in Japanese culture.
There are many dozens of different cherry tree varieties in Japan, most of which bloom for just a couple of days in spring. The Japanese celebrate that time of the year with hanami (cherry blossom viewing) parties under the blooming trees.
The Fuji Five Lake region offers the spectacular opportunity of viewing cherry blossoms in combination with Mount Fuji. Lake Kawaguchi is particularly popular, not only because it is the easiest accessible of the five lakes, but also because there are quite a lot of cherry trees planted along its shores.
Many trees around Lake Kawaguchi are currently in full bloom, especially the Somei Yoshinotrees with their particularly beautiful, intense appearance. There are also many trees of the Yamazakura variety, which tend to be somewhat more advanced than the Somei Yoshino, starting to drop considerable numbers of petals.
The best time to view and photograph the cherry blossoms around Lake Kawaguchi is in the early mornings. Visibility tends to be better in the mornings than later during the day, and it is not unusual for Mount Fuji to hide itself in clouds even on sunny days. Furthermore, mornings come with more favorable light conditions for photo taking.