World

Tokyo cherry blossoms

Visitors take pictures with cherry blossoms at Chidorigafuchi park in Tokyo. — Reuters
 
Visitors take pictures with cherry blossoms at Chidorigafuchi park in Tokyo. — Reuters
Tokyo: Tourists and Japanese locals marvelled at Tokyo’s cherry trees on Monday at the peak of the annual blossom season that traditionally represents fresh starts but also life’s fleeting impermanence.

Crowds flocked to the city’s top locations to take photos and hold picnics under the elegant dark branches bursting with pink and white flowers, known as “sakura” in Japanese. “Honestly it feels pretty amazing to be here. It’s honestly better than we expected. And it only comes around every once in a while and only for a short span of time,” said Christian Sioting, a tourist from the Philippines. “It’s an ephemeral experience and we’re pretty happy that we got to be here and to witness it in full bloom too.” — AFP