Okinawa’s in Bloom: Japanese Cherry Blossoms

February 23, 2015, In: Japan, Okinawa, Okinawa, Photography, Places

Spring has sprung in Okinawa… and the whole island is in bloom! Japanese cherry blossoms cover our island, and while mainland Japan still has months to wait for their cherry blossoms (Tokyo is expected to bloom in April, Sapporo not until May) our little southern island is already near the end of our few weeks of flowering.

Japanese Cherry Blossoms | Walking Through Wonderland

See the bee?

Japan takes cherry blossom season very, very seriously. The National Weather Association actually publishes a city-by-city cherry blossom forecast, predicting when the blossoms will open (kaika) as well as when the “peak viewing” window or full bloom (mankai) should occur. Towns throw festivals and parades to celebrate these little blooms. There is even a specific term for the act of “flower viewing” (hanami). If you are particularly interested in learning the art of “Hanami”, feel free to check out this beginner’s guide on “how to do hanami.” However, if you are not quite interested enough to follow a link, I’m happy to sum it up for you right here: Hanami involves sitting back and appreciating the cherry blossoms, either up close or from a distance. Helpful? I thought so. Picnics are also highly encouraged.

Japanese Cherry Blossoms | Walking Through Wonderland
Japanese Cherry Blossoms | Walking Through Wonderland
Japanese Cherry Blossoms | Walking Through Wonderland
One of the reasons that Japanese cherry blossoms are held in such high esteem is because of their very short blooming period. The whole season lasts only a few weeks, and any heavy rain or wind could cause that small window to disappear completely. In the Japanese culture there are many comparisons between the fragility of the blossoms and the fragility of human life.

However, as I was trying to gather background information to write a decent cherry blossom post, my half-Japanese friend, Shannon told me I was looking too deeply into the whole thing. “I mean- they’re just really pretty,” she said, in true Shannon-fashion. I’m sure I could have found someone else to go on and on about the rich history behind these sweet little blooms, but I kind of liked how she summed it up. Sure they mean different things to different people, but at the end of the day, they are just really, really pretty.
Japanese Cherry Blossoms | Walking Through Wonderland
Japanese Cherry Blossoms | Walking Through Wonderland
Japanese Cherry Blossoms | Walking Through Wonderland
Japanese Cherry Blossoms | Walking Through Wonderland
Japanese Cherry Blossoms | Walking Through Wonderland
Japanese Cherry Blossoms | Walking Through Wonderland
Japanese Cherry Blossoms | Walking Through Wonderland

  1. Pingback: Yogi Park Cherry Blossom Festival

  2. Pingback: Misadventures Of Getting An Indian Visa in Japan | Walking Through Wonderland

  3. Pingback: Okinawa Sunflower Festival | Walking Through Wonderland

  4. Reply

    So lucky to have found your blog through Mr. and Mrs. O!

    • Reply

      SO glad you stopped by! I love Mr. and Mrs. O too!! I will have to check out yours out! I’ve always had a soft spot for the roads less traveled!

  5. Reply

    Hi Mindy! Awesome post… I couldn’t imagine hanami in Okinawa as well, thank you so much for sharing these amazing pictures and especially the one with both cherry blossom and palm trees!

    • Reply

      Thanks so much! I just love that picture. I feel like it really sums up Okinawa!

  6. Reply

    I really adore this time of year, I love all the flowers that start blooming and equally that they make a ‘festival’ out of all of them! Are you going to hit up the Sunflowers this weekend? I am hoping too :)

    • Reply

      I am! And I would love to get together with you sometime to chat blogging and photography and travel over coffee! (Or wine!) Let me know if you are free!

Leave a Comment

MOST RECENT IN "TRAVEL"

VIEW ALL
Goa India | I'm headed to india again | Walking thorugh wonderland

God is Great, I Gave Up Beer, and People Are Crazy | I’m headed to India – Again

I left off just as I was beginning to tell my tale of a month in India, and now I'm…
CONTINUE READING
Bullying in India | WTW

Begging, Bargaining and Bullying in India

If you thought yesterday's post sounded bizarre, today it gets even better. I like to call this one "Begging, Bargaining and…
CONTINUE READING
Goa Yoga School | WTW

My First Goa Yoga School & Why I Walked Away

The best advice I can give to someone who is looking to book a Goa yoga school for their 200…
CONTINUE READING
Stream of Consciousness First Impressions of India | WTW

Stream of Consciousness- My First Impressions Of India

I journaled a list of my "First Impressions Of India" as I flew from Abu Dhabi to Mumbai and Mumbai to…
CONTINUE READING

MOST RECENT IN "PROJECTS"

VIEW ALL
Website Design Mindy Arnholt Photography | WTW

Mindy Arnholt Photography Website

I finally decided to start a Mindy Arnholt Photography website. You know... because I am so good at keeping up with…
CONTINUE READING

Oh Baby! (Shower Invites)

I've been doing a whole lot of baby shower invitation designing lately. And sadly... the majority of these babies aren't…
CONTINUE READING
Christmas Card Designs | Walking Through Wonderland

Christmas Card Designs

I really love playing with design. If I had college to do over again (a regular dream of mine) I…
CONTINUE READING
Oki Hai Calendar | Walking Through Wonderland

2016 Okinawa Hai Calendar

Until Thanksgiving, I don't think I'd seen anyone socially in about two weeks. When I finally came out of hiding,…
CONTINUE READING

Meet Mindy

In 2013, I quit my job and bought a one-way ticket to Thailand. After four months of backpacking I returned to the States and fell in love with a guy whose job sent us straight back to Asia. Nothing has gone according to plan... and it's been absolutely magical.
Read more

Looking For Mindy Arnholt Photography?

Archives