Cherry blossom festivals celebrate the beauty of cherry trees, Japanese culture, and history. They are held worldwide, often in partnership with Japanese embassies or goodwill societies. Festivals include flower viewing parties, street fairs, and artistic performances. The events last at least two weeks to take advantage of the flowering window provided by the cherry trees.
A cherry blossom festival, also called Sakura Matsuri, is a spring festival that celebrates the natural beauty of cherry trees, along with Japanese food, culture, and history. Such festivals are held all over the world, even in Japan, as gestures of goodwill and friendship. Most major metropolitan areas have an annual one in the spring.
Of course, a cherry blossom festival is all about the exquisite pale pink blooms of Prunus yedoensis, the Yoshino cherry tree. The Yoshino cherry, called sakura in Japanese, is an ornamental tree grown for its blooms and does not produce fruit. Thousands of years of Japanese tradition celebrate the cherry, which features prominently in Japanese art and culture. Many Japanese enjoy the annual tradition of flower viewing parties, which often include trips to the countryside to picnic under the cherry blossoms. Most flower viewing parties also include art and poetry, with guests composing short poems or brush paintings to celebrate the experience.
Participants wander through the cherry orchards to enjoy the beautiful view. Japanese ornamental gardens often feature a variety of other beautiful flowering plants along with fish ponds and decorative structures. Most festivals also feature a street fair, where visitors can purchase Japanese arts, crafts, and food. They often celebrate Japanese culture with artistic performances, such as traditional Japanese dance and drama.
In the United States, many cities hold an annual cherry blossom festival in partnership with the local Japanese embassy or goodwill society. The nation of Japan has made numerous gifts of ornamental cherry trees to countries around the world, including a 1912 gift of 3,000 trees to the city of Washington, DC, which has a world-famous festival around the time they bloom. Emphasis on friendly ties with Japan and cooperation between nations is at the heart of a festival, when visitors aren’t sampling delicious food, watching performances, or simply enjoying cherry blossoms.
In most cases, these events last at least two weeks to take advantage of the flowering window provided by the cherry trees. In Japan, regional festivals celebrate individual cuisine and the arts, and travelers often enjoy different festivals, much like Americans travel to see fall color in the eastern states. In other parts of the world, they are a chance to experience Japanese culture in general and can make for a fun trip for all ages.
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