Photos of blooming cherry trees framed in front of Mount Fuji, a majestic castle or a towering skyscraper in Tokyo make up a large percentage of imagery representing Japan that you get to see while you are outside the country. I challenge you to flick through a tourist brochure or travel guide without finding huge swathes dedicated to said pink flower blooming in late March.

Having never experienced anything similar in my home town of Perth (Hell, I still find trees changing colour and dropping leaves a novelty) it came as quite a surprise when suddenly there was pink everywhere. Seriously, it’s like someone just flicked a switch overnight and the bleak, grey streets around my house were suddenly lined with pink. Forget renovation rescue or whatever reality home improvement show they’re pushing these days, this truly is an instant make-over.

This weekend was the it was the Hanami (Cherry Blossom viewing) party at the castle in Himeji. Other than the blossoms, there was the allure of 500 yen bottomless cup sake, taiko drumming, shamisen playing and, of course, sitting outside in the (intermittent) sun eating complimentary hot & spicy fish wieners. How could you possibly resist?

Here some snaps of the day.

Posted in Japan on Wednesday April 7, 2004.

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