Spring Blossoms in Japan
Spring is one of the best times to visit Japan and experience the vibrant colors of the season. Flowers start to bloom sometime in late March and a number of festivals herald the arrival of spring. It makes it a truly wonderful time to explore and discover all that Japan has to offer!
Check out some of the spring blooms to admire and enjoy while in Japan.
Cherry blossoms or Sakura are Japan’s national flower. The delicate flowers are synonymous to the country. Cherry blossoms come from ornamental cherry trees that can be found all over Japan. They bloom at the start of spring, and branches that were barren during the winter are suddenly filled with a glorious array of pink and white blossoms. Sakura are deeply ingrained in the history and culture of Japan and are full of symbolism, such as their state of impermanence (since blooms only last up to a week or two) which resonates with the samurai culture and the Japanese aesthetics of wabi-sabi. These gorgeous blossoms play a role in numerous Japanese artworks, in the ancient and the modern eras.
Wisteria
Japan is known for its iconic cherry blossoms, but wisteria can be equally as captivating and mesmerizing in its beauty. Wisteria is a type of flowering plant that belongs to the pea family. It includes a species of woody climbing vine native to countries like the United States, Korea, China, and Japan. Wisteria (fuji) grows all around Japan and has influenced Japanese culture.
Fuji Musumè (Wisteria Maiden) is the subject of popular Japanese folk paintings (Otsu-e) and is believed to have been inspired by traditional dances. The paintings were commonly sold as good luck charms for marriages. There is also a famous classical kabuki dance called Fuji Musumè.
Sweet pea (suiito pii, スイートピー) signals the arrival of the month of April in Japan. They are a signature springtime bouquet among florists across the country. The flowers are synonymous to the arrival of spring and the flowers have a sweet fragrance that makes any room smell like spring!
Persian buttercups (ranankyurasu, ラナンキュラス) with their layers of crinkly and delicate petals and fern looking leaves, are a delightful addition to any spring bouquet. These flowers come in all colors of the rainbow and bloom in all its full glory for an entire six weeks. Persian butetrcups belong to the Ranunculus, a large genus of about 600 species of flowering plants of the family Ranunculaceae. Other members of the genus are also known as spearworts and water crowfoots.