Tokyo Plum Blossoms

Tokyo, Japan - jeeff - Wednesday, April 13th, 2005 : goo

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on my last day in tokyo, february 28th, i took a break from packing. it was warm outside so i followed asakusa-dori to the literature shrine, located at the end of an anonymous side-street in ueno, on top of a hill. i figured that the plum blossoms must finally be coming out. i was right.

^ there were many people visiting the temple. it has been well-known for its plum blossoms for centuries, thanks in part to efforts by the local people to keep the trees from withering. they are justifiably proud.

^ plum blossoms are the first harbingers of spring in japan, a forerunner of the more famous cherry blossom festival. the blossoms seem to be a bit smaller than cherry blossoms and can range from white to a deep pink colour similar to the headers on citynoise.

^ at the main building's entrance two bonzai plum trees took pride of place.

^ but in ueno park the 1001 cherry trees were still bare. they'll flower in april (right as i type this) and people will spread blankets and tarps under the branches, stretching all along the path, drinking and picnicking by the thousands. they call it hanami or "cherry blossom viewing".

it was hard to comprehend, seeing all this, that i might never see it again.

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