Arab News Japan

TOKYO: This year has seen a full revival of parties and people celebrating cherry blossoms in Japan after three years of “self-restraint” due to COVID-19.

The glorious blossoming of cherry trees in Japan marks the true beginning of spring and the end of winter, encouraging people to escape from their houses, meet friends and look ahead to summer.

The cherry blossoms can be found all over Japan and all over Tokyo. Foreign tourists travel to Japan at this time just to see the cherry blossoms.

The modern streets and buildings of Tokyo are, for a very short time, eclipsed by the outburst of pink, which can be found around almost every corner. City planners know they have to factor cherry blossoms into their urban plans.

April 1 also marks the start of the fiscal and school years in Japan and the cherry blossoms are a symbolic sign of new life and a new start.

And, of course, they are also a good excuse for a party.