平安時代の国風文化の影響以降、桜は他の植物とは一線を画す特別な存在であり続けている。
木々は街路、公園、河川敷、学校内など日本全国至る所に無数に植えられており、開花期間には街中の風景が激変する。
桜の名所には多くの人々が訪れ、時には宴会を開くという風習も1000年以上続いている。
地域差や品種差はあるが、概ね開花している期間は例年3月下旬から4月上旬だ。
春の訪れと共に一斉に咲き競い、僅か2週間程度で潔く散るその花の姿は、人の命の儚さに例えられ、日本人の人生観の一部にもなっている。
Since the influence of Japanese aristocratic culture in Heian period (794–1185), cherry blossoms have been special which draws a clear line between other plants.
Cherry trees are planted along streets and rivers, and in parks and schools, and so many other places all over Japan and they drastically changes the view of the whole city during the time of bloom.
A lot of people visit famous spots of cherry blossoms and the custom of having parties under the tree has been continued for more than 1,000 years.
It depends on the area and the breed but the time of bloom is from the end of March to the beginning of April every year.
As soon as spring comes, each blossom compete each other to bloom and the aspect of them gracefully falling off the tree is compared to brevity of human life and it is also a part of life philosophy of Japanese people.
