Sakura (Cherry Blossoms)

There is a lot of hype over the cherry blossoms in Tokyo.  Starbucks has special cups for the occassion (think the red holiday cups in the US, except for these are white with blossoms in various shades of pink), the city installs special lighting so that people can enjoy the blossoms at night, and there is even a special word (hanami) for outdoor parties beneath the cherry blossoms.  It seemed overblown, really, but when the trees bloomed--wow. I finally understood what all the hype was about.

The street I live on in Minato-ku is lined with cherry trees, which meant that I started and ended my day walking through a tunnel of sakura that felt like something out of a fairy tale.  Here are some quick snaps I took on my Blackberry:

At Yotsuya station

My neighborhood (note the special lights attached to the trees)

My neighborhood

Chidorigafuchi

The cherry blossoms are long gone, but I'll remember their bloom as one of my favorite times in Tokyo!