When the wind hits the Cherry trees, the petals fall, and it looks like Spring is snowing. It’s beautiful.

Or how about this?

Blossoms are scattered by the wind and the wind cares nothing, but the blossoms of the heart no wind can touch. Yoshida Kenko

Sakura basically means Cherry Blossom season. Hanami is the custom of enjoying these blossoms. I had seen the stunning images in travel books and Japanese websites and wished I could see them one day. Then I found myself planning a work trip to Tokyo, then I realized it was during Sakura. You can imagine my delight.

The weather miraculously broke for an afternoon and my friend and colleague Colby, took a few of us to the Zojoji Temple before we left for the airport. This is a really interesting area because it combines history (Zojoji Temple) with modernity (Tokyo Tower) with nature (Cherry Blossom trees) – quite the combo.

A glimpse of Hanami and the Tokyo Tower

Obscured view of the Tokyo Tower

It’s a remarkable setting – especially when you consider history, modernity and nature all combining. It feels like a movie set.

Peeking at the Zojoji Temple

A closer look at the Cherry Blossoms

Statues and nature

This was my third trip to Japan and remains one of my favorite places. Adding the Sakura experience was a lucky surprise and I feel so, so lucky.

Beautiful scene of Spring & Sakura

As always, thank you so much for reading. You can view all of my Japanese photographs here, including a trip to Nikko a couple of years ago. Arigatou gozaimasu.