For a few short weeks every spring, Japan is transformed in the most magical way.
The pink and white shades of sakura – the local word for cherry blossom – illuminate the parks of Tokyo and other cities, and frame the country’s mountains and temples.
The blossom’s transient beauty inspires picnicking families, poets, painters and a new generation of smartphone snappers. It’s no wonder many people see a visit here during the brief bloom as a trip of a lifetime.
