A Happy Accident

The cherry blossom and the appreciation thereof is very much a national and cultural institution in Japan, with the delicately pink flowers serving as inspiration for everything from clothing design and sports mascots to philosophy and the ephemeral nature of life. So intertwined is the cherry blossom and the imagining of Japan that the government has been gifting cherry trees to other countries as a form of diplomacy and political goodwill for decades, my home country Canada included. Despite the presence of such arboreal delights in other countries, however, there’s something special about being able to be in Japan during cherry blossom season.

It was never the plan to be in Tokyo for this reason. We chose the middle of March because of my birthday and it was a week we could all take off from work. In the past I’d heard of friends and family booking accommodations weeks, if not months, in advance in order to experience cherry blossom season here, and that kind of advanced planning kinda stresses me out a bit. I haven’t made it a habit to plan my travels around specific events, partly to avoid inflated prices and crowds but mostly because I don’t really like to plan ahead in the first place.

We got lucky though. The blooming season started earlier this year, and the projected Tokyo dates seemed to align with the last few days of our stay. As we walked around town that week we saw hints of it in Ueno Park and along the Sumida River beside our hotel. It was enough for us to see some flashes of pink in the branches, even if perhaps it was still too early from them to be in full bloom.

Nakameguro

It wasn’t until we swung by the Nakameguro neighbourhood on our very last day, however, that we truly were immersed in the magic of cherry blossom season. All along the Meguro River, masses of cherry trees stretched their branches, thick with blossoms, across the waterway, creating a stunning backdrop to an otherwise fairly mundane urban landscape. The clouds of white and pink blossoms contrasted beautifully with the dark water, the green shrubbery, and the tans and browns of the city buildings. Even as we were pulling into the metro station, I caught a glimpse of the scene below and let out a gasp. It was fitting end to our time in Tokyo – to walk well-trodden paths in the footsteps of generations of cherry blossom admirers, and to do so with close friends; a magical moment enhanced by the fact of having shared it with those you love.