Cherry Blossom Splendor. Hanami 2015.

The Hanami season is starting to wind down here in Tokyo, so I thought I might look back on what was, once again this year, a lovely and gorgeous start of the spring season. This year’s hanami was actually a bit unusual in that it was was slightly delayed and was also unusually short. An unseasonable cold snap grabbed hold of Tokyo right at the start of blossoming which caused the sakura trees to hold back for a few extra days. When the warm weather returned, the result was a peak flowering which happened right at the start of the busy work week. Now, just a few days after the sakura came into full bloom, wind and rain are sweeping all the flowers away.

Determined not to lose against this weird weather, I made the most of last weekend, and also set out to make the most of the cherry blossom season before and after work. I put together a collection of photos representing my best 2015 sakura moments, so I hope they convey the sweet splendor of fleeting beauty that is hanami.

This first set of photos was taken in Ueno Park and Ueno Shinobazu Pond.

I got really lucky when this beautiful ring neck flew in and
perched on the tree I happened to photographing!

This group of high school grads was super popular with
the tourists in Ueno Park; especially the teenage boys. (^_^)

Here are some pics from the Bunkyo Sakura Festival (文京さくらまつり) in Bunkyo City.

I really hope this was a nice look at this year's Cherry Blossom season. There are a few more photos in the gallery which can be viewed here.