Chidorigafuchi on Tuesday

My friend Julia shared some more photos...  (Click to view full shot)

To reach the moat surrounding the Imperial Palace, one of Tokyo's most popular hanami spots, Julia took the metro to Kudanshita station, where she found men in white gloves ushering people through

She reports that viewers in front would take advantage of their photo op then move on graciously to give the next wave of people a chance

 There was "a real buzz in the air" she says

(Nice shot, Julia!)

Meanwhile, a graduation ceremony was going on at the Kitanomaru National Garden and Nippon Budoukan (lovely!)

 

Nakameguro right now...

Thanks for the pic, Julia!

'tis the season

 

I've seen my share of latte foam designs but this one blows all previous away. Thank you, my friend Nikki, formerly of Tokyo and now of Singapore, for sharing. (I still hate you for having just spent two weeks in Tokyo at the height of hanami season ;) 

Nikki tells me she found Kenji, coffee purveyor/artiste responsible for the absurdly adorable design featured above, in Nakameguro - a prime spot for vendors this time of year due to the spectacular display of cherry blossoms along the canal and the pedestrian-friendliness of the neighborhood.

 

I wish it was spring right now

Brrrrrr. It's cold in New York today, and I've got cherry blossoms on the brain. Next up on my list of Top 10 Tokyo people/places/things I miss the most....

7. SAKURA!

For about two weeks every year, Tokyo's concrete jungle transforms, even the ugliest architecture made pretty by so many pink petals. There are celebrations in the parks, people eating and drinking under the trees 24/7, blue tarps spread out beneath blacktop and patchy grass. Ueno Park in particular draws massive crowds, even on weekdays; sakura season may be the only time of year Japanese salarymen and office ladies feel they can play hooky from work. Other hanami (literally "flower viewing") hotspots: the Nakameguro canal (a stunning display), Yoyogi park (a younger and rowdier scene), and Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden (but don't even think about bringing a Frisbee - the fun police keep the lawns strictly ball-and-kite free). Even our little Octopus playground park gets busy. Here are some of my favorite pics taken during prime time (late March - early April):

 Blossoming cherry trees along Meiji dori near Shibuyabashi, April 5, 2012

 Claire in Yoyogi park, March 27, 2009

 Terry snapped this by the Nakameguro canal on April 9, 2011 (the boys and I were in New York). With the country still reeling from the 3/11 disaster, official hanami events in Tokyo were canceled and there were fewer people about. 

 

 

Conor, 8 1/2, and Dylan, nearly 7, at Koishikawa Korakuen, a walled garden near the Tokyo Dome and one of the best places for viewing cherry blossoms, April 6, 2009

Meiji-dori in Ebisu, across from our bus stop and near our old apartment

Meiji-dori in Ebisu, facing southeast. That's Ippudo (ramen!) on the left beyond the vending machines

 

At the 06 Toei bus stop, looking toward Shibuyabashi, March 27, 2008

The boys' first close encounter:  Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, March 28, 2008

A Jingumae side street we would walk down to get to school when the kids were smaller, near the Children's Hall in Shibuya

Nakameguro canal

 

When the blossoms fall away, they are replaced with lush green - this canal is such a gorgeous place, despite the surrounding architecture

 

Conor on Meiji-dori with Edmund Buddles, April 4, 2009

 Edmund and Conor on Shibuyabashi pedestrian bridge, heading for Ebisu station

Nature lover with big lens in Koishikawa Korakuen

Hanami in Yoyogi park, March 29, 2009

 Terry and Ichiro, friend from NYU biz school now living in Tokyo; Ichiro's family showed us how it's done

 

Boys were welcomed into a random ball game. Best thing about Yoyogi park: anybody can join in

Nakameguro, pretty in pink

Score! Dee & Tracey photograph the boys by the canal

with Nonna too

 Careful where you point that thing...

One of my favorite spots in all of Tokyo

The narrow lanes that run alongside the Nakameguro canal will be teeming with people this weekend now that the blossoms are out in (almost) full force. We were lucky to be there yesterday, on a relatively quiet Wednesday. The restaurants have already set up special takeaway operations out on the sidewalk and other food vendors (chicken shwarma truck!) have moved in for the occasion.

charting beauty

This is not good! This graphic shows the percentage of cherry blossoms in Tokyo that will come out and stay out and just be their pretty little selves over the next three weeks. See that middle bit? The peak? Those days in early April when the city will look like it's been dusted by the gods with pink confetti? Like a giant cotton candy machine exploded? On those days, we will be in Vietnam. Which is a great thing, amazing opportunity for all of us, blah blah blah, but, well, shit.

The website sakura.weathermap.jp shows what's happening with the blossoms and when across the whole country. Sigh.