PHOTOS: Picnicking Under Japan's Cherry Blossoms
Cherry blossom season is here. Viewing the delicate flower is a seasonal excuse in Japan for friends, family and colleagues to get together and enjoy food and beers underneath the full bloom of sakura.
Take a virtual tour of hanami [花見], or the activity of flower viewing, via the following collection of Creative Commons-licensed photos:
Walking underneath the full bloom of sakura can feel like walking through a floral tunnel. Photo taken April 5, 2014 by Flickr user coniferconifer. CC BY 2.0
Cherry blossoms at Chidorigafuchi park near Kudanshita station in Tokyo. Photo by Manish Prabhune. The complete photo essay with travel directions can be found at website JapanTravel. CC Attribution License
People eat underneath the cherry blossoms. Photo taken in Yawata, Kyoto on April 1, 2014 by Flickr user Japanexperterna. CC BY-SA 2.0
A cherry petal accidentally fell into a drink. Photo taken April 5, 2014 by Shogo Nozaki. CC BY-NC 2.0
People lay out a tarp at Akashi Castle park. Photo taken April 3, 2014 by Flickr user Manuel Cansaya Jauregi. CC BY-SA 2.0
People sleep on a tarp. It's common to see people napping under the cherry blossoms after so much drinking. Photo taken April 3, 2014 by Flickr user James Hadfield. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
A dog enjoys the outdoors. Taking your puppy to a park where cherry blossoms are in bloom will make for great photo ops. Photo taken April 6, 2014 at National Show Memorial Park by Flickr user luckyno3. CC BY-NC 2.0
Flickr user y.ganden spotted a Japanese Bush Warbler in the blooming sakura trees. CC BY-NC 2.0
Strong winds and spring showers down cherry blossom petals. Photo taken by Flickr user coniferconifer. CC BY 2.0
A path is covered in cherry blossom petals. Photo by flickr user y.ganden. CC BY-NC 2.0