My cherry blossom obsession


It's a pretty well known fact that i'm obsessed with cherry blossoms (sakura さくら in Japanese). I think it started when I was first living in Japan about 10 years ago and my mum came to visit during cherry blossom season. We followed the blossoms from Tokyo, down to Kyoto, Hiroshima and Osaka. I was even lucky enough to have a cherry blossom tree in the backyard at my last house in Melbourne, and I was obsessed with it! Now that I'm living in Japan again, this time in Okinawa, my cherry blossom obsession has come back in full force. Last year we were lucky enough to go to Kyoto for full bloom and this past January we went in search of the Okinawa cherry blossoms at Nakijin Castle ruins. I even took a million photos of the blossoms on the few trees in my neighbourhood.

Another great part about the cherry blossom season in Japan (which is just about to start on the mainland) is all the limited edition cherry blossom items. Different beers have limited edition cans, Starbucks has a sakura latte, sakura flavoured ice creams come out as well as chocolates and other snacks! Pepsi even has a sakura flavour this year (it's not that great.... I tried it). Japan really makes the most of the short cherry blossom season!

The most awesome thing I have found this year though is the cherry blossom range of Nike shoes available! As soon as I saw them, I knew I must have them! I even bought a pair for my mum, who is equally as obsessed with Cherry blossoms as I am. At the moment i'm torn between preseving their pristine condition and wearing them constantly because I just love them!

Next week i'm off to Tokyo for a few days, and am hoping to catch the beginning of the bloom up there and take part in some hanami (cherry blossom viewing) in Ueno Park. No doubt I will also sample a decent amount of cherry blossom themed products because I just can't resist. No doubt you can expect more cherry blossom posts in the near future.


Cherry blossom Nike Roche
Yes, I own these...

Cherry blossom full bloom in Kyoto
Full-bloom in Kyoto
Sakura pepsi
Sakura Pepsi

Sakura chocolates
Cherry Blossom chocolates I found in Daiso

Orion Ichiban Sakura
Limited edition Okinawa beer. Does not taste like cherry blossoms.

Sakura Mochi ice cream
Sakura mochi ice cream

Sakura Cream soda
Sakura cream soda
Sakura cookies
Sakura cookies at Nakijin Castle ruins
Sakura Ice cream cone
Sakura ice cream

Okinawa cherry blossom 
Sakura product display
Cherry blossom display at Onna-no-eki おんなのえき

Cherry blossoms in Kyoto

Kyoto Cherry Blossoms


While we were in Kyoto for the day, we found a quiet spot in Maruyama Park, away from the crowds for some O-Hanami (Cherry blossom viewing). We went to a conbini (convenience store) on our way there and bought a picnic mat and other essentials, and relaxed for a good hour under the blossoms. Sorry in advance for the sakura spam below. I have many MANY more photos of cherry blossoms but managed to limit the post to the below:



We found a lovely spot for Hanami in Maruyama park

Griff finding great hiding spots for his cars

Cherry Blossoms


Kyoto cherry blossoms
We were lucky to get blue skies in Kyoto because it was raining on the days either side





Kamo River Cherry blossoms kyoto
Kamo river runs through central Kyoto

A lovely stream in a Kyoto backstreet

Family Selfie under the Sakura

Griff love's this cat character at the moment.

This guy was making some sort of delicious custard filled parfait fish shaped pastry

There were lots of food stalls at Maruyama Park for the Hanami

Cherry blossoms maruyama park Kyoto
This is a famous weeping cherry blossom in the centre of Maruyama Park.
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Cherry blossoms in Kyoto add even more beauty to an already beautiful city! This is a bucket list Japan experience. Visit my blog to find the best places to check them out!