godzilla and he's on fire

Just behind this lightning monster from the sea

is a symbol of beauty

A SAKURA tree

Yes

This is central tokyo's Yurakucho area and this tree is a great place for

businessmen and businesswomen

passed by to appreciate spring near the office

Just stay away from that creature on the other side

Let's mellow out a bit at Shinjuku-Gyoen National garden

It's a 200yen entry to this park located just 10 minutes on

foot from Shinjuku Station

Shinjuku-Gyoen has some the best spots to sit and relax

The grass is cut close and is soft and clean

perfect to laze around on a spring afternoon under the white blossoms

It's also a place for young couples in love

They're everywhere showing their affection

Shinjuku-Gyoen also has an amazing variety of cherry blossoms

In Japan there are over 200 cultivars of SAKURA trees

The SOMEI-YOSHINO is the most popular in Japan with its snow white blossoms

and it stands out with all the other varieties

The colors of the blossoms and the leaves vary

Many are labeled and on display here

Viewing [Tree]SAKURA night

is another way to appreciate the Sakura beauty and the Meguro River is

one of Tokyo's most popular destination

when the Sun Goes Down

The contrast between the dark sky and the illuminated

blossoms is striking

It appears as thpugh snow has fallen

and the trees are covered in white like a quiet winter evening

But it's just an illusion

Wandering the streets at night

along the Meguro River

is almost like walking among the clouds

It's magical experience

Across Tokyo Bay is Odaiba

where visitors get some of the best views of the city

In the spring you can add the cherry blossoms to that view

It's a treat you only get for about a week each year

With the blossoms, the skyline is just a little bit prettier than usual

Ueno Park is definitely the place to be after hours for night HANAMI goers

The park is fit with red lanterns that help accentuate

the blossoms above

The cherry blossoms truly fit this historic area Tokyo

and all urban distractions are absorbed by the beauty of the white flowers

from the SOMEI-YOSHINO SAKURA trees

The park is usually quite crowded

and it's hard to get a seat under the trees here

Low-level company workers

usually stake out a spot

early in the morning and are joined in the evening by the rest of the company

SAKURA have the power to bring a

corporate team together

Even the mighty salary man

going up I'm not immune to its beauty

It's worth noting help clean the parkside in tokyo

HANAMI goers know the drill

Separate your trash

and leave nothing behind

Beautiful when you come

Beautiful when you leave

That's the rule

The Sakura season is a time when many people go to Famous parks to picnic

underneath the cherry blossoms

But if you really wanna feel close to nature and connect with the SAKURA tree

I recommend going to your local park or somewhere near your house

Your hotel or your work

I asked a lot of my Japanese friends

Where is your favorites SAKURA tree?

and a lot of them told me

Right near their house or their office

Someplace where they go and they see the tree often.

It's quite personal to them

This is my favorite tree in my local park

At night when most of the hanami goers head home

I like to come out here with my light and really take a closer look

Take a step back and look at the whole tree

The concept of" MONONOAWARE "

Runs very deep with Japanese

It's essentially a deep feeling or sensitivity to something

A feeling the one that resonates with ANIME and Manga lovers

for example

Its deeply rooted in the Buddhist notion of impermanence

existence is in a constant state

of flux

This awareness heightens the appreciation of beauty

and brings on a great sadness when they pass

To know one feel the true beauty of the [Tree]SAKURA

like the japanese do

is to know Japan deep to its core

One of the world's largest urban centres and the heart of japan's economy and

politics

Tokyo

Even for just a week

shifts a little closer to the beauty of the natural world

It's definitely in time to be in the city