Aomori, Japan

by Ginny Ip

Sakura matsuri, or Cherry Blossom Festival, is widely celebrated in Japan during the spring months of March and April. Not only is sakura the national flower of Japan, but it also takes on added Buddhist meanings of morality, mindfulness and gratitude. As one saunters through lush tunnels of pink and white, one is reminded to live in the present moment and can forget – for a split second – the busy hubbub of modern city life.