Cherry blossoms bloom in Tokyo

Really? I didn't see any in bloom walking around today

Japan....an amazing country. 4 seasons....or is it 6? Cherry Blossoms. Government officials "proclaiming" the start of the blossoms, or the start or end of the rainy season. Have they nothing better to do? Its that wacky time of year again, folks. Experience the "uniqueness" of Japan. Well, enjoy the blossoms, anyway, and try your best to ignore the mass drunkenness. As for the comment about them being early because of "global warming?" Bunkum.

Geesh, realist... Let the folks enjoy themselves, neh?

Realist, I agree with you on the 'global warmining' bunkum bidness, but I think the PC true believers want us to use 'climate change' instead 'cause their paradigms on this issue change faster than their underwear.

Moderator: Readers, please stay on topic.

Usually a lot more revelry than blossom gazing. I don't need an excuse to enjoy drinking all day in the park!!

I really look forward to seeing the cherry blossoms along the Sumida River on the way to Asakusa.

enjoy the blossoms, the sweet smell of fresh vomit, the endless piles of trash outside and inside every park. Loud parties until midnight. The stench of old beer. And the tobacco... Got to love this season.

Hanami is great - easily the best festival in Japan - and it's everywhere so you don't need to travel! Sure, it is overcrowded, and sure you will see more than your fair share of vomit/paralytically drunk people in public places. But it's a time when people just seem happy - I guess after the awful winters we get here. Oh, and the mind-numbing amounts of alcohol consumed by the locals has something to do with it, too! Bring on Hanami and lets all "watch cherry-blossoms" together!

It will be another six weeks before they bloom in Hokkaido.

I'm surprised they haven't released the press releases about about how the trees all have a sickness and might die soon, they normally do it every year.

The first flowers have bloomed earlier in recent years, triggering concerns of global warming.

But anyway, this time of the year is the best, so long as you don't have kafunsho.

Love the cherry blossoms - created the perfect romantic setting for my future wife. We had many other "perfects", but this was one of the first. Romance helps obscure the fact that I'm a butthead - and if you celebrate every year - you get to reset the butthead meter.