Culture clash
The cherry blossom is the symbol of Japanese culture. Today, it is celebrated the world over.
Bento, beer & sake
The Japanese start celebrating the cherry blossom in late March with hanami, a traditional picnic in the park. Spots beneath the loveliest trees are highly coveted and often reserved with plastic tarps first thing in the morning.
North german privilege
Hamburg, Melbourne and Washington are the only cities outside of Japan that are permitted to crown an official cherry blossom princess. Hamburg, which has 5000 Japanese flowering cherry trees, puts on a grand firework display in May.
Southern belle
Macon, a small town in the U.S. state of Georgia, is the unofficial cherry blossom capital of the world. Starting in mid-March, it is engulfed in a sea of blossoms. The Cherry Blossom Festival includes concerts, parades and an air show.
