Sarah & Nick near the Imperial Palace Garden

Hanami - Springtime in Japan

---

April 22nd 2005
Cherry blossom season is Japan is truly beautiful. It lasts a short time and the locals certainly make the most of it. The term Haname has basically come to mean drink all you can under the shade of a cherry blossom tree. So, when in Rome… The Kiwi contingent celebrated Hanami at Yoyogi Park in central Tokyo. We had a great afternoon with a big group of people from all over the world, talking, ... read more

Asia » Japan » Tokyo

---

In 1603, a Tokugawa shogunate (military dictatorship) ushered in a long period of isolation from foreign influence in order to secure its power. For 250 years this policy enabled Japan to enjoy stability and a flowering of its indigenous culture. Fol... ... read more