Twin cities in Asia to see sakura

Cherry blossoms in full bloom at the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden in Tokyo, Japan. Photo: Reuters/Issei Kato

Hanami (which means “viewing flowers” in Japanese) is the popular practice of cherry blossom viewing in Japan. It is enjoyed by both locals and tourists every year during the sakura season, which is currently taking place.

These flowers can be easily mistaken for other similar blossoms. However, cherry blossoms have certain factors that set them apart, including the shape of the petal, colour, and how they grow from the tree. Cherry blossoms have clefts at the tip of their petals. They are usually pinkish and sometimes white. Long stems attach the flowers to the branch from a single bud.