Jaunted

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Blossom Gazing and Sake Drinking Delayed

The unpredictable blooming of cherry blossom trees must be a real source of frustration for the punctual, orderly Japanese. Last year, the blossoms arrived early; this year, the prediction is they'll bloom ten days later than normal.

That means that Tokyo should have cherry blossoms by March 26, Osaka by March 30, and the mountains of Nagano as late as April 16. One of the really beautiful spots to experience hanamizake--drinking sake while looking at cherry blossoms--is in Kyoto, which should have its first blooms by March 29.

If you can get your timing right, this really is a magnificent time of year to check out Japan, and you only need to learn one word of Japanese: kirei. It means "beautiful," and we promise you'll hear it from one end of Japan to the other when the cherry blossom flowers finally arrive.

Related Stories:
· Watch and Weep [SMH]
· Japanese Cherry Blossoms Abuse Schedule [Jaunted]
· Embedded Travel Guide: Osaka [Jaunted]

[Photo: skyseeker]