In what is one of the most beautiful yearly events in the entire world, cherry blossoms began to bloom in the Japanese capital of Tokyo. The first flowers appeared on Monday on the cherry tree at the Yasukuni Shrine.
This year, the cherry blossoms began to bloom two days earlier than in 2014.
The blooming of the cherry blossom is one of the most amazing natural phenomena in Tokyo, Japan.
Above: Cherry blossom tree flowers are seen at a park in Tokyo on March 23, 2015.
Above: Cherry blossom tree flowers are seen at a park in Tokyo on March 23, 2015.
Above: A woman rides her bicycle past a cherry blossom tree in bloom at a park in Tokyo on March 23, 2015.
The first flowers in the country bloomed on March 21 in the city of Kagoshima in southern Japan.
Above: Cherry blossoms are pictured as they start blooming in Tokyo March 23, 2015.
Above: Cherry blossoms are pictured as they start blooming in Tokyo March 23, 2015.
On the northern island of Hokkaido, the cherry blossom season is expected to start in mid-May.
Above: Cherry Blossom at Inokashira Park.
Above: Cherry Blossom at Inokashira Park.
A cherry blossom is the flower of any of several trees of genus Prunus, particularly the Japanese Cherry, called sakura.
Above: A man takes photos of cherry blossom tree flowers in bloom at a park in Tokyo on March 23, 2015.
Above: A man takes photos of cherry blossom tree flowers in bloom at a park in Tokyo on March 23, 2015.
Cherry blossoms are thought to be native to the Himalayas. Now they are widely distributed, especially in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere in Europe, West Siberia, South Korea, China, Japan etc.
Hanami is the Japanese tradition of enjoying the beauty of flowers. In this case, flower almost always means cherry blossoms.
Above: A cherry blossom is pictured as it starts blooming in Tokyo March 23, 2015.
Above: A cherry blossom is pictured as it starts blooming in Tokyo March 23, 2015.
The blossom forecast is announced each year by the weather agency and watched carefully by those planning hanami.
In modern-day Japan, hanami mostly consists of having an outdoor party beneath the sakura during the day or at night.
Above: People take photos in front of a cherry blossom tree in bloom at a park in Tokyo on March 23, 2015.
Above: People take photos in front of a cherry blossom tree in bloom at a park in Tokyo on March 23, 2015.
