One of our favorite things about Japanese cuisine is the way it reflects the seasons through ingredients and presentation.

Spring is sakura (cherry blossom) season, a particularly festive time of year in Japan when friends and family celebrate with o-hanami (flower-viewing) parties under the trees.

The five-petaled pink cherry blossom is the symbol of the season, and references to sakura add a layer of visual delight to many foods this time of year.

They are found in wagashi (traditional Japanese confections) …

…sakura mochi, a pink rice cake with a red bean paste center that’s wrapped in a pickled cherry tree leaf…

…cherry blossom ice cream…

…and as decoration from everyday bento lunch boxes to high-end kaiseki meals.

Cherry blossom season is a special and unforgettable time to travel in Japan.

Contact us to start planning a private Japan tour.