Sakura – Celebrating the Ephemeral

Unofficial national flower

From the end of March to late-April, Japan is coloured pink and white, and the whole country lives to the rhythm of nature. A phenomenon specific to Japanese culture - while Europe loves its roses, tulips and olive trees, it does not experience the fever that seizes an entire population at the sight of a blossoming flower. In Japan, the sakura trees have an almost sacred status, due as much to their beauty as to their symbolism. A true ode to nature awakening, the cherry trees mark the arrival of spring and renewal.

Hanami 花見: The joy of flower viewing

A celebration based on an ancient fertility rite from the 8th century, hanami is all about admiring the beauty of flowers in bloom. The Japanese picnic under the branches, festivals are held in numerous parks, the weather forecast devotes a special bulletin to the flowering and aesthetes from all over the world make the trip to the Land of the Rising Sun. During these moments of sharing, which invite contemplation as much as conviviality, families and friends savour seasonal pastries: wagashis (little cakes) in the shape of flowers, sakura-flavoured drinks, ichigo daifuku (mochis filled with fresh strawberries) and above all sakura mochis, whose sticky rice paste is flavoured with cherry blossom petals and wrapped in a real salted sakura leaf.

The fragrant treasures of Kyoto

Whilst the whole of Japan is full of sakuras to admire, Kyoto is an unmissable destination for enjoying this magical moment. The city is home to numerous temples, shrines and gardens where cherry trees thrive. Maruyama Park is particularly popular, with a magnificent weeping sakura lit up at nightfall, as is Hirano Shrine or the Philosopher's Path. Kyoto is also home to other exceptions of Japanese culture, which have inspired MUJI's two other new fragrances, Yuzu and Temple Moss. In the little village of Mizuo, recognised as the birthplace of yuzu, stands a forest of trees exuding the elegant aromas of this Asian citrus fruit. To the west of Kyoto, the garden of the Buddhist temple Saihoji, known as Kokedera (or temple of moss), exhales the delicate fragrances of around a hundred varieties of rare mosses.

The best places for Hanami in Europe

For Europeans unable to make the trip, there are many places to admire this enchanting spectacle. In London, Greenwich Park hosts Cherry Tree Avenue, lined with Pink Perfection cherry trees. In Paris, the Jardin des Plantes has several remarkable cherry trees, as do the Jardins du Trocadéro and the Gabriel Pierné public garden. Berlin is not to be outdone with its TV-Asahi-Kirschblütenallee, boasting a thousand cherry trees planted after the fall of the wall as a symbol of peace. Barcelona grows a few sakura in Ciutadella Park, Milan has about twenty in the Giardino Teresa Pomodoro, and Helsinki sees more than 150 Prunus sargentii in bloom at Roihuvuori Cherry Tree Park. To make the most of it, check the bloom forecasts for different locations, plan your visit early in the morning to avoid the crowds and, of course, don’t forget your camera to capture this special moment.

Mono no aware 物の哀れ: The awareness of the impermanence

Beyond traditions, delicacies and folklore, what makes the sakura flowers so beautiful and special is their symbolism. Dazzling and transitory, their presence perfectly embodies the Japanese aesthetic concept Mono no aware (物の哀れ): a certain nostalgia for the transient nature of life, a feeling tinted with happiness and a gentle sadness. During these few days and as the petals float away, each of us is reminded of our brief existence and the impermanence of things. This spectacle offers a moment of reflection and gratitude, encouraging us to cherish what exists here and now. In the whirlwind of modern life, the cherry blossoms encourage us not only to admire the beauty of nature, but also to reconnect with it - and with our loved ones.

*Sakura, Yuzu and Temple Moss, MUJI seasonal fragrances, available now.

Sakura – Celebrating The Ephemeral