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Cherry trees have a short life span -

Typically, cherry blossom trees only last about 16-20 years. But certain species have a much longer life expectancy, like black cherry trees, which can live up to 250 years.

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The petals and leaves are eaten -

The petals and leaves are first soaked in a salt solution, in a process known as shiozuke, to produce sakurazuke, which is the name for the edible leaves and petals.

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Blossom tea is also popular in Japan -

Sakurazuke leaves can also be put in hot water to create a cherry blossom tea. The tea is often drunk on special occasions, such as weddings.

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Picnicking beneath cherry blossom trees is a Japanese tradition -

The centuries-old custom is known as hanami, which means "flower viewing." Early texts hint that the tradition began with emperors and members of the Imperial Palace.

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Sakura -

Cherry blossoms are known as sakura in Japanese.

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Cherry blossoms symbolize renewal -

In Japan, cherry blossoms are a symbol of spring because it's seen as a time of renewal. But because the blooms are short-lived, they're also symbolic of the fleeting nature of life.

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They can be big -

The cherry blossom tree can grow anywhere from 15 to 30 feet (four to nine meters) high.

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Cherry blossom season in Japan -

Cherry blossom season in Japan is best appreciated between late March and early April. However, due to the geographical scope of the country, the blooming period actually covers around four months.

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They bloom earlier in some other regions -

In the subtropical islands of Okinawa in the south, cherry blossoms begin blooming in mid-January, with the best viewing time being around early February.

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Blooms in March -

The southern cities of Kagoshima, Kumamoto, and even Fukuoka on Kyushu start to see blooming during the last week of March, with peak bloom in early April.

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Further blooming -

The cities of Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara also see blossoms from March to April.

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Bloom in Tokyo -

For Tokyo and Yokohama, flowering tends to begin in the last few days of March, with full bloom in the first week of April.

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Each tree may only bloom for up to a week -

While cherry blossom season usually lasts about a month, each individual tree may only flower for about a week.

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The number of petals give the flowers their names -

For example, blossoms that have up to five petals are called hitoe. Flowers that have five to 10 petals are referred to as hanyae, and those with more than 10 petals are called yae.

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They're sacred -

In the Shinto religion, it's said that sakura hold sacred spirits or forces. And in Buddhism, cherry blossoms symbolize the ephemerality (the concept of things being transitory) of life.

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Japan's national flower -

The cherry blossom is Japan's unofficial national flower, and it appears on the 100 yen coin.

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Cherry blossom festivals -

Taking place throughout the entire country, these festivals are celebrated with hanami, parties, sake celebrations, and tea ceremonies.

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Cherry blossoms at night -

At nighttime, many cities and towns light up during the blossom festivals to create an ethereal atmosphere.

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The trees actually produce cherries -

Coming out in the summer after the blooms have disappeared, the trees produce small, sour tasting cherries. However, they're not edible for humans.

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The sakura are constantly mutating -

There are over 600 different species of sakura flower, including a number of hybrids, with different numbers of petals, colors, and sizes.

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The most popular cherry blossom -

The most popular bloom is the Somei Yoshino, which is a white flower with a hint of pink.

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There's a six-stage blooming cycle -

The six-stage blooming cycle is closely monitored to predict when the trees will be at full bloom. Each stage of the bud provides a countdown to the bloom.

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They're related to roses -

Cherry blossoms belong to the rose family, Rosaceae, which is composed of around 2,500 species in more than 90 genera.

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Japan is home to a 2,000-year-old sakura tree -

It's the oldest cherry blossom tree in Japan and can be found at the Jissou Temple in Yamanashi Prefecture.

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Scientists are working on creating a second Japanese cherry blossom season -

Botanists at Kyoto University have discovered a way of genetically modifying the sakura so that it blossoms in both spring and autumn. They made the discovery while trying to create a rice grain that could be harvested more than once.

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Sakurako is a popular name in Japan -

Ko means child in Japanese, and Sakurako, "child of the cherry blossom," is a popular female name.

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The Japanese year follows the blossom -

The new business and academic year in Japan begins in April with the blossoming of the trees. This gives people a chance to socialize and get to know each other during the celebrations.

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They have a distinct fragrance -

Cherry blossoms have been described as having a vanilla-like smell, which is mainly attributed to a chemical compound called coumarin.

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What to wear when viewing cherry blossoms in Japan -

While it can be sunny in spring, you should dress in layers, especially when going out at night, as the chill sets in.

Sources: (Go Tokyo) (Country Living) (Good Housekeeping) 

See also: Japanese recipe ideas that go beyond sushi

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