SAKURA JINGU.

As most overseas tourists are already aware, the peak bloom for Japan’s cherry blossoms typically falls in late March or early April for places like Tokyo. However, this timeframe applies primarily to the Somei Yoshino variety of cherry blossoms. What many visitors don’t realize is that Japan is home to numerous other cherry blossom varieties (and for the record — no, they are not plum blossoms, since I know someone out there is thinking it). So, on that note, today, we’ll be exploring one such subspecies: the Kawazu-zakura, a vibrant pink, early-blooming variety, and a shrine in Tokyo called Sakura Jingu, which is renowned for them.