80%

When cherry blossoms are said to be in full bloom, it refers to a state where about 80% of the flowers on the tree have opened. Depending on the region, they typically reach full bloom about a week after the first blossoms open, and about a week after reaching full bloom the petals begin to fall. Be sure not to miss the best timing!

Rose

Cherry blossoms belong to the rose family (Rosaceae), so they are related to roses. Although cherry blossoms and roses may not look very similar, cherry blossoms share the characteristics of the rose family, so they are considered Rosaceae plants. Incidentally, strawberries are also Rosaceae plants, just like cherry blossoms.

green

Cherry blossoms are usually pink or white, but there are also varieties with green petals. This cherry blossom is a cultivar called “Gyoikou,” and it typically blooms a little later than ordinary cherry trees. Be sure to look for it in your area!

5 pieces

Cherry blossoms basically have five petals. However, depending on the variety, some have ten petals, and some have more than a hundred. Cherry blossoms with the basic five petals are called single-flowered (hitoe), while those with six or more petals are referred to as double-flowered (yae) or chrysanthemum-flowered types.

100-yen coin

Cherry blossoms are depicted on the reverse side of the 100-yen coin. The cherry blossoms shown on the 100-yen coin are of the yamazakura variety. While cherry blossoms appear only on the 100-yen coin among coins, they are featured on all banknotes from the 1,000-yen note to the 10,000-yen note.

March 27

"Sakura Day" is on March 27. It was established in 1992 by the Japan Sakura Foundation, a public interest incorporated foundation engaged in the preservation and promotion of cherry blossoms. The reason it falls on March 27 is twofold: first, as a wordplay on sakura (3 × 9 = 27), and second, because it coincides with the solar term of the 72 microseasons known as "Sakura Hajimete Hiraku" (cherry blossoms begin to open).

sweet cherry

The most commonly seen cherry tree in Japan, the Somei Yoshino, basically does not bear fruit. However, the European sweet cherry produces red, round fruits known as cherries. In Japan, it can be found in parts of Hokkaido and the Tohoku region, but the tree originally comes from western Europe and northern Iran.