Every Spring, when cherry blossoms begin to bloom, Japan and Korea put on a completely different, gentle, slow and poetic appearance. It is not only the most beautiful season of the year, but also a time that makes everyone want to temporarily put aside the hurried pace of life to step into a space full of emotions.
Japan "more beautiful than imagined
During this spring trip to Japan, Mr. Tran Hai Dang (28 years old, Hanoi) decided to return to the place where he studied abroad. Although visiting familiar places such as Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara, Kobe and the Fuji Mountain area..., Mr. Dang has a completely different mindset of a distant traveler.
From the second half of March to the beginning of May, sakura - the symbol of the land of the rising sun - simultaneously blooms. The flower season covers the whole country with brilliant but still sophisticated pink tones, captivating both tourists and locals. Especially in northern cities such as Sapporo and Kushiro, the flower season is usually late, lasting from the end of April to May.
What surprised Mr. Dang was that the beauty of cherry blossoms is not immediately overwhelmingly beautiful, but it is a very unique delicate beauty. The flower canopies bloom brilliantly but still retain their gentleness and elegance, as if just a gentle breeze is enough to shake the whole space.
I remember most the moment when walking along the riverbank in Tokyo, Kyoto, on both sides were rows of cherry blossoms blooming pink and white, flower petals flying gently in the wind. Everything almost slowed down, peaceful to the point that I just wanted to stand there for a long time to admire, to admire," the male tourist felt.
Kyoto is the city that left the deepest impression on Mr. Dang. Originally, this city already possessed a characteristic ancient beauty, with small streets, wooden houses, now it has become more attractive amidst the blooming cherry blossoms. All blend together, creating a fairyland scene in a gentle light pink color. The beauty of spring in Kyoto is delicate and balanced.
Under the cherry trees, people sit together, spread tarpaulins, enjoy food, admire flowers and spend time together. In Japanese, this activity has its own name "hanami". The atmosphere is not noisy or bustling, but very gentle and close.
The Vietnamese male tourist also immersed himself in that space with simple meals such as sushi or bento boxed rice bought at the supermarket. In that poetic atmosphere, seemingly simple dishes become more special than ever. Mr. Dang realized that sometimes the experience is not about what to eat, but where to eat and in what moment.
Mr. Dang expressed: "For me, the moment when the land of cherry blossoms is "better than I imagined" is in an afternoon when light yellow sunlight shines through the canopy, petals fall wildly, everyone walks slowly, not at all hastily. In that moment, Japan is not only beautiful because of its scenery, but also because of the pace of life and how people cherish very small things.
Perhaps that is also why the cherry blossom season in Japan always leaves a very unique aftertaste in the hearts of tourists - not only because of the fragile beauty of the flower colors, but also because of the feeling of gentleness, slowness and rare moments of silence that make people want to live slower, to fully feel every moment of Spring.
Cherry blossom season in the land of kimchi
Speaking of the cherry blossom season in Northeast Asia, Seoul has also been a favorite destination for many Vietnamese tourists for a long time. For Ms. Nguyen Xuan Anh (31 years old, Hai Phong) - who is enjoying the flower season with her family for the first time, those Spring days are not simply a trip but also a journey through very difficult-to-name vibrations.
On their first day in Seoul, the couple took their young son to Yeouido Hangang Park. This is one of the famous flower viewing spots in the capital of the land of kimchi, with a flower street blooming brilliantly. Spring sunlight lens through each flower canopy, shining down on the ground, combined with gentle breezes making the petals fly wildly, creating a scene that is both lively and dreamy.
I like cherry blossoms the most in the Namsan tower area. From the top of the tower down to the Namsan library area, there are slopes planted with ancient cherry trees, the canopy is wide, full of flowers blooming brightly on the blue sky," the female tourist confided.
She did not hide her sincere feelings: "That beautiful moment I managed to save on the road to the Namsan library, deserted, flowers blooming brilliantly, clear blue sky and gentle warm sunshine. I filmed a beautiful video just like I imagined when I was little when watching Korean movies.
Even when Ms. Xuan Anh's family went right at the time when the flowers were most blooming, just a rain on the last day of the trip was enough to make the petals almost all fall off. Although there was a little regret, she still cherished the experiences that she and her family had gone through.
Whether it's a journey alone to find memories or a trip with family with very different priorities, the cherry blossom season leaves its own marks in the hearts of Vietnamese guests. Not only because of the fragile and elegant beauty of the flower colors, what remains deeper is also the vibrations when each person lives slowly, quietly in the middle of a brilliant spring.
