Cherry Blossom season in Japan means that for a month or so you can not go anywhere without somebody commenting on how nice the blossoms are..it is very infectious and I caught myself a few times looking for the tree most in bloom...

During Hanami it is traditional to picnic under the blossom trees and there are many places that are specifically planted for this purpose, like along the river banks and in the parks...

of course the stereotypically conservative Japanese dont just have a nice quiet picnic they get rolling drunk on sake in public places in the middle of the day....another of the bizarre contradictions that exist within Japanese culture....

The Botanic Gardens also has night viewing, lighting the trees from underneath... similarly this appreciation of nature is contrasted with covering the rest of the gardens in garish christmas-style fairy lights....very very strange....