The Japanese practice of flower viewing — or hanami — has been a national ritual since the Heian period. For about a week each spring, the entire country pauses to picnic beneath the cherry trees, and meteorologists track the sakura zensen (cherry blossom front) as it sweeps from Kyushu in the south to Hokkaido in the north.

Pro tip: Ueno Park in Tokyo is iconic but crowded; the Philosopher’s Path in Kyoto is more atmospheric at dawn. Track JMA’s official forecast — peak bloom (mankai) lasts only 3-4 days. Yozakura (illuminated night blossoms) is even more magical.