Spring has finally arrived in Tokyo and it is always my favorite time of year because the cherry blossoms are as vibrant as ever. They bloomed about a week early with peak bloom happening last weekend. Pink trees popping up everywhere and now it‘s snowing pink sakura petals across Tokyo.
Spring made a few attempts of arriving but then it turned cold again. The weather has been weird. It was snowing less than 2 weeks ago in Tokyo and many parts of the world.
On a serious note for a second, March was suicide awareness month in Japan where the third highest suicide rate in the world exists. Last year, 21,140 people died by suicide here. Suicide is also the most preventable cause of death in the world. One of my blog readers Brian reached out to me to see if I could collaborate with TELL, aka Tokyo English Lifeline, to help them to get their message out. I’ve spent some time this month connecting them with people who can help them spread their message.
TELL is an NPO that runs Japan‘s only certified, English-language lifeline. Last year, it fielded more than 7,800 calls from people in need! It‘s 100% confidential, non-judgmental service. If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out. You are not alone.
Cherry Blossoms & Beyond in Tokyo
Now, on a more positive note, join me on a visual wonderland through the streets of Tokyo at Spring, so you can take in their luscious cherry blossoms and beyond.
Toritsudaigaku Station Cherry Blossoms
Train Station
Watch Out for Collisions
I always find the caution sign animations so extreme in Tokyo.
Pay Phone
Train Station
Super long escalator
Nakane Cherry Blossoms
Tokyo Police
Tokyo Bike Parking
Jiyugaoka Taxis
Toritsudaigaku Station Cherry Blossoms
Perfectly in bloom.
Alpha Beta Coffee Club
I’ve been speaking with one of the owners at ABC Coffee about printing off some of my pictures and hanging them up in the shop. I’m thinking four big 12 x 18 inch prints behind the main setting area and then a few smaller 8×12 inch prints around the shop. The shop is completely black and white so popping with a bit of color I think will look really nice. I’m meeting up with the owner tomorrow to discuss the details.
Misa at Alpha Beta Coffee Club
Nakameguro Cherry Blossoms at Meguro River
I made a few side trips while passing through Nakameguro in the past week to stop and walked under the cherry blossoms and take some photos. I lived in Nakameguro for about 5 years so this is a familiar area to me. It’s been about 8 years since I lived here and it has changed a lot. The cherry blossom viewing has really gotten commercialized and with it brought huge crowds, even during the weekdays. It’s still very beautiful to walk around and enjoy the scenes, food and grab a beer.
Nakameguro Cherry Blossoms at Meguro River
Nakameguro
Nakameguro Cherry Blossoms at Meguro River
Nakameguro Cherry Blossoms at Meguro River
Nakameguro Yakitori
At Meguro River
Nakameguro Cherry Blossoms at Meguro River
Nakameguro Cherry Blossoms at Meguro River
Thanks for stopping by today. Also check out the Tokyo page as well as the Japan page for more happy reading.
Dave Powell is a photographer based in Tokyo, Japan who shoots with a Leica M9. He is the publisher of ShootTokyo, a friendly daily photography blog which he calls a “labor of love.” You can follow him on Twitter @ShootTokyo and visit his photo blog site at http://www. shoottokyo.com.
