How the Japanese cherry blossom ritual came to Germany
March 24, 2023
Germans are gearing up for cherry blossom season. The exotic pink or white-blooming trees made their way to Germany by various routes.
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In Japan, blooming cherry trees (sakura) are more than just a spring ritual. The cherry blossom symbolizes the bond between man and nature.
People celebrate the pink abundance with picnics under cherry trees and trips to places with the best view of the blooming flora — after first consulting special forecast maps with information about peak blossom times.
This integral part of Japanese culture is based on the philosophy of "mono no aware" — an appreciation of impermanence.
The blooms last for about ten days, a period that is also eagerly awaited in Germany.
Asian culture in Germany
"Among the branches of the cherry trees in bloom, no one is a stranger here," reads a small bronze plaque on a memorial stone in former East Berlin.
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At the site of the so-called "death strip" that ran parallel to the Berlin Wall to discourage escape attempts, Japanese citizens initiated and collected donations to plant a thousand cherry trees. The project celebrated the unification of East and West Germany in the early 1990s.
Since 1996, this long avenue of Japanese cherry trees has been known as Japaneck (Japanese Corner).
Supported by the TV Asahi Network, the trees were planted by the Japanese Sakura Organizing Committee, with the memorial stone marking the significance of a touching gesture.
There, too, the Japanese ritual of the cherry blossom festival signals the arrival of spring as people gather at Japaneck for a picnic under the blossoming cherry tree branches. Locals gather with Japanese and international visitors alike to enjoy the iconic spring celebration together.
Why travel to Japan for the cherry blossom festival?
The trees with the iconic pink and white blossoms can be found not only in Berlin, but across Germany.
At the most popular destinations, blossom barometers also indicate the best time for a visit.
The routes taken by these trees to different parts of Germany were many and varied.
Flowering cherries found their way to the then-German capital Bonn in the 1980s, when a municipal town planner decided in favor of the ornamental trees when another tree species proved unavailable.
Bonn now boasts a famous cherry blossom avenue that attracts hordes of both locals and international tourists.
Cherry trees in memory of Hiroshima
Hannover, which is Hiroshima’s twin city, also enjoys its annual cherry blossoms. There, the focus is on remembrance.
The Hiroshima Memorial Grove has 50 Japanese cherry trees and was inaugurated in December 1987.
By 1989, another 60 trees had been added to commemorate the 110,000 people killed by the atomic bomb in Hiroshima on August 6, 1945.
Each of the 110 cherry trees represents 1,000 victims.
Cherry blossom magic in Germany
Everyone wants to see the cherry blossoms in Bonn's Old Town. The amazing natural spectacle can be admired for only a few weeks each year and attracts tourists from around the world to the former German capital.
Image: DW/H. Mund
Tourist attraction
The romantic streets of Bonn's historic old city center are a popular tourist destination even without the pink flowering cherry trees. It features cast-iron lanterns, cobblestones, and classic old buildings decorated with stucco.
Image: DW/H. Mund
Tender beginnings
Cherry blossoms are very sensitive. The first flowers emerge slowly under the protection of the old branches. They do not like rain at all, and frosty night temperatures can easily harm the flowers as well. Since the weather in Bonn has been cooler than usual, the famous blossoms have turned up a bit late this spring.
Image: DW/H. Mund
Fluffy flower
Fortunately the old cherry trees have been pruned so high that no one can reach the blossoming cherry branches. Otherwise the precious trees would probably be looted by souvenir hunters. At this safe height, the fluffy pink flowers swing in the warm spring breeze.
Image: DW/H. Mund
Popular photo motif
It is not so easy to get the right perspective on the sea of flowers at a dizzying height. Old fashioned postcards are no longer in demand; the postcard motif is rather sent to friends and family via Facebook, Twitter and Co. There are even special cherry blossom blogs with the most beautiful pictures of these flowers from around the world.
Image: DW/H. Mund
Buds waiting for the sunlight
In the northern part of the Old Town, some of the cherry trees are still waiting to bloom. The many thick buds, however, promise particularly lush flowers this year. Historic guided tours to the French-inspired Old Town district are currently very popular with visitors.
Image: DW/H. Mund
The flower avenue
The Bonn street, known as Heerstrasse, has become famous for its cherry blossoms worldwide. It has been named one of the 10 most beautiful avenues in the world, and is popular in cherry blossom blogs. Many tourists, mainly from Asia and Australia, follow the blogs regularly in order to find out when is the right time to book tickets for Bonn.
Image: DW/H. Mund
Photographers' highlight
The roads have already been converted to one-way streets, while hundreds of amateur photographers constantly cause congestion in the Old Town. Everyone spontaneously waits and takes picture while crossing the street - spellbound by the beauty of the cherry blossom trees. some even use the old Roman milestone here as a tripod.
Image: DW/H. Mund
Selfie with sakuras
These four students have come from the neighboring city of Cologne to take a photograph in front of the pink cherry trees. Selfies with "sakura" branches - as they are known in Japanese - is a trend thats popular among young women. The selfie is immediately forwarded to friends via social media: "It's so romantic!"
Image: DW/H. Mund
Picturesque pink
The perfect motifs aren't hard to find in Bonn's Old Town. At each corner the cherry trees transform everything into a picturesque setting. The trees are not that old: They were planted in the 1980s.
Image: DW/H. Mund
Sky full of flowers
Now everyone is hoping for mild spring weather. Frosty nights could turn the pretty pink flowers into wilted brown petals. But in April, the weather in Germany tends to be finicky - so a wide range of temperatures are possible.
Image: DW/H. Mund
Party under the cherry blossoms
The celebration of Bonn's sakura blossoms culimates in an annual festival. Stands selling refeshments and nicknacks line the cobble stone streets in the Old Town as crowds push through under the heavenly pick "ceiling." One highlight is the cherry blossom cocktail, which is made with real petals.