There are two most attractive sights in Japan throughout the year, one is the cherry blossoms in spring, and the other is the red leaves in autumn.

As a long and narrow island country, Japan has a large temperature difference between the north and the south and four distinct seasons.

The cherry blossoms in Japan bloom from south to north. In March every year, the cherry blossoms begin to bloom in Ryukyu, which was forcibly occupied by Japan. By the time they bloom all over the mountains and plains of Hokkaido, it is already early summer in June.

The red leaves move in the opposite direction from north to south.

While the fallen leaves are in full bloom and light snow is falling in Hokkaido, the Kyushu region at the southern tip of Japan is still in bloom.

As for why the Japanese love these two scenery so much?

The responses Ning Weimin received from the Japanese people he knew were almost unanimous.

That's because these two plants are dedicated to the world with very pure colors when they are at their most beautiful.

For example, when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, there are no leaves. As the Japanese say, they are "full of cherry blossoms."

When the maple leaves are red, they are as bright as fire, and they are not mixed with other colors.

They are all in line with Japanese aesthetics - single, simple and beautiful.

At the same time, both the flowering period of the cherry blossoms and the time the red leaves stay on the branches are very short.

It only lasts for about two weeks, and then they will wither away. It is also easy for people to feel affection and cherishment, and therefore cherish them very much.

Of course, because of this, you have to hurry up if you want to enjoy cherry blossoms or red leaves.

Otherwise, such beautiful scenery will be fleeting and you will only regret it.

There was no need for Matsumoto Keiko to take the initiative to mention this matter, Ning Weimin himself always kept it in mind.

Even out of compensation, he hoped that during the cherry blossom season in Tokyo, he could hold Matsumoto Keiko's hand and go shopping with her.

So after Qu Xiao’s mother was admitted to the hospital for medical treatment, the matter was settled, and Zhang Qiang and Cui Jian’s album recording was on track.

Ning Weimin took the initiative to mention this matter to Matsumoto Keiko, and made an appointment for a day, and decided that the two of them would make time to enjoy the cherry blossoms together.

It's just a pity that Ning Weimin still doesn't understand Japan's national conditions very well. He never expected the importance and persistence of Japanese people in cherry blossom viewing, so he didn't make the necessary preparations in advance.

So although his wish was good, things turned out to be a headache for him because there was no suitable place for him and Matsumoto Keiko to go to enjoy the flowers.

In the beginning, it was okay when the cherry blossoms were just blooming. When the flowers were about 30% to 40% in bloom, the number of people started to increase.

When the flowers are in full bloom, there will be so many people admiring them that it's a bit ridiculous.

It seems that every place in Tokyo where you can see more than a hundred cherry blossoms is overcrowded.

It’s truly the season of flowers in full bloom, and it’s even more complete.

There are crowds of people everywhere in Tokyo, and the streets are packed with people chasing cherry blossoms.

Not to mention free flower viewing spots like Ueno Park, Meguro River, and Chidorigafuchi, there is nowhere to go.

Even flower-viewing spots that require tickets such as Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, Rikugien Garden, and Asukayama Park are also overcrowded.

Moreover, the ticket price is doubled, 300 yen on weekdays and 800 yen during the cherry blossom season.

Who said Japanese people are highly qualified?

They still like to take advantage of others, and there is absolutely no ZB BBQ here.

To be honest, although Ning Weimin could predict in advance that there would be many people, he really didn't expect that there would be so many people.

The chaos in Japan is particularly similar to the May Day and National Day golden weeks in the future, when tourists from all over the country flock to the Forbidden City and the Great Wall in the capital.

Even without cars, tourists can cause traffic jams simply by walking.

And the weirdest thing is that there are so many people there not only on weekends, but also on weekdays.

Through TV news reports, Ning Weimin saw a huge crowd of people on the screen.

He couldn't figure it out, where did these people come from? Why did they look like mushroom farmers?

TM Japan has a population of just over 100 million, but it looks like they all go to Tokyo to enjoy the cherry blossoms!

Even so, you can’t even miss the class!

Don't tell me, he is still so evil.

What Ning Weimin thought was impossible was actually not far from the truth.

Although the extent is slightly different from what he estimated.

how?

It turns out that the Japanese cherry blossom viewing activity has existed since ancient times and has a long history.

It is generally believed that the cherry blossom banquet held in the palace in 812 during the Heian period is its origin.

At that time, as the envoys to the Tang Dynasty were abolished, plum blossoms no longer came east.

The idle Japanese royal family had no more plum blossoms to enjoy, so they found a new substitute - cherry blossoms.

Therefore, cherry blossom viewing in spring has become a regular annual activity in the Japanese palace.

In 1598, Toyotomi Hideyoshi held the "Daigo Flower Viewing Party" at Daigoji Temple in Kyoto, which became famous in history for its luxury and extravagance.

After entering the Edo period, cherry blossom viewing activities have expanded to the private sector and become a popular entertainment that even ordinary people in Japan can participate in.

Katsushika Hokusai's "Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji" vividly depicts the scene of Edo citizens enjoying flowers.

Moreover, according to Japanese traditional customs, Japanese people do not just watch cherry blossoms, but also eat, drink, revel, and get drunk.

Because the Japanese believe that only in this way can a bumper harvest and abundant food become a reality.

It is also worth mentioning that for contemporary Japan, the time when Tokyo’s cherry blossoms bloom is also very special.

The first reason is that the academic system of Japanese schools is relatively special.

Unlike the Republic of China where students start school in September and graduate in June, Japan starts school in April and graduates in March.

Then when the cherry blossoms bloom in Tokyo, classmates who have been together for several years will break up and go their separate ways.

Many lovers who have been in love for several years in college will also kiss each other goodbye under the cherry blossom tree, expressing the final sweetness and sorrow.

Secondly, Japan’s fiscal year is different from our country’s.

In Japan, it starts on April 1st and ends on March 31st of the following year.

Therefore, for most Japanese people, April 1st is not only the beginning of a new year, but also the beginning of a new life.

Elementary school students become middle school students, middle school students become college students, and college students graduate and enter the society, thus becoming social animals.

Moreover, regardless of companies, enterprises or government agencies, the annual personnel transfer is also completed during the cherry blossom season.

So some people have been promoted, some have retired, and some are about to be sent to work in other places or foreign countries.

So this season has become the time when Tokyoites gather the most.

Basically every company, every department of every company, will hold a party under the blooming cherry blossom tree and gather people to drink.

You can always see joy and tears under almost every cherry blossom tree.

That's not all. Don't forget that Japan's economic rise in recent years has also made Japan's retired elderly generally wealthy.

And precisely because of Japan's special long and narrow land, there is a time lag in the cherry blossom blooming period. Many Japanese elderly people who are healthy, have money and leisure have become "cherry chasers".

They hung up their cameras and walked around, chasing the cherry blossoms from the southernmost tip of Japan to the northernmost tip.

Tokyo is a very important stop on their journey, and almost every Sakura chaser has to come.

In addition, there are already a lot of foreigners in Tokyo, and they are also interested in such gorgeous cherry blossom scenery.

Nowadays, due to the appreciation of the yen, foreign capital from all over the world is pouring into this treasure land, and more foreigners are also sweeping in.

When all these factors come together, Tokyo's population will explode.

To say there are 100 million may be a bit exaggerated, but over 20 million is definitely nearly double the permanent population of Tokyo before the flower season.

To put it simply, today, although cherry blossom viewing is not a legal holiday in Japan, it has become a holiday that is not a holiday.

All social classes in Japan, from top to bottom, are willing to participate in this social event, and the excitement is almost equivalent to a carnival.

This has even formed a special economic model - Sakura Economy.

At this time of year in Tokyo, whether in department stores or supermarkets, cherry blossom branches are planted, exaggerating the pink color of the cherry blossoms.

Beverage companies have printed cans with cherry blossom patterns, and various drinks made from cherry blossoms have also appeared on the market.

There are also cherry blossom cakes, cherry blossom tea, clothes and bags made with cherry blossom patterns.

Merchants will also offer special sales during the cherry blossom season, and night markets for nighttime cherry blossom viewing will also be held throughout Tokyo.

Of course, the happiest thing is the parks, hotels, inns, restaurants, and travel agencies, all of which have increased prices, and the income can be tripled at most.

So in this case, if you want to watch the cherry blossoms bloom in Tokyo, you must send people to seize the land in advance.

In fact, for every company, this kind of physical work is generally the task of new employees of the company.

As the advance team of each company, these young men who have just left campus not only have to carry large plastic sheets, but also buy various beers, drinks, skewers, dried fish and other snacks, which are packed and ready to be put away just after the cherry blossoms.

When the time comes, go to enclosure.

And it will take at least a week.
To be continued...