Sakura or Cherry Blossom (Japanese kanji & Chinese character: 桜 or 櫻; katakana: サクラ) is the Japanese name for ornamental cherry trees, Prunus serrulata, and their blossoms. Cherry fruit (known as sakuranbo) come from a different species of tree.
Sakura, a well-known and ubiquitous symbol of Japan, are represented on all manner of consumer goods, including kimono, stationery, and dishware. Cherry blossoms are an enduring metaphor for the ephemeral nature of life, and as such are frequently depicted in art. There is at least one popular folk song, originally meant for the shakuhachi (bamboo flute), titled "Sakura", as well as a number of pop songs. "Sakura" is also a common Japanese female name.
Sakura is indigenous to the Himalayas and in east Asia such as China, Korea and Japan. Japan has a wide variety of sakura - more than 305 species can be found there. This is due to the fact that many of them were artificially hybridized or grafted by the Japanese many centuries ago.
Japan's most beloved variety is the Somei Yoshino. Its flowers are nearly pure white, tinged with the palest pink, especially near the stem. The flowers bloom, and usually fall (or "scatter", 散る [chiru], in Japanese) within a week, before the leaves come out. Therefore, the trees look nearly white from top to bottom. The variety takes its name from the village of Somei (now part of Toshima in Tokyo). It was developed in the mid- to late-19th century at the end of the Edo period and the beginning of the Meiji period. The Somei Yoshino is so widely associated with cherry blossoms that jidaigeki and other works of fiction often depict the variety in the Edo period or earlier; such depictions are anachronisms.
Other categories include yamazakura, yaezakura, and shidarezakura. The yaezakura have large flowers, thick with rich pink petals. The shidarezakura, or weeping cherry, has branches that fall like those of a weeping willow, bearing cascades of pink flowers.
Number of petals: 
Most wild trees, but also a lot of cultivated tree varieties have blossoms with five petals. However, some species have blossoms which consist of more than five petals, such as ten, twenty or more. Trees with blossoms of more than five petals are called yaezakura.
Color of the blossoms: Most varieties produce lightly pink to pure white blossoms, but there are also cherry trees with dark pink or slightly yellowish blossoms. The color of the blossoms of some varieties is also changing while they are in bloom, from white to pink, for instance.
The fresh leaves: In case of early blooming trees, the fresh leaves usually do not appear until after full bloom, which gives the trees an attractive, homogenous look while they are in full bloom. In case of later blooming trees, the leaves usually appear before the blossoms, giving the trees a more heterogeneous look. Furthermore, the color of the fresh leaves differs between the varieties. In most cases, the fresh leaves are green, coppery brownish or something in between.
Time of blooming: Most cherry tree varieties carry blossoms in spring. However, there are a few varieties, which bloom in late autumn and during the winter months. Yaezakura, i.e. cherry trees with blossoms of more than five petals, are typically the last ones to open their blossoms, about two to four weeks after most five-petaled species.
Somei Yoshino (Yoshino Cherry)
late March, early April
Cultivated during the Edo Period, the Somei Yoshino is by far the most numerous cherry tree in Japan. Somei Yoshino trees come with slightly pink, almost white, 5-petaled blossoms.
Yamazakura
late March, early April
Yamazakura is a wild, native cherry tree variety of Japan, which typically grows in mountainous areas. The blossoms are slightly pink and have five, relatively small petals.
Shidarezakura (Weeping Cherry)
late March, early April
Shidarezakura are weeping cherry trees, i.e. they have drooping branches. There are trees with blossoms of five petals and trees with blossoms of more than five petals. The latter are called Yaeshidarezakura.
Ichiyo
mid April
The Ichiyo has about twenty, lightly pink petals per blossom. The fresh leaves are green.
Ukon
mid April
The Ukon has about 10-20 petals per blossom and coppery leaves. Ukon trees are easily recognized by their blossoms' characteristic, yellowish color.
Kanzan
mid to late April
Among the many yaezakura varieties, the Kanzan is one of the most numerous. One Kanzan blossom consists of as many as 30-50 pink petals. The fresh leaves are coppery brown.
Fugenzo
mid to late April
The Fugenzo is a late blooming yaezakura with about 30-40 petals per blossom. White to slightly pink when they open, the blossoms turn into a darker pink over time. The fresh leaves are coppery brown.
Shogetsu
mid to late April
The Shogetsu is a late blooming yaezakura with relatively large, white blossoms of about 20-30 petals. The fresh leaves are green.
Kikuzakura (Chrysanthemum Cherry)
late April, early May
The Kikuzakura has as many as one hundred petals per blossom! It is also one of the latest blooming trees. In fact, by the time the blossoms are in bloom, the fresh leaves have already developed almost completely and are somewhat hiding the blossoms
Form of the tree: Cherry trees display various growing habits and come in different shapes and forms: triangular, columnar, V-shape, weeping, flat-topped, etc. Weeping cherry trees are called shidarezakura
Annually, the Japanese Meteorological Agency and general public track the sakura zensen, or Cherry-Blossom Front. Nightly forecasts follow the weather segment of news programs. The blossoming begins in Okinawa in January, and typically reaches Kyoto and Tokyo at the end of March or the beginning of April. Then it proceeds north, arriving in Hokkaidō a few weeks later. Japanese pay close attention to these forecasts. They will go to parks, shrines and temples with family and friends and hold a "flower viewing party" known as hanami (花見). Hanami festivals celebrate the beauty of sakura, and for many, it is a chance to relax and enjoy the beautiful view. Hanami custom in Japan dates back to many centuries ago. It is witten in Nihon Shoki (日本書紀) that the Hanami festival were already held in the 3rd century.
Most Japanese schools and public buildings have sakura trees outside of them. Since the fiscal and school year both begin in April, in many parts of Honshū, the first day of work or school will coincide with the cherry blossom season.
History of SakuraIn Japan, the sakura has always been a symbol of ephemeral beauty and closely associated with the samurai or bushi way of life. Life was considered brief and beautiful, much like a cherry blossom. This theme remains alive today and is often observed in pop culture, especially manga and anime. Music also works with the theme; for example, the band Kagrra often uses sakura in its songs and live shows for ambiance.
During World War II, the sakura served as a motivating symbol for the Japanese people. Japanese pilots would paint them on the sides of their planes before embarking on a suicide mission. A cherry blossom painted on the sides of the bomber symbolized the beauty and ephemerality of nature[1] The government encouraged the people to believe that the souls of downed warriors were reincarnated in the blossoms. Even now Japanese military and police use the cherry blossom in emblems, flags, and insignia instead of star.
Cherry Blossom Viewing SpotsChidori-ga-Fuchi/Chidori-ga-fuchi Minakami Park
Chidorigafuchi is one of the moats of a former Edo castle, current the Imperial Palace, boasting its beautiful scene as one of the 100 major cherry blossom-viewing spots in Japan.
Yasukuni Shrine
Yasukuni shrine has the three cherry trees which are standard for forecasting by the Meteorological Agency of the timing of cherry blossom bloom in Tokyo.
It holds "Sakura Matsuri (Cherry blossom Festival)" at the beginning of April (Mar/25 Fri -Apr/3 Sun.2005), which is attended by about 300,000 people, a lot of street stalls are open. There is also a doves house which has about 600 doves.
Shinjuku Gyoen
After shopping in Shinjuku take a break and walk across the lawn filled with about 75 types of cherry and plum trees in the 58ha area. Place of Shinjuku Gyoen is 5 minute walk from Shinjuku Station. There is an entrance fee of 200 Yen, and the park is only open between 9:00 and 16:30. You can enjoy verious kind of cherry blossoms for a long time since bloom period depends on the spices.There are French, British and Japanese gardens.
Sumida Park in Asakusa
This park in the Japanese old town has almost about a 1km row of trees along Sumida river on the side of Taito-ku ward. There is also a park across over the river on the side of Sumida-ku ward. You may enjoy the view from a the water bus ride. It holds a Sakura Matsuri(Cherry blossom Festival) in April 2/Apr3 and monthly antique market
Ueno Park
It has been a one of the major cherry blossom-viewing spots since Edo period. In the full bloom about 240,000 people come up there. In 53 square meters the 1200 cherry trees are lit up with lanterns in the evening. There are some historical, art museums, Takamori-Saigo Stature, shrines, zoos, and ponds. In the cherry blossoms season you might see people having parties in the evening, it's recommended that you go in daytime if you want to see cherry blossoms in a quiet atomosphere. It holds a Sakura Matsuri (Cherry blossom Festival) in April(Mar/19-Apr/24.2005), Natsu Matsuri (Summer Festival) in July-August(Jan/17-Aug/10) every year.
And about the other viewing spots, you can see at
http://www.paperlantern.net/sightseeing/cherry.html or
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2011_where.html
