TOKYO – Spring officially arrived in Tokyo on Saturday (March 17) as Japan’s weather agency declared the start of the cherry blossom season, prompting viewers to party under the trees with cherry-related items flooding the capital.

Forecasters watching trees at Yasukuni Shrine said the city’s first blossoms had appeared, marking the beginning of two weeks in which Tokyo’s parks, temple grounds, schools and streets will explode in pinks and whites.

The meteorological agency said this year’s first blossoms appeared nine days earlier than average.

Source: Asia One