A man views cherry blossom trees in full bloom at Meguro River, on April 1, 2014 in Tokyo, Japan. Chris McGrath / Getty Images
A man views cherry blossom trees in full bloom at Meguro River, on April 1, 2014 in Tokyo, Japan. Chris McGrath / Getty Images
A man walks along the river boardwalk under cherry blossom trees in full bloom at Meguro River, on April 1, 2014 in Tokyo, Japan. Chris McGrath / Getty Images
A man walks along the river boardwalk under cherry blossom trees in full bloom at Meguro River, on April 1, 2014 in Tokyo, Japan. Chris McGrath / Getty Images
Locals enjoy viewing cherry blossoms in full bloom from a bridge over the Kanda river in Tokyo, Japan, 31 March 2014. Franck Robichon / EPA
Locals enjoy viewing cherry blossoms in full bloom from a bridge over the Kanda river in Tokyo, Japan, 31 March 2014. Franck Robichon / EPA
A man takes a picture of cherry blossoms at the beginning of the cherry blossom season in Tokyo March 30, 2014. Yuya Shino / Reuters
A man takes a picture of cherry blossoms at the beginning of the cherry blossom season in Tokyo March 30, 2014. Yuya Shino / Reuters
A woman poses with her dogs in front of cherry blossom trees in full bloom along the Meguro River, on April 1, 2014 in Tokyo, Japan. Chris McGrath / Getty Images
A woman poses with her dogs in front of cherry blossom trees in full bloom along the Meguro River, on April 1, 2014 in Tokyo, Japan. Chris McGrath / Getty Images
People enjoy viewing blizzard of falling cherry blossom petals in full bloom in Tokyo, Japan, 01 April 2014. Kimimasa Mayama / EPA
People enjoy viewing blizzard of falling cherry blossom petals in full bloom in Tokyo, Japan, 01 April 2014. Kimimasa Mayama / EPA
People visit Ueno Park to look at the cherry blossom on March 29, 2014 in Tokyo, Japan. Keith Tsuji / Getty Images
People visit Ueno Park to look at the cherry blossom on March 29, 2014 in Tokyo, Japan. Keith Tsuji / Getty Images
A young girl looks out at cherry blossom trees in full bloom at Meguro River, on April 1, 2014 in Tokyo, Japan. Chris McGrath / Getty Images
A young girl looks out at cherry blossom trees in full bloom at Meguro River, on April 1, 2014 in Tokyo, Japan. Chris McGrath / Getty Images
The group of people have a picnic under a cherry blossom trees at Sumida Park in Tokyo, Saturday, March 29, 2014. Eugene Hoshiko / AP photo
The group of people have a picnic under a cherry blossom trees at Sumida Park in Tokyo, Saturday, March 29, 2014. Eugene Hoshiko / AP photo

Lifestyle

In pictures: Hanami in Tokyo, Japan

Olive Obina

April 02, 2014

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Thousands of people have gathered across Tokyo to take part in “Hanami” (flower-viewing parties) the centuries old tradition of picnicking under a blooming Sakura tree.

Japan