This is a guest post by Rose Witmer (text) and Michael Lynch (photos). To guest post on Go Backpacking, please read more here.

The coming spring heralds the dawn of the Sakura season, also known as cherry blossom season, in Japan. Tourists come from all corners of the world to view the snow-white blossoms blooming.
However, long before the Sakura arrives on the mainland, Okinawans endure the Siberian winds that chill the cherry blossom trees in January, coaxing the island's uniquely deep pink petals from the barren branches. Soon, the rough brown is softened by a blush of pink, foreshadowing warm spring days.

The Japanese white-eye, a small green bird with a distinct white ring around its eyes, flits from one blossom to another, using its long, curved beak to sip nectar from the cup of each flower.
Sometimes hanging upside down, hiding behind pink branches before zipping off to another bloom, these birds have been depicted in many paintings and poems when celebrating the season of the Sakura.
The Sakura serves as more than an alluring display of pink buds. Many view its brief and beautiful existence as a reflection of life itself and has been an inspiration throughout Japanese history.
The proud Samurai found a special connection with the blossoms. These warriors saw the Sakura's life as one akin to their own, full of divine elegance but cut down early by sharp winds; their existence was both fleeting and radiant.
Not only warriors but also poets, artists, philosophers, kings, and peasants all spent what little time they could beneath the Sakura trees, watching the snow of petals whirl in the air as the wind ripped them from their branches.
Today, the Sakura inspires photographers to mountain cherry blossoms to capture that perfect moment. The pink petals begin to glow as the sun peaks out from behind a cloud, its rays streaking down in golden shafts of light. Drunk on pollen, a lazy bee drifts to a flower while the birds flit from branch to branch. Click. An image of beauty made eternal with film.
The Hanami, or flower viewing party, is a long-held tradition special to the Sakura season. Families and old friends gather together over blue tarps with neatly packed picnic lunches or bentos and plenty of sake for those old enough to indulge. Wrapped in thick jackets, the cold is barely noticed as the time spent reminiscing and laughing with friends and loved ones warms the air.
Festivals also add to the excitement of the season. Tents line the streets with paper lanterns, illuminating the various festival foods, such as grilled noodles, meat, and octopus.
Children run to their parents begging for money in hopes of winning a prize from balloon and bottle games, and old men sit along benches enjoying the aura of the season and the lively excitement in the air. Of course, with any Okinawan festival comes the display of traditional dances and the energy of the Eisa, a dance of drums unique to the Ryukyu Islands.
Most Sakura festivals will end with a display of fireworks. However, even when a village cannot afford expensive pyrotechnics, the Okinawan spirit remains tenaciously undefeated.
One year, instead of loud cracks and bright flashes lighting up the night sky, a group of truckers decided to provide the festival's grand finale. Loud rumbling drew the village's curiosity as enormous trucks dressed in strings of Christmas lights and neon fluorescence made their way down narrow Okinawan roads. It may not have been an impressive display of color and fire, but it added a unique excitement to the night's end.
As February passes in Okinawa, the winter breezes tear the last petals from their safe haven and carry them on whirling paths to join the carpet of pink below. The Sakura's life of climbing into dense jungle mountains, its soft pink petals contrasting with the spreading leaves of the tropical palm trees, is past. The footsteps of pink scattered throughout city parks and lining paths to quiet shrines fade to blend with the lush jade of the coming tropical Spring.
The few remaining petals are replaced by vibrant Irish green leaves that push through from beneath the flower. Only memories and photographs prove the fleeting life of the cherry blossoms. The contrast of pastel pink to vibrant green is so astounding that it leaves one wondering if Sakura had ever existed. Life continues.
However, the Sakura celebrations are only the first of many to come. Sakura is an unofficial national symbol and a source of pride for the Japanese; Okinawa is honored to see it first. Once the Sakura season in Okinawa ends, many will flock to travel agents to book flights to the mainland in preparation for their spring Sakura to bloom in April and May, leaving a trail of snowy white blossoms up Japan's main island.
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Rose Witmer is a young traveler at the beginning of a long journey around the world. She currently lives in Okinawa, Japan, and explores the jungles and mountains when she is not enjoying Japanese city life. She loves to write and never leaves home without a camera and a notebook. You can find her on Matador Travel and her new blog, Samayou Meigui.
Mike Lynch is a photographer in Okinawa, Japan. For more info, visit www.mikesryukyugallery.com
Phil says
Excellent post, might be the best eye candy I've seen on this blog yet!
Dave says
Hey Phil, glad you liked the photos. Michael and Rose are working on another post, so stay tuned!
RyukyuMike says
Phil,
Thanks for the generous compliment.
Dave,
Thanks for makin' me look good !
Cheers,
Mike
inka says
Mike these pictures are a delight. Love the little bird. I agree with Phil, eye candy is right.
Sabina says
I love these Sakura photos! Beautiful!
RyukyuMike says
Inka and Sabina,
Y'all look like twins in the comments, here. Hey, look like me, too. We gotta get some bio pics for this site !
Thanks for the compliments and tell all yer friends to come on over and visit, too.
Cheers,
Mike
Sophie says
Beautiful beautiful photos. That bee...
Dave says
Hi Sophie,
Thanks for stopping by and glad you enjoyed Mike's photos.
Dave says
Hi Sophie,
Thanks for stopping by and glad you enjoyed Mike's photos.
czapsy says
I actually admire your style. Would it not be feasible that you could contact me together with your graphic?
What Way Today says
Oh the beauty of the Sakuras! Brilliantly captured in this post by the way. We went 'ast year and have some tips for people visiting Japan this year for the cherry Blossom season.
http://whatwaytoday.com/see-cherry-blossom-trees-japan-2016/
Dave says
Thanks for sharing. Please use your real name when leaving comments, not your blog's name.