Chasing Sakura: From Seoul’s Beotkkot to Tokyo’s Hanami

The last time I saw cherry blossoms was in 2017 in Seoul. Spring there felt like a gentle excursion for the soul. I remember sitting quietly on a park bench in Yeouido Hangang Park, watching pale pink blossoms tremble in the breeze drifting across the Hangang River.

Koreans call cherry blossoms beotkkot (벚꽃), and that afternoon, the trees obliged by sending petals floating toward me—soft, weightless, and fleeting. I was deep in my K-drama phase then, and the slow cascade of petals instantly reminded me of springtime scenes from Hello, My Teacher, starring Gong Yoo and Gong Hyo-jin—still my personal gold standard for rom-com dramas.

The scent of pine trees from the park’s wooded section mingled with the sweetness of early spring flowers. The weather was perfect: cool enough for a cardigan, warm enough to linger. It was a Seoul-ful spring day—ideal for daydreaming or napping beneath a blossom-studded sky. If only that moment could be bottled.

🌸 From Beotkkot to Sakura

Cherry blossoms—sakura, or beotkkot—are Japan’s most cherished floral symbol and an enduring harbinger of spring. While the flowers bloom briefly everywhere, their cultural significance is best understood through hanami in Japan itself.

Earlier this year, during the first days of April, I traveled to Tokyo with a beloved college friend to experience this centuries-old tradition. Families, friends, and lovers gather beneath blooming trees to stroll, picnic, and quietly reflect on the fleeting nature of time.

The transient beauty of sakura has a way of opening old doors. As petals fell, we reminisced about university life—about youth, when energy came easily and diets were blissfully unmonitored. Much like that line from Taylor Swift's song 22, the spring of our lives held happiness, freedom, confusion, loneliness, misery, and magic all at once.

Now, as we edge toward 50—despite feeling eternally 22—it’s both humorous and sobering to admit we’re no longer spring chickens. Tokyo’s endless staircases and labyrinthine rail system made sure to remind us, gifting us random aches in hips and knees.

Still, I was grateful for the shared experience. Sakura has long symbolized friendship, and this trip carried an added layer of meaning. My friend was also searching for a childhood classmate named Sakura whom she hadn’t seen in 40 years, making the journey feel strangely providential.

🌧️ Tokyo’s Moody Spring

We arrived just in time for the predicted peak bloom—but Tokyo had other plans. Instead of postcard spring weather, we were greeted by kan no modori, Japan’s curious return of winter chill. Cold rain, gray skies, and single-digit temperatures lingered stubbornly.

Tokyoites weren’t donning pastel outfits. Instead, the city moved beneath a sea of transparent umbrellas, commuters eager to retreat home after long, demanding workdays. Yet even in the frenzy, Tokyo’s invisible order offered calm. There is something oddly meditative about standing shoulder-to-shoulder in a rush-hour train where everyone instinctively follows the rules.

We adapted quickly—layering up and purchasing our own ¥600 clear umbrellas from FamilyMart to blend in seamlessly. These umbrellas proved essential when crossing Tokyo’s busy pedestrian lanes, where crowds can feel like organized chaos.

Chasing sakura, I reminded myself, is like chasing the Aurora Borealis. You show up, wait patiently, and hope nature grants you a fleeting miracle. Between the two, I would still choose sakura.

🌿 Rikugien: Poetry in the Rain

Weather limitations forced us to simplify our itinerary and focus on gardens. Instead of Koishikawa Korakuen, we chose Rikugien Gardens in Komagome—often considered Tokyo’s most beautiful traditional garden.

Built in the early 1700s for the fifth Tokugawa shogun, Rikugien is an Edo-period strolling garden inspired by classical waka poetry. Rain followed us through camellia-lined paths, moss-covered slopes, and ancient pines glistening with dew. Mist rose gently from the earth as raindrops traced ripples across the pond.

A crow’s cry broke the silence. Ducks paddled happily through the rain, their whistles unexpectedly cheerful. From nearly every angle, the garden felt like stepping into a Chinese ink-wash painting. The arched sori-bashi bridges connected views that stirred quiet emotions—contemplation, melancholy, transcendence.

One shop I always look out for in train stations and malls is Aoyama Flower Market Tokyo. No matter the season, its floral arrangements are quietly captivating, and I almost always pause to admire the blooms. I was tempted to buy a simple greens-and-foliage mix, but this trip felt too short to linger. Still, I couldn’t help imagining how lovely it would be to adorn a hotel room with fresh flowers—an effortless touch of beauty and healing after a long day in the city. Next time I visit Japan, I’ve promised myself this small indulgence: a seasonal bouquet, chosen slowly and enjoyed without hurry.

🌸 Neighborhood Discoveries & River Walks

On the way, we stumbled upon Komagome Higashi, a small neighborhood park surrounded by clinics, apartments, and schools. With towering cherry trees, playgrounds, and whimsical stone paths, it felt like a quiet K-drama set—perfect for after-work conversations and unhurried moments.

Another highlight was our rainy walk along the Meguro River Cherry Blossom Promenade. Despite 7–8°C temperatures and persistent drizzle, visitors still gathered to admire the 800 Somei Yoshino trees lining the river. Cold and hungry, we retreated to a nearby FamilyMart for bentos and snacks before briefly exploring Atre Meguro, a welcome indoor refuge.

🌸 A Perfect Finale in Ueno

On our final day, Tokyo finally softened. Gray skies gave way to blue, and temperatures rose to a comfortable 18°C. We hurried to Ueno Park, arriving early enough to avoid overwhelming crowds.

The sakura were luminous. Petals drifted gently in the breeze. Cardigan weather returned. Walking beneath those trees felt impossibly cozy and sweet—one of those moments you wish you could pause forever.

No wonder the Japanese treasure this tradition.

Spring in Japan may be moody and unpredictable, but its magic is undeniable. Here’s to many more sakura picnics in the future.