Page 170 - Off the Tourist Trail - 1000 Unexpected Travel Alternatives (Part 1 of 2)

166

NATURAL WONDERS FORGET NEW

ENGLAND’S FALL?

THE BUILD-UP New England has worldwide
renown as a place of fall beauty. Fiery hues
form the backdrop to a quaint, small-town
atmosphere brought about by the fact that most
places in New England are quaint, small towns.
Friendly locals, fantastic scenery, and enjoyable
Cherry Blossoms THE LETDOWN Once the leaves start to turn,
drives make leaf-peeping hugely popular.

in come the leafers – many visitors own a New
in Japan England cottage for the sole purpose of leaf-
viewing – and the sheer numbers make bona
fide tourist towns out of settlements that
otherwise lie empty. The typical tourist sees the
leaves, then races off to buy Chinese-made trinkets
vs New England’s Fall sold by shop owners who live out of state –
providing little benefit to the local economy.
GOING ANYWAY? Beat the crowds by
As beautiful as New England’s fall but with far fewer foreign tourists, the coming of the eschewing the tourist traps such as Bar Harbor,
cherry blossom in Japan is celebrated by everyone, from children to haiku poets Cape Cod, or North Conway. In addition, many
towns and states now tag locally made goods –
“Made In Maine” being one example – ensuring
that the bulk of your cash goes to the locals.
NEED TO KNOW in Japan sees the whole country getting in on the
act; not only are tourists in the substantial minority
LOCATION Good places for – unlike New England – but they’re actively
viewing blossoms include Ueno
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Park, Tokyo; Dankazura, encouraged to join in with the local celebrations
Kamakura; Heian Shrine, 4BQQPSP and not just spectate.
Kyoto; Himeji Castle, Himeji;
Dogo Park, Matsuyama 4FB PG +BQBO Many Japanese assume cherry trees, known as
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VISITORS PER YEAR +"1"/ sakura, to be unique to their homeland, or at least
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Most of Japan’s population +ŹFUTV to the East. While this is far from the case, only in
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DAYTIME ,BNBLVSB Japan is the arrival of the trees’ blossoms taken so
TEMPERATURE .BUTVZBNB ,ZPUP
Apr: 57°F (14°C) in Tokyo 1BDJmD 0DFBO seriously as to constitute a national obsession. ABOVE Crowds gathered at the Fall Festival, Massachusetts
Followed assiduously on national weather reports,
the sakura-zensen – cherry-blossom frontier –
The arrival of cherry blossoms brings to life an sweeps a pink wave across the country from south
iconic image of Japan past and present. Each year, to north, with locals frolicking in its wake at flower-
the pinkish-white clumps of blossom appear, as if viewing parties known as hanami.
fluted through the branches by some benevolent There are many popular places for a hanami – PRACTICAL INFORMATION
underground spirit – a timeless view, but also a Tokyo’s Ueno Park is a favorite spot, as is Takada
fleeting one, since the fragile flowers perish almost Park in Jōetsu – but the truth is that you’ll rarely be Getting There and Around next to Ueno Park, the hotel is
as soon as they arrive. far from one if the sakura-zensen is sweeping by. Though a hanami can be Tokyo’s cherry blossom focal
enjoyed almost anywhere in point (www.solarehotels.com).
While the fiery colors of New England’s falls With paper lanterns strung across the trees and
Japan, most international visitors When to Go
attract “leaf-peepers” by the bucketload, springtime mats laid out under the blooms in the manner of a will touch down at Narita Airport, The sakura-zensen spreads right
kindergarten picnic, it’s time for the serious located 35 miles (57 km) from across Japan from the south to
business of food and sake consumption – in such a downtown Tokyo. Foreign the north, usually starting in
conservative society, the opportunity to let one’s tourists will be able to make Okinawa in late February and
use of the Japan Rail Pass, hitting Hokkaido in May. Given
hair down is often taken with aplomb. Though
though this rare Japanese travel the vagaries of weather
many now follow the more practical modern
bargain can only be bought forecasting, it’s hard to plan in
maxim of hana yori dango (dumplings over outside the country (www. advance, though those arriving
flowers), there remain those who maintain the japanrailpass.net). in Tokyo or Kyoto for a couple of
hanami’s centuries-old purpose, a silent Where to Eat weeks in April should catch the
contemplation of the transient nature of beauty, Tokyo’s Sasanoyuki restaurant hanami action.
and of life itself – rare feelings indeed, in one of the dates back to the Edo period. Try Budget per Day for Two
its famous silky tofu at affordable US$300 per day for
world’s most hyperactive societies.
prices (tel. +81 3 3873 1145). accommodations, food,
The samurai may be long gone and the geisha
Where to Stay and travel.
incongruous in neon-soaked streets, but the
Chisun Hotel Ueno is a Website
fragile, ephemeral spirit of the cherry blossom good-value option. Located right www.jnto.go.jp/eng
ABOVE Locals enjoying the hanami festivities in Ueno Park, Tokyo continues to live on.

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