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Cherry-blossom viewing
In old Japan it was customary for people to go out of the towns in springtime and hold banquets under the trees. In the middle ages, cherry blossom parties became regular events; singing, dancing, eating and drinking, writing poems were all part of the occasion. Even today, crowds of people flock to places noted for their cherry blossom and hold parties beneath the trees. Yoshino in Nara Prefecture and Ueno Park in Tokyo are favoured placesfor cherry-blossom viewing (ohanami). Cherry-blossom (sakura) is a shortlived flower and in Japan it symbolizes the impermanence of things, hence its importance in a culture heavily influenced by Buddhist philosophy.