Sometime soon we will be off to see our friends and get another taste of hanami (cherry blossom viewing) activities in Japan.

Almost daily, I get updates on the weather there. The spring rains have not stopped yet, but we are not going there for the weather. We expect to see a lot of friends, more than we can handle at times, but there are also quiet times planned. Everyone hopes for the rain to stop by the time the cherry blossoms are in full bloom (early April).

One of my friends had put this very nicely in her e-mail: See, everyone, even cherry blossom, is waiting for you.

Then I looked at our own cherry blossoms right here in Germany.

Cherry blossoms in Germany

This would also make a good picnic spot… But for some reason, it just doesn’t compare to spring time in Japan.