PETAL POWER

Looking for blooms beyond Namaqualand? Explore these floral hotspots that'll add colour and joy to your next overseas vacation.

- BY KEITH BAIN

1. JAPAN'S SAKURA SAFARI

Every year, Japan's Meteorological Corporation releases forecasts ahead of sakura (cherry blossom) season, letting enthusiasts know when the precious flowers will begin to bloom in different parts of the country. Flowers last only two weeks, so timing's crucial, and seasons vary depending on where you are in the country, north to south - never mind the fact that different sakura varieties bloom at different times.

The first cherry blossom festival of the year - Motobu Yaedake - takes place in Okinawa from around mid-January, while far-northerly Hokkaido sees some blossoms appear as late as May. Tokyo's sakura typically begin blooming in late-March, and there are plenty of gardens throughout the city in which to appreciate them. Ueno Park has over 1 000 cherry trees, plus shrines, pretty ponds and museums to take in, too; during sakura season, parts of the park are kept illuminated after dark. Nighttime sakura viewing is known as yozakura, and celebrations get quite wild, so do join in the fun. Another good viewing spot in Tokyo is the Chidorigafuchi Moat, near the Imperial Palace where the blossoms are glorious.

For an even more romantic sakura safari, Kyoto - Japan's former capital - is enfolded by parks and green spaces where blossoms usually appear from late-March. In Maruyama Park, there's an especially tall “weeping cherry tree" - or shidarezakura - that's lit up at night, while perhaps the most famous spot to take in Kyoto’s blossoms is the Philosopher's Path, a canal-side walkway lined with cherry trees. Also worth experiencing is the Sagano, a seasonal train that goes through a Sakura Tunnel in Kyoto's Arashiyama district.