Bye to the blossoms for another year

Cherry trees in many parts of the country saw their earliest-ever flowering this year, including the celebrated blossoms along Nijukken Road in Shinhidaka Town, Hokkaido. Full bloom's early arrival on April 25 caused organizers to bring the annual festival forward from May to late April. The celebrated blossom-viewing spot features around 2,200 cherry trees lining both sides of the 7-kilometer road.