Early April in Nara and the cherry trees were at their peak. Petals drifting onto the deer park, the bowing deer unbothered beneath them. Todai-ji's bronze Buddha behind it all. The blossom lasts barely a week, and to catch it over the deer was pure luck and timing.

The Philosopher's Path in Kyoto runs along a canal lined with cherry trees, and in bloom it is the postcard the whole country chases. We walked it early, before the crowds, petals on the water. Two days in Kyoto under the blossom is the reason to come in April and accept the prices.

Riding the bullet train north to Tokyo, the cherry blossom came with us. Kansai a few days ahead, Tokyo just opening. Ueno park and the Chidorigafuchi moat were full of hanami picnickers under the trees. The bloom moving north is why this route is timed the way it is.

Tokyo Disneyland was the children's reward at the end. Disney run with Japanese precision, the spring cherry decorations everywhere, the parades on time. After ten days of temples and blossom, a day of pure colour and noise, and we left at closing footsore and happy.