Temperatures dipped dramatically this week, transforming sakura spots into icy pink-tinged dreamworlds.

As the sakura front continues to sweep through Japan, some areas are now bidding a sad farewell to the cherry blossoms while others are preparing for the flowers to bloom.

This spring, temperatures have been rising and dipping erratically, meaning this year’s hanami cherry blossom viewing season has been longer than previous years in some parts and delayed in others. And just yesterday, temperatures dipped so dramatically that it brought snow to the blossoms.

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It’s not every year that we get to see snowfall while the sakura are in bloom, so photographers took the opportunity to capture the unusual scene, sharing gorgeous photos and videos online.

Snowy sakura scenes were captured in sites around mountainous Nagano Prefecture, where snow fell on sakura trees in gardens…

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▼ On branches filled with buds..

▼ And on trees in full bloom…

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People in Nagano’s Matsumoto City woke up to snow in the morning…

While Gujo City in neighbouring Gifu Prefecture also received snow on blossoms in full bloom.

Lake Kawaguchi, located in southern Yamanashi Prefecture near Mount Fuji, was also covered in snow.

Regions near Tokyo were home to some glistening white scenes, with this image captured at Ogawara in Miyagi Prefecture…

And this video filmed at Hachioji, in the western part of the Greater Tokyo metropolitan area.

The Miharu Takizakura in Fukushima Prefecture, one of Japan’s top three great cherry blossom trees, also looked magical covered in snow.

At over 1,000 years old, the Miharu Takizakura is expected to reach full bloom later this month.

With clear skies around Japan today, temperatures are set to fall again later this week. And while snow isn’t being forecast at the moment, the cold snap does mean we can look forward to a longer cherry blossom viewing season in areas around Japan this year.

So pack your picnic basket, put on your sakura beret, and start planning your trip to visit the best hanami spots in the country!

Source: Weathernews
Featured image: Twitter/@sas331122
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