I have chased cherry blossoms ever since I can remember.

From the pink drizzles in Korea and Taiwan, the revered DC blooms in Washington, to the pale whites in London, Paris, and even Vancouver — each encounter was but fleeting magic. Back home in the Philippines, cherry blossoms remain rather rare — they are tenderly nurtured in huge pots, blooming in the private gardens of friends who have managed to cultivate the ephemeral flourish in a tropical climate, as it still exudes the same magical spell.

But this spring was different. My two sisters, both based in Valencia, Spain and long fascinated by Japan’s culture, had not experienced the beauty of its awakening in its homeland. It was time — a siblings’ meticulously-designed itinerary was in order. This one was rooted in bonding, rediscovery, and nostalgia and was devoted to cherry blossoms, iconic landmarks, and their culinary treasures.

In the land of the shoguns and ikebana, the flowering cherry tree — fondly known as sakura — is a national symbol. It is a reminder of life’s fleeting moments, beauty, and renewal. The blossoms, which typically bloom from late March to early April, last but a few days — and are then quickly scattered by pouring rain and gusts of wind, a metaphor for transience, which is a core Japanese philosophy. For the curious, it is called mono no aware, roughly translated as an empathy toward things.

The global allure of cherry blossoms took root in 1912, when Japan gifted over 3,000 sakura trees to the United States as a gesture of goodwill. These were planted in the periphery of Washington D.C.’s Tidal Basin. Ironically, after World War II, the US returned the favor — cuttings from the capital’s trees were transported back to Japan to assist to restore Tokyo’s bomb-damaged groves.

No matter what others say, there’s nothing like witnessing the blooming of the flowers in their birthplace. Here are the four cities we toured:

Osaka: Castle blossoms

We began in Osaka, where Osaka Castle stands in timeless majesty, framed by hundreds of cherry trees in full bloom. The castle grounds were bustling — locals on picnic mats enjoyed hanami, their term for flower viewing, with laughter echoing beneath pink and white canopies. We even sighted a statue of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, in honor of one of the three unifiers of premodern Japan, dignified, surrounded by petals all around.