Nakayama is in between Narita And Haneda International Airport

Sakura / the most popular flower in Japan

Why Japanese loves Sakura?
Sakura is a symbolic flower for them since cherry blossoms fall in a week so the Japanese feel what their life are evanescent. Especially, samurai worriers often compared their life to sakura.
Sakura means a cherry tree or a cherry blossom in English. Most Japanese people love sakura, so they look forward to seeing it in spring. Sakura tells that spring is coming.
There are some stories of the origin of the word 'sakura', one said that 'sa' implies the god and 'kura' is his/her seat, thus sakura means the place of the god seating. Another one said that it comes from the name of the princess 'Konohana Sakuya Hime' who was the ancestor of the Imperial Family. And so many other stories exist. Anyway, most of them relate to gods.
Since ancient time, Japanese have held parties under cherry blossoms, but they had been held only by upper class people. The Hanami in Yoshino and in Daigo held by Hideyoshi Toyotomi are famous. In Edo period, common people has enjoyed hanami since Edo period as Yoshimune Tokugawa, the eighth Shogun of Edo Bakufu, planted cherry trees along Sumidagawa, Ueno, Asukayama and so forth for people living in Edo to be happy to see them.
There are over 30 kinds of sakura in Japan. Somei Yoshino is popular and it is planted mostly in Japan. Kawazu Zakura is also popular and it blooms in early March. Ooshima Zakura, Ooyama Zakura and Kan Higan Zakura are often seen in towns in Japan.

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Hanami / picniks under cherry trees

Hanami or Ohanami is a picnic to see cherry blossoms, and some Japanese hold parties under cherry trees. Japanese anyway love and enjoy seeing sakura.
Japanese have held parties under cherry blossoms since ancient time, but they had been held only by upper class people. The Hanami in Yoshino and in Daigo held by Hideyoshi Toyotomi are famous. In Edo period, common people has enjoyed hanami since Edo period as Yoshimune Tokugawa, the eighth Shogun of Edo Bakufu, planted cherry trees along Sumidagawa, Ueno, Asukayama and so forth for people living in Edo to be happy to see them.
Hanami is one of the popular events among common Japanese, they love it since they are pleased at spring coming and winter having gone.

Momiji Gari / Seeing Colored Leaves in Fall

Momiji Gari is a kind of a picnic to see colored leaves in fall. Japanese love and enjoy seeing maple leaves and gingko leaves. Actually Japanese plant those trees in their garden to see them in fall. They go to mountain areas to see them, this is Momiji Gari.

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参考
大辞林
ウィッキペディア