Don’t miss it—next in 17 years! Japan’s most stunning night cherry blossoms & lunar eclipse viewing

By MOOK Scenic Spots Tourism Life Network Editorial Department
 

As cherry blossoms bloom across Japan, their pink and pale white hues paint the nation in beautiful spring colors. Cherry blossom viewing spots around the country have also coordinated special lighting displays and launched night cherry blossom events to showcase a completely different charm from daytime. Japan’s National Astronomical Observatory recently announced that on April 4, there will be a “red total lunar eclipse,” an astronomical phenomenon where visitors can enjoy the magical sight of a red full moon alongside fully bloomed night cherry blossoms. Miss this one, and you’ll have to wait another 17 years to see it again.

The bright moon we usually see is the result of sunlight reflection. When the moon passes through the Earth's shadow, sunlight is blocked by the Earth, resulting in a total lunar eclipse. However, because the Earth has an atmosphere, sunlight is scattered and refracted as it passes through the atmospheric layers—shorter blue wavelengths are scattered away, while longer red wavelengths are refracted onto the moon’s surface, giving the moon a reddish hue. Therefore, during a total lunar eclipse, the moon doesn’t go completely black like during a solar eclipse but instead takes on varying shades of red, making it a truly unique sight.