Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on March 2013

It’s that time of the year when limited-edition ume-flavored things disappear and limited-edition sakura-flavored things take their place. Yes it’s hanami, time to wring some extra cash out of an ADHD-afflicted consumership. The cake shop in Hotel Seiyo Ginza (B1F Hotel Seiyo Ginza, 1-11-2 Ginza, Chuo-ku; www.seiyo-ginza.com) is chiming in with a selection of sakura sweets. The most elaborate has to be the awasakura rare-cheese mousse flavored with cherry liqueur on an almond-biscuit with white wine and cherry jelly, served with salted sakura petals (¥546). But sakura honey rolls (slice ¥380), macaroons (box of six ¥1,575) and sakura madeleines (¥210) are among the other novelty delights on offer. Seiyo Ginza is closing down after 25 years on May 31, so enjoy this sakura swansong.