It's Cherry Blossom season in Japan and lifestyle brand Muji opens hotel in Tokyo's Ginza district.

It's Spring time in Japan, and tourism is booming in this oriental kingdom as visitors flock there to admire Cherry Blossoms.

A luxurious gown  from Christian Dior SS 2017 haute couture collection designed by Maria Garzia Chiuri, elaborately embroidered to channel Japanese cherry blossoms as a nod to the Hanami - Japan's National Cherry Blossom Festival - and echoing Monsieur Dior's 1953 "Jardin Japonais" dress.  This is one of 200 rare Dior haute couture gowns now on show  in the Christian Dior - Designer of Dreams Exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum, London, until 1st September 2019.

Photo by Lucia Carpio.

According to BBC business news earlier this week, the blossom season is worth billions for Japan.  The season attracted nearly five million people and boosted the economy by some US$2.7 billion, according to figures from Bloomberg.

Cherry blossom represents the nature of life and a season of renewal in Japanese culture.  Events and festivals are held in Japan each spring during "Hanami", or "flower viewing" season.

If one has the luxury of time to travel to Japan this Easter break, you may like to try out the Muji Hotel Ginza, operated by the Japanese retail chain Muji - known for their minimalist designs.

The hotel is to open this Thursday in Tokyo as a novel way to experience the brand's wide range of lifestyle products.

The hotel offering 79 guests rooms which will be decked out with Muji's own lifestyle-related products, from furniture, to slippers, to toiletries and toothbrushes.

The hotel is situated above its shop - from 6th to 10th floor - above the commercial complex.  This is very handy because if guests like any of the items, they can buy them at a Muji store below.

The hotel is viewed as a kind of showroom where guests can experience using their products, according to officials at the chain's operator, Ryohin Keikaku, which has revealed that sales of Muji products are on the rise, mainly in Asian countries, and they hope the new hotel will further boost its brand recognition and help expand sales globally.

The Ginza hotel will be the company's first in Japan; it follows ones already opened in China, in Shenzhen and Beijing.

Spring has Sprung in glorious Harry Winston Style

When cherry trees start to bloom, you know Spring has arrived.  New York-based Harry Winston known for its fine jewelry and high-end watchmaking is celebrating Spring with its new Avenue Classic Cherry Blossom luxury watch.
.  It's got a Quartz movement and is water-resistant to 3 bar (30,m/100ft.)

Harry Winston's Avenue Classic Cherry Blossom will be launched at BASEL WORLD 2017 

(March 23 - 30, 2017 in Switzerland)

Capturing the ephemeral beauty of a cherry tree in bloom, the new watch shows off a mother-of-pearl dial which forms an iridescent backdrop to a flurry of 39 white diamonds and 29 pink sapphires that represent the flowers and petals of the cherry blossom tree.

Attached to the white gold branches or floating gently to the ground, the precious stones are cut in different sizes to create fascinating effects of depth and movement.  This magnificent tableau is framed by an 18k white gold case whose architecture echoes the stately stone facade of Harry Winston's historic Fifth Avenue Salon in New York, and the three arches surrounding the entrance.

The 29 brilliant-cut diamonds on the case are a reminder of the long-standing association between the House of Harry Winston and precious stones.  The Bracelet/strap is in green-blue alligator without stitching, finished with an18k white gold buckle set with 6 brilliant-cut diamonds.

Founded in New York City in 1932, Harry Winston entered the world of watchmaking in 1989.
In 2007, The House of Harry Winston pledged its continued dedication to watchmaking with the opening of its own manufacture in Geneva.

Today, the House of Harry Winston operates salons worldwide in locations including: New York, London, Paris, Geneva, Rome, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. The House also distributes its timepiece collections through select retailers and partners worldwide.