the United States, Australia, Spain, France, Japan, Thailand and Italy.

Japan has attracted the crowds with its combination of futuristic robotics and the natural curiosity one’s neighbor attracts. In a similar vein, three Shanghai-based Buddhist monks told China Daily on Monday they had put South Korea, Japan and India at the top of their Expo shopping lists.

Huge Japanese pop group SMAP will perform in the Expo Culture Center on June 13.

Free tickets can be reserved free at the center on the day for the 1 pm concert. More details will be available at www.expo2010.cn.

The current members of SMAP, which stands for Sports Music Assemble People, are Masahiro Nakai, Takuya Kimura, Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, Goro Inagaki and Shingo Katori.

SMAP, considered a Japanese idol’s band because of the huge profile of its members, released its first CD “Can’t Stop LOVING” in 1991 and has since released more than 40 singles and 20 albums.

1-1 Senri Banpaku-koen Suita-city, Osaka

Osaka Monorail Banpaku Kinen Koen Station

06-6877-7387

Late March to Early April

The Nature and Culture Garden and the Japanese Garden : 250 yen (adult) / 70 yen (elementary and middle school students)

It’s a large park built after the Osaka World Expo in 1970. A large monument, Tower of the Sun (taiyo no to) was made as a symbol of the Expo. There are various cultural, amusement, and sport facilities in addition to the gardens. The number of cherry trees in the park is about 5,500. It’s a nice place to have a picnic viewing cherry blossoms. Cherry blossoms at the Higashioji area are illuminated at night.

2. Osakajo Nishinomaru Garden

Osakajo Koen Chuo-ku Osaka-city, Osaka

JR Osakajo Koen Station / Subway Tanimachi 4 chome Station

06-6941-1717

9 am – 5 pm (March – Oct.) * – 8 pm (cherry blossom season)
9 am – 4:30 pm (Nov. – Feb.)
Closed on Mondays (except for holidays)

Late March – Early April
*Cherry blossom flowering dates vary every year.

Osakajo Nishinomaru Garden is located in the Osaka Castle Park. It’s an area of 64,000 square meters in the west of the donjon. There are about 600 sakura trees there and attract many visitors. Paper lanterns are hung around the garden, and the donjon and cherry blossoms are illuminated at night.