Photos: Sakura Matsuri at Brooklyn Botanic Garden

An early start to cherry blossom season didn't disrupt Brooklyn Botanic Garden's annual Sakura Matsuri fest, the culmination of Hanami. The two-day celebration of all things Japanese filled the grounds with revelers wearing whimsical anime costumes and traditional kimonos, plus a rather menacing group of samurai swordsmen. The cosplay fashion show had us wondering how hard it is to go to the bathroom in a bumblebee-robot costume.

RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the Sakura Matsuri Cherry Blossom Festival in NYC