Cherry Blossom Lingo: flower light

Separate to "yozakura", the cherry blossom term for cherry blossoms by night, there is a term for the way cherry blossoms seem to brighten up the evening and almost look lit by moonlight. In Japanese it is simply called hanaakari, which literally means flower light. 

Hanaakari describes a very specific, very Japanese moment: when cherry blossoms are so fully in bloom that their pale petals make the night feel faintly bright. This isn't artificial light - its the illusion of light created by masses of pale blossoms reflecting moonlight or ambient dusk.

I believe it is a spring kigo (season word) in haiku, tied to the cherry blossom season. The term "hana-akari" certainly feels more poetic than say "yo-zakura". It's not about the viewing, but describing the almost mystic power the blossoms hold.