How to Really Celebrate Japan’s Cherry Blossom Season

Known as “sakura” in Japanese, the cherry blossoms start blooming around late March in southern Japan and finish up in April in northern Japan. The peak viewing times vary by region, and sometimes the flowers bloom early or late depending on how cold winter was.

But no matter when the cherry blossoms bloom, one thing’s for sure: people from all around Japan will celebrate! So here is how to join in on those celebrations and make the most of Japan’s most famous flower.

Go to a Hanami Festival

The most iconic way to celebrate cherry blossom season in Japan is by going to a “hanami” festival. “Hanami” in Japanese literally means “flower viewing”, but in this context, it refers to the act of celebrating the cherry blossoms.

The most common way to do hanami is to simply have a picnic under the cherry blossoms in a park. In the most famous parks and cherry blossom spots, this is sometimes accompanied by lively festival activities. This can range from live music and food trucks like at the Jindai Botanical Garden, through to evening sakura illuminations.

Have a Quiet Hanami Picnic

Hanami festivals are lively and exciting, but they can also be very crowded. If you want to avoid the crowds and have a more peaceful experience, you can have your own mini hanami celebration elsewhere.

Initially, it might seem difficult to find a park with cherry blossoms that is not packed with people. But in fact, a lot of parks in Japan have at least one or two cherry blossom trees. It may not be as extravagant as the popular parks lined with pink flowers, but while you are doing other sightseeing you can pop into one or two nearby parks to scout for cherry blossoms. If you find any, remember the spot and come back another day with your picnic gear!

If you choose to do your own hanami picnic, make sure to come prepared.

What to Bring for Hanami

Whether you’re invited to join a hanami picnic or you’re setting one up for yourself, here’s how it’s usually done.

Bring your picnic blanket or get yourself a tarpaulin. In Japan, tarpaulins are used the most, and are usually called a “blue sheet” or “tarp”. Then you’ll need some snacks. Check out your nearest convenience store or supermarket and get whatever food takes your fancy. Fried foods, crisps, and easy to share snacks are best. If you like, you can also pick up some alcoholic beverages like beer or sake, as it is perfectly legal to drink in public spaces in Japan.

It’s also a good idea to bring shoes that are easy to slip in and out of (as people often take their shoes off on the tarpaulin), sun cream, and a light jacket.

Some parks ban hanami picnics, so make sure to check first. If that’s the case, you’re still able to walk around or sit under the trees, but you cannot eat or drink there.

Sakura Sweets and Souvenirs

In Japan, the cherry blossoms aren’t only great for viewing, they’re great for eating, too! In spring, a lot of sakura flavours and colourings fill the aisles of convenience stores.

Some of the tasty items to look out for are:
 

• Sakura mochi
• Starbucks sakura items (e.g. sakura Frappuccino)
• Sakura tea
• Sakura ice cream
• Sakura KitKats

As for souvenirs, this is the perfect season to get something special for people back home. You’ll find cherry blossom patterns almost everywhere you look at this time of year. You can get sakura patterns on fans, tenugui (decorative hand towel), chinaware, and all sorts.

Different tourist spots often have their own unique items too, so just go exploring to find your favourite.

Famous Spots for Hanami

If you visit a large or famous park in Japan, chances are there will be one or two cherry blossoms in the park. But if you want to go somewhere with hundreds of cherry blossom trees or that lively hanami festival atmosphere, these are the places to go:
 

• Tokyo: Shinjuku Gyoen
• Tokyo: Jindai Botanical Garden
• Tokyo: Ueno Park
• Tokyo: Chidorigafuchi and Kitanomaru Park
• Nara: Nara Park
• Osaka: Osaka Castle
• Hiroshima: Senkoji Park
• Miyazaki: Saitobaru Kofun District
• Hokkaido: Goryokaku Park

A Cultural Experience to Remember

These days, most people know that Japan has beautiful cherry blossoms. But now you know how to take it a step further and make your spring trip into something more special and cultural. Instead of simply visiting cherry blossom areas, you can celebrate and experience the sakura to their full potential.

If you want to know more about Japan’s most famous cherry blossom spots, take a look at this blog post before you start planning.