The word Hanami literally means “looking at flowers,” (also synonymous to Cherry Blossom festival in Japan) but it is used to refer to one flower in particular, the sakura or cherry blossom. Every spring, people turn out in their millions across the country to celebrate the transient beauty of these flowers, one of the symbols of Japan itself (the Japanese rugby team uses the sakura as its emblem). The appeal of the sakura goes beyond their evident beauty. It lies in the fact that the flowers are only in full bloom for a few days. The real “moment” of hanami is not so much looking at the flowers on the tree but watching with a tinge of sadness as they fall from the tree, flutter in the spring breeze on their short journey to the cold earth below.
The weather during Hanami can be very unpredictable; it can go from very nice warm in day to very cold at night. So, warm clothes are definitely a good idea. Lots of people start early in the afternoon and are well toasted by evening, falling asleep without noticing the drop in temperature. The more popular hanami spots will usually have street vendors selling food and drinks. Throughout Japan, hanami is celebrated from the moment the first sakura (cherry blossoms) begin to bloom, up until the very last petal falls. There are many ways to celebrate hanami season, but the two most common activities are the blossom viewing promenades and picnics under the trees.
The promenades are usually in the major sakura Cherry Blossom festival in Japan sites, like parks, castle gardens, and temple grounds, while the picnics are anywhere the sakura are. On any given day, there are couples or families strolling along paths lined with sakura trees, and groups of tourists peppered throughout the crowds, photographing and admiring the sights in awe. Weekdays are the best days to go out and enjoy the scenery, because when the weekend hits, the chaotic fun begins. Weekends at all blossoming sites are completely packed with people. Hanami picnics in Japan are famous and enjoyed by all. It’s tradition to gather under the sakura trees to admire the surroundings and enjoy the company of friends and loved ones, while eating traditional foods and drinking modern beers or traditional sake.
In the heart of this picnic season, it isn’t unusual to see thousands upon thousands of people tightly grouped in every park or anywhere the sakura trees are found. In some cases, sometimes it is possible to see more people than blossoms, and late arrivals get to play an interesting searching game to find their friends. The basic items found at almost every picnic party will be decorative plastic ground sheets, beer or sake, bento (traditional Japanese packed lunch), and a variety of traditional hanami foods like yakitori (grilled chicken skewers), dango (dumplings), sushi, and takoyaki (octopus dumplings). Overall, the hanami parties are great fun for everyone and the entire season brings people closer together between long work days and the rushed life in big cities.