Hanami is a Japanese word that translates to flower viewing; it comes from the combination of the kanji for ‘Hana’ (花), which means flower, and ‘mi’ (見) which means to see. Hanami is an old tradition dating back to the Nara period (710~794) and originates from China, where people went to see the plum trees blossoming. In Japan, However, it is not the plum blossoms but rather the well-known Sakura or cherry blossoms that is referred to when talking about Hanami. As such, it has found its place in the culture and become a big part of Japanese culture and a characteristic of Japan internationally, as many travels to Japan to participate in viewing the gorgeous pink and white Sakura trees.
The life of the cherry blossoms, compared to others, is short and only lasts a couple of weeks in spring, so the custom of Hanami is to watch and enjoy this fleeting moment of the beauty of the Sakura. Hanami season depends on the weather, and each year, Japan sends out predictions for when the cherry blossoms will bloom to help people figure out when to go for a Hanami. Don’t go right when the first blossoms bloom, though, but rather when they are in full bloom around five days later, and this is when they are at the peak of their beauty and when Hanami is usually done. When to go also depends on where in Japan you are located as the spring starts earlier in southern Japan and slowly moves up towards Hokkaido in the north, completely opposite of the red fall, which begins north and moves south. In general, though, Hanami season is usually spread out from the end of March to early May across Japan, with the exception of Okinawa, where you might see the cherry blossoms as soon as in February.
So, you have decided you want to do Hanami, but what do you do and where? You can simply go on a walk or sit down with a drink on a bench if there is an available one nearby, alone or with friends. However, most people arrange small parties or picnics with friends or companies, sometimes taking their employees on Hanami together. You can find cherry trees all around on the streets and in the parks. For parties or picnics, people usually go to the park. Many students from Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University or APU, for short, go to Beppu Koen (park), or as luck would have it, they also bloom on the campus, and the students can view the beautiful Sakura there. You can also find many beautiful places in the Kanagawa area, including small shrines and a beautiful path up the mountain lined with Sakura trees and lanterns in the spring.
If you decide to go on a picnic at a park, here are some pointers. If you go on a weekend, do note that parks quickly get filled, and many even go and reserve a spot early in the morning. Many either order food, bring food they’ve bought or make bentos (Japanese lunchbox) to carry as well as drinks either alcoholic (note that the legal drinking age in Japan is 18ears old) or non-alcoholic. Though you can find many vending machines with drinks around Japan and the park not being any different, it is cheaper to get them at a supermarket or konbini (Japanese convenience store) beforehand. For Beppu Koen there is also a Starbucks located by the parking lot in front of the park’s main entrance. Other things that would be advisable to bring along include a tarp or blanket to sit on as there are few benches, and they usually get occupied rather quickly. Depending on what foods or snacks you bring along, it might be good to bring disposable plates and cutlery. It is also a good idea to bring paper towels and wipes. Last but not least, get a trash bag. It can become messy as much fun as it can be, but it is essential to follow the rules and clean up after yourselves and respect the park and other people around you.
On the last note, as it is spring and the weather can be a bit unpredictable and sometimes still a bit cold, it would be a good idea to bring a coat. Other than that, please come and enjoy the beautiful cherry blossoms in Japan!
To refresh some of the places where you can see the cherry blossoms and show a sneak peek, though not justifiable for how gorgeous they all look in person.
Beppu Koen (Park)
APU campus
Shrines (This particular one located right next to Benten mae bus stop in Kamegawa)
Mountain road with lanterns (further in from Bentenmae bus stop)
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