{"id":26818,"date":"2026-03-25T20:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-25T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/?p=26818"},"modified":"2026-03-25T17:53:44","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T08:53:44","slug":"how-to-celebrate-hanami","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/blog\/how-to-celebrate-hanami\/","title":{"rendered":"How to celebrate hanami the Japanese way"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When you think about spring in Japan, surely the first thing that springs to mind (no pun intended) is the cherry blossoms that draw large crowds of locals and tourists alike. The tradition of <\/span>hanami<\/i><\/strong> (\u82b1\u898b), or flower-viewing<\/strong>, is centuries old and one of the most spectacular things you can do in Japan.

Read on to learn more about what hanami is and how to celebrate it!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is hanami?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hanami started as a tradition between the aristocrats in the Nara period (710-794). Unlike today, hanami was associated with appreciating the <\/span>ume<\/a><\/span><\/i> (\u6885, plum flowers) which bloom earlier than the <\/span>sakura<\/a><\/span><\/i> (\u685c, cherry blossom).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ume was replaced by sakura during the Heian period (794-1185). For example, this can be seen when investigating the<\/span> ancient text <\/span>Kokin Wakash\u016b <\/span><\/i>(\u53e4\u4eca\u548c\u6b4c\u96c6, Anthology of Ancient and Modern Japanese Poetry). Here, 70 poems are dedicated to sakura, and only 18 poems are dedicated to ume. It was around this time that <\/span>hana<\/span><\/i> (\u82b1, flower) was used as another name for sakura, and women’s beauty came to be compared to sakura.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When most people think about hanami today, they probably imagine large crowds gathering for a picnic under the cherry blossom trees. This is a common practice for all people in Japan, from couples wanting a romantic outing, to a company group outing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, hanami is not limited to a picnic and can be enjoyed in many different ways. For example, walking around in parks watching the sakura is also considered hanami. Visiting a temple after dark and watching the illuminated sakura, also known as <\/span>yozakura<\/span><\/i> (\u591c\u685c, evening sakura) is also considered hanami.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Things to consider when celebrating hanami<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you want to learn how to celebrate hanami in Japan, there are some things you might want to keep in mind. Below we have listed some important things to consider when celebrating hanami in Japan.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Timing<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The cherry blossom season typically runs from late March to early May, depending on the location and the weather conditions. It is recommended to see a <\/span>kaika yos\u043e\u0304 <\/span><\/i>(\u958b\u82b1\u4e88\u60f3 blooming forecast) and plan your hanami outing accordingly.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sakura at full bloom usually lasts between one to two weeks and has several stages. There are also many different variants, and some bloom earlier than others. For example, you can see the sakura bloom as early as mid-February if you travel to the Izu Peninsula.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clothing<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Spring in Japan is the season of <\/span>sankan-shion<\/span><\/i> (\u4e09\u5bd2\u56db\u6e29, three cold days, four warm days). This means that the weather fluctuates a lot and your choice of clothing is important. If it\u2019s a warm day, you may want to try wearing traditional Japanese clothing like a kimono<\/em> or yukata<\/em>. Just remember to bring a tarp or something to sit on.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Food and drinks<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are no particular rules on what to eat during hanami, but there are a lot of seasonal foods in Japan during spring. Some examples are the <\/span>sanshoku-dango<\/span><\/i> (\u4e09\u8272\u56e3\u5b50 dango riceballs in three colors), or the <\/span>sakura manj\u016b <\/span><\/i>(\u685c\u9945\u982d, steamed sweet bun filled with a paste mixed with red bean and sakura leaves).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more information on what to drink and eat, check out this <\/span>article<\/span><\/a>!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nighttime hanami<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some parks, temples, and gardens offer nighttime illuminations of the cherry blossoms. This creates a different and romantic atmosphere, and many people enjoy strolling around the illuminated trees at night.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Etiquette<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When participating in hanami, it is important to be respectful of the environment and other people around you. Be sure to clean up after yourself, refrain from playing loud music, and avoid damaging the cherry blossom trees.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hanami hacks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It’s always great to be prepared \u2014<\/span> especially for hanami, which can become quite a large event since you’re generally not restricted by the number of people who can join. Here are some hacks we suggest for your event:<\/p>\n\n\n\n