What is hanami?
Hanami (花見, literally “flower viewing”) is a traditional Japanese custom of enjoying the ephemeral beauty of blooming flowers, particularly cherry blossoms (sakura). It’s a time for celebration, relaxation, and appreciating the natural world.
hanami name meaning
“Flower viewing,” but in Japan, it’s almost always associated with cherry blossoms.
hanami Activities
People gather under the blossoming trees for picnics, socializing, drinking, and simply enjoying the beauty of the flowers.
Usually Japanese people brings obento-box that contains foods and sake. Sometimes they eat sushi, sing songs and dancing. People often pack special bento boxes (lunch boxes) filled with Japanese delicacies for their Hanami picnics.
Sake and other beverages are commonly enjoyed during Hanami.
Significance
Hanami reflects the Japanese appreciation for nature and the fleeting beauty of life.
If you’re planning a trip to Japan during cherry blossom season, experiencing Hanami is a must-do activity. It’s a beautiful and culturally significant way to connect with nature and Japanese traditions.
Japanese cherry blossom season
When and Where to See the Magic?
Cherry blossoms bloom for a short period, typically from late March to early May depending on the location. Hanami celebrations take place during this time.
Best Japanese cherry blossom festival places
Popular Hanami spots include parks, gardens, and along riversides where cherry blossom trees are abundant.
Some places offer “Yozakura” (night cherry blossoms) illuminations, creating a magical atmosphere.
Tokyo
Ueno Onshi Park
One of Tokyo’s most famous cherry blossom viewing spots. It is said that the cherry trees were transplanted from Yoshinoyama in Nara by the monk Tenkai, who founded Kan’eiji Temple in the early Edo period (1603-1868). On Sakura-dori, which runs north-south through the park, the rows of cherry trees blooming overhead are spectacular.
Meguro River
One of the most popular cherry blossom viewing spots in Tokyo. Lined with cherry blossom trees along the Meguro River from Ohashi in Meguro-ku to the Meguro Station area, the area attracts many visitors during the blooming season. The area is also dotted with fashionable cafés, so it is recommended to take a stroll along with the neighbouring Daikanyama area.
Inokashira Onshi Park
Inokashira Onshi Park is located across Musashino City and Mitaka City in Tokyo. About 200 cherry trees can be seen in the park, and the view of someiyoshino cherry trees and yamazakura cherry trees in full bloom by Inokashira Pond is particularly breathtaking. The view from the Nanai Bridge over the pond is a must-see, as well as the cherry blossom viewing from the top of the pond on a boat.
National Showa Memorial Park
National Showa Memorial Park straddles Tachikawa City and Akishima City in Tokyo. In this vast park, which is about 39 times the size of Tokyo Dome, you can admire a variety of trees, plants and flowers. The yokko and kanhizakura cherry trees are usually at their best around mid-March, and the oshima cherry and someiyoshino cherry trees begin to flower in succession. The cherry blossom viewing spot in the park, the Cherry Blossom Garden, is a must-see sight when it turns pale pink.
Shinjuku Gyoen
The Shinjuku Gyoen is located close to downtown Shinjuku and has a perimeter of 3.5 km and an area of 58.3 ha. This green ‘urban oasis’ is a popular spot for cherry blossom viewing in spring, when 1,000 cherry trees are in bloom. The best time to view the cherry blossoms is usually from late March to early April, but there are also early-blooming kanhizakura and late-blooming fugenzou cherry trees, so you can enjoy a wide variety of cherry blossoms both before and after the best time of year.
Chidorigafuchi
One of the best cherry blossom viewing spots in Tokyo, with beautifully coloured moats.
Chidorigafuchi is located on the northwest side of the Imperial Palace. The scenery of cherry blossoms blooming along the moat is magnificent. Cherry blossom viewing from the moat on a boat is also popular. The sample tree on which Tokyo’s cherry blossoms are declared in bloom is located at Yasukuni Shrine, not far from Chidorigafuchi.
Rikugien
Rikugien is one of the most representative of the Daimyo gardens in Tokyo. The weeping cherry trees in the garden are particularly spectacular when in full bloom. A stroll through the garden, with its large pond and circular mountain and fountain garden, is sure to impress you with its elegant scenery.
Sumida Park
The cherry blossom scenery along the Sumida River is also sung in the Japanese poem Hana (Flower). Sumida Park, with the Tokyo Sky Tree in the background, and the rows of cherry trees along the river upstream from the Azuma Bridge area are truly one of Tokyo’s leading cherry blossom viewing spots. During the blooming season, the trees are lit up, so it is recommended to enjoy a night stroll through the cherry blossoms.
Yoyogi Park
Located just south of Meiji Shrine, this forest park in the heart of the city is surrounded by thick green trees. Around late March, when the Someiyoshino cherry trees are in full bloom, the park is particularly crowded with people. It is a great place to relax and enjoy hanami on the grass, or stop by to admire the cherry blossoms while shopping in Harajuku or Omotesando.
Tokyo Midtown
Tokyo Midtown is home to 103 cherry trees, mainly Someiyoshino. It is also a popular spot to enjoy a night stroll through the cherry blossoms, which are lit up during the blooming season. In the neighbouring Hinokicho Park, cherry trees such as the Oyama cherry and the Yaeveni weeping cherry also bloom beautifully.
Kyoto
Heian Jingu Shrine
Heian Jingu was built in the Meiji era to commemorate the 1,100th anniversary of the relocation of the capital to Heian. The shrine garden, which surrounds the vermilion-lacquered shrine pavilions, is a famous cherry blossom viewing spot in spring, with cherry trees such as the benishidare-zakura (weeping cherry) in full bloom. The view from Taiheikaku (Bridge Hall) in particular is a great spot to take photos during the season when the cherry blossoms turn pink by the pond.
Ninna-ji Temple
Of the many cherry blossom viewing spots in Kyoto, the Omuro-zakura cherry trees at Ninna-ji Temple are known for their late blooming. It has been designated a national place of scenic beauty. The low height of the trees is also a feature of the temple’s cherry garden, where some 130 Omuro-zakura trees can be admired from a vantage point close to the eye. The five-storey pagoda over the cherry blossoms is a popular photo composition.
Kiyomizu-dera Temple
Kiyomizu-dera Temple is one of Kyoto’s most famous temples and is registered as a World Heritage Site. Cherry blossom spots on the temple grounds are scattered around the three-storey pagoda and the stage of the main hall. The nighttime cherry blossom scenery, which can be enjoyed during the special night-time viewing in spring, is also a must-see. The surrounding area is a must-see for sightseeing in Kyoto, with other sights such as Sannenzaka (Sanneizaka) Slope and Yasaka-no-to (Pagoda of Yasaka).
Arashiyama
Kyoto’s cherry blossom capital, where the mountainsides are coloured pale pink.
The mountainsides of Arashiyama are spectacularly coloured with cherry blossoms in spring. Cherry trees are also planted along the Katsura River around Togetsukyo Bridge, and it is recommended to take photos of Togetsukyo Bridge and Arashiyama through the cherry blossoms. The famous cherry blossom rice cake at Koto Kiki Tea House near Togetsukyo Bridge is also an excellent accompaniment to cherry blossom viewing!
Daigoji Temple
A beautiful cherry blossom viewing spot said to have been enjoyed by Hideyoshi
This is a famous cherry blossom viewing spot where Toyotomi Hideyoshi is said to have once held a banquet called ‘Daigo no hanami’ here. It is recommended to enjoy the cherry blossoms together with the beautiful five-storey pagoda (national treasure). The Ho-Taiko Hanami Gyoretsu (Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s cherry blossom viewing parade), usually held on the second Sunday of April, is a spectacle to behold, with people dressed as Hideyoshi, Kita Masasho and others parading around in glittering costumes.
Yodogawa River Park, Shiowari-zutsumi area.
Sewaritei is a 10-minute walk from Ishimizu Hachimangu Station on the Keihan Main Line. This embankment between the Uji and Kizu Rivers is lined with some 220 cherry trees in bloom in spring, and the view from the Sakura Deai Kan observation tower is spectacular. During the blooming season, the Souwari-zutsumi Cherry Blossom Festival is also held, and the view from a sightseeing boat or boat is exceptional.
Saisai
Osaka
Osaka Castle Park
Osaka Castle Park is planted with approximately 3,000 cherry trees and is known as one of the best cherry blossom viewing spots in the Kansai region. The Nishi-no-Maru Garden on the west side of the castle tower is filled with some 300 cherry trees, including someiyoshino, and the area near the empty moat on the east side of the garden where the castle tower can be seen through the cherry blossoms is an excellent photo spot. The standard cherry blossom tree for Osaka Prefecture is also located in the Nishinomaru Garden.
Mint Bureau
The Mint Bureau is a popular cherry blossom viewing spot in Osaka. The pathway inside the Mint premises, which runs for 560 metres along the old Yodo River, is usually open for one week around mid-April every year as the “Cherry Blossom Passage”. During this period, various varieties of cherry blossoms, mainly late-blooming double-flowered cherry trees, bloom. The double-flowered cherry blossoms, with their large number of petals and vivid colours, are well worth seeing!
What to prepare before viewing cherry blossoms in Japan
If you are a traveller, you should prepare them before coming Japan!
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Summary hanami cherry viewing
Experience Hanami is so beautiful! Picnic under the blossoms, a cultural tradition celebrating spring’s beauty. If you love it, let’s explore beyond Tokyo. You can find hidden gems in Nara or near Mt. Fuji.
Please plan your trip! Check bloom forecasts, book early, and embrace the festive crowds. Unforgettable beauty awaits!
Japanese cherry blossom tree FAQs
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QAre there any special events or festivals during cherry blossom season?
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AYes! Many cities and towns host festivals with food stalls, traditional performances, and illuminations that enhance the magical atmosphere.
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QWhat are some tips for planning a trip to Japan during cherry blossom season?
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AResearch the bloom forecast for your chosen location. Book flights and accommodation well in advance, as this is a peak tourist season. Embrace the crowds, and be prepared for a festive atmosphere.
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QAre there different varieties of cherry blossoms in Japan?
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AYes! The most popular is the Somei Yoshino, known for its delicate pink blooms. However, other varieties offer unique colors, shapes, and even earlier or later blooming times.
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QWhat is Hanami, and how can I experience it?
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AHanami is the traditional Japanese custom of “flower viewing,” particularly focused on cherry blossoms. Immerse yourself by picnicking under the blossoming trees with friends and family, enjoying delicious bento boxes filled with Japanese delicacies, and soaking in the fleeting beauty of the flowers.
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QWhere are the best places to see cherry blossoms in Japan?
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AIconic locations include Tokyo’s Ueno Park and Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. I explained before.
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QWhen is the cherry blossom season in Japan?
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ACherry blossoms bloom for a short period, typically from late March to early May, depending on location. The exact timing varies year to year, so checking a forecast before your trip is helpful.
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