Sakura & Hanami

Sakura, a name that we’re familiar with
and a name that always linked our imagination to Japan.
Like the snowing view in Europe, Japan is famous with its Hanami festival with these magnificent clouds of pastel pink and cream blossom view. It’s like a fairy tale illusion.



Hanami, the festival of Sakura (also known as cherry blossom) flower viewing,
is believed to have started since the Nara period. It was origin from the Dynasty Tang of China custom, which Chinese celebrating the blossoming of the plum trees.
Like the Chinese, the Emperor Saga practices the Hanami festival celebration
with composing verse while drinking sake and having al fresco.
The Hanami festival was allowed to celebrate only by the Imperial Court in Kyoto
until the Samurai in Tokyo adopted the tradition, and Hanami gradually became a widespread customary practice for Japanese.



For Japanese, Sakura is not only symbolising the beginning season of rice planting,
but it also linked to divination of the upcoming harvest.
It also symbolise clouds due to their nature of blooming en masse and being an enduring metaphor for the evanescent nature of life. With Shinto beliefs, the Hanami festival became renowned and widely practiced by Japanese.



Although Japan has not adopted Sakura as its national flower,
however, Sakura was once and still the crest of the Japanese imperial army which symbolising glory of a life dedicated to duty.
The Sakura with anchor symbol was also adopted by the Japanese Imperial Navy.



So now, you’ve learned something about Sakura and Hanami.
But here’s the question- What should you do in celebrating Hanami?
One of the traditional ways to celebrate this beautiful pinkish season is by holding the well-known Tea Ceremony under the laden boughs of the Sakura trees.

However, in this generation, modern celebrants are tending to hold a picnic party with family and friends under the shade of sakura tree.
Most of the popular spots of Hanami are required to do your own reserve in advance, or you’ll be surprise to find the parks of Hanami celebration will be fully occupied.







Besides day, sakura can be viewed at night too. Lighten paper lanterns were hanged on the Sakura trees, which highlight the fragile delicacy of the scene.
The view of Sakura on daytime could brings you the feeling of a lively Japan, while by viewing the night view with Sakura, you’ll definitely feel the Zen in you.

The variations weather makes Hanami a long-lasting season.
It begins at the first month of the year in Okinawa, continues with Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka during March to April, and it ends in Hokkaido by May to June.

I guessed this is part of the reason why everyone would love visit Japan…