When foreigners conjure an image of Japan, they tend to think of a few things: the bullet train, Geisha and cherry blossom. Visitors will swamp cherry blossom viewing sites during a few scant weeks during the spring in order to see the famous pink blooms. This fleeting phenomenon has captured our imagination and it is no wonder that the sakura season is one of the busiest all year.
However, the petals themselves are not really the point. Yes, the photographers amongst us will delight in the stunning shots they will take during the season, but for most people the best of this seasonal joy can be found in hanami, the viewing of the flowers with food and friends.
Hanami is an event where people come together to enjoy snacks, drinks and good company. It is truly special to enjoy the convivial atmosphere – surrounded by blankets and groups of people laughing and joking. For some groups, snacks are not enough – they bring barbecues or even hotpots so the parks are usually filled with a myriad of enticing smells. There is even a saying in Japanese, 花より団子 “hana yori dango”, indicating a preference for the practical over the aesthetic, inspired by those who find the food infinitely more interesting than the flowers during hanami.
Older Japanese people will tell you that the cherry blossom was not the original flower viewed during hanami parties, but plum blossom. During the Nara period, enjoying snacks and good company under the plum blossoms became popular. Even today, plum blossom festivals still exist and are great for those looking to avoid the main throng. This type of flower-viewing in groups has been adored by Japanese people for centuries.
In reality, it doesn’t really matter whether you’re seeing the cherry blossom, or the original plum. What matters is that, below the delicate canopy of beautiful flowers, you are surrounded by people you love.