Hanami - Cherry Blossom Viewing

Cherry blossoms or Sakura are not just beautiful flowers in Japan, but an event that leads to drinking and joyful parties in parks. This is known as Hanami and forcasters predict the best time to go weeks or months in advance. The fleeting natural beauty only lasts for about two weeks, starting around May and going through the beginning of April depending on your location.

Walking through Tsurumai Park, in Nagoya City, the last few nights has been a delight. Japanese people are out celebrating flowers. They are drinking, laughing and playing sports. They are seriously drunk and singing, and holding hands under the beautiful trees. Festivities start in the day with bento box lunches under the trees in the warm sunlight. In the evening, lanterns are light amongst the trees illuminating areas where groups gather to relax. In Japan, where fashion is serious, it is nice to see men sitting in the grass in business suits, and girls not wearing 4-inch heels (although some still do).

I plan to go every chance I get in the next few weeks. It seems like Fourth of July but with cherry blossoms instead of fireworks, and two weeks instead of one day. I never thought I'd find an activity I'd enjoy as much as karaoke in Japan, but I think Hanami might just be it. It is as much fun to watch the cherry blossoms as it is to watch the Japanese celebrate together with such enthusiasm.