“Hanami” is a flower viewing event held under cherry trees during the peak season of the flowers. - “Hana” represents flowers and “Mi” represents to view. People at Hanami have fun with lots of foods, alcohol, dance and music under pink cherry trees and it’s a real wonderful experience to have delicious foods in the best scenery. Hanami has started in 9th century by an emperor and been integrated into common people’s life since 17th century. The proverb “dumplings are better than flowers” can tell how much hanami was popular among common people, who prefer actual profit than beauty. We have a long history of hanami and we still keep the tradition.
Ueno park in Tokyo, one of the most famous hanami venue, has 1200 cherry trees and light them up at night during the cherry blossom season. About 2 million people visit the park every year to enjoy the special atmosphere only available in the limited time of a year. There are many other hanami venues attracting massive number of visitors nationwide. Some sites are in a castle and the others by a river or in a temple or shrine. Visiting those places take a large part of Japanese spring leisure.
But to go to those famous venues isn’t only way for Japanese to take pleasure in viewing the flower. Cherry blossoms are more incorporated into Japanese daily life. You can see cherry trees everywhere in town. Temples, shrines, parks, riversides, mountains, private houses, maybe near your hotel... If it’s an old town, there should be a local cherry blossom site and some people have their own favorite places in the neighborhood. It’s very relaxing to sit on a bench doing nothing under a tunnel of cherry blossoms in warm and calm sunlight or in blue moonlight. Taking a walk, dating are nice ideas, too. The best part of enjoying cherry blossoms in neighborhood is you can feel them in a quiet ambience that famous venues won’t create. Find your own way of enjoying cherry blossoms!
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