‘Tis the season for ornamental cherry blossom trees and their Sakura blossoms. The Japanese tradition of Hanami (“flower viewing”) involves enjoying the beauty of Sakura cherry blossoms. In contemporary Japan, people gather in great numbers around blossoming flower trees and revel in the outdoor parties beneath the Sakura during daytime, evening, or at night.
It is indefinite as to when Hanami first started, but it was refered to in Shikibu Murasaki’s classic Japanese literary work, The Tale of Genji, written around the 11th or 12th Century.
Hanami is an central Japanese custom. Japanese get away from their conservative reputations and enjoy a picnic with friends and family under the cherry blossom trees. They grab bento boxes and beer from combini (convenience stores) and proceed to one of many viewing spots for a Japanese cultural experience of a unique kind.
The most renowned cherry blossom spots can get really jam-packed. So enthusiasts get to their favorite spots beforehand and claim their spots with picnic rugs or tarps. Their reserved piece of parcel will be respected, even though they disappear and return later in the day.