Hanami is an integral part of Japanese culture, a long-held local tradition in Japan. Hanami means picnicking under the cherry blossom tree—a pleasant way of spending this little window of gorgeous pink time in the year.
It was past the forecasted Sakura window when we reached Japan, but luckily it decided to wait for us so we could see and fall in love with it.
Hanami at the Parks
My first Sakura sighting was at Ueno Park in Tokyo, where people gathered for Hanami. After that, the rest of our time in Japan was accompanied by a burst of cherry blossom here and there.
One of my most treasured memories was finding an almost empty park in Osaka on the way to the train station. Just an older man was sitting there reading, surrounded by blossoming sakura trees. Whenever I stood in this park, which we kept visiting daily in Osaka, the wind blew, and the flowers fell on us. My woo-woo side felt like those were kisses from Mother Earth, blessings from the Universe.
Sakura
My last sighting was at Yanaka cemetery. It was my last night in Tokyo. I went on a walking tour featuring the famous Sensoji mausoleum, filled with these gorgeous flowers.
We packed tea, popcorn, and random sakura-flavoured stuff into my luggage, including a charcoal painting of Hirosaki castle in Spring. I also managed to sneak in a few sakura flowers, which fell on the Tennō-ji temple ground.
In Japan, I will live in a neighbourhood with a small park nearby and plenty of sakura trees. So I already envision myself regularly doing Hanami. Sometimes with friends, other times just by myself with my thoughts.
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