Sakura is one of the main symbols of Japan. The flowering of these trees is considered a holiday called Hanami, which translates as “admiring flowers”. Millions of tourists from all over the world come here to participate in the celebration.

This tradition goes back more than one century. She appeared at the imperial court. During the cherry blossoms, the courtiers sat under beautiful trees, recited poetry, talked, played Mind games... Gradually, the tradition spread throughout the country.

Initially, the Japanese bloom festival was dedicated to the ume (plum), because she is the first to open flowers. But, since ume was imported from China, and at a certain period the Japanese began to try to get away from Chinese influence, they decided to choose sakura (cherry) as the revered tree.

Cherry blossom time

In Japan, cherry blossoms can be seen from February to May. Specific dates depend on the weather. The annual forecast for when the flowers will bloom can usually be found in the media. However, the estimated time to start flowering in each region is unchanged:

• End of February - Okinawa and Kushu;
• End of March - Tokyo and Kyoto;
• April - Fukushima and Sendai;
• Early May - Hokkaido and Sapporo.

Hanami usually lasts 7-10 days. They are not a weekend, despite their popularity. spring tradition... The best landscapes can be seen at the moment of full blooming of flowers, and the most delicate - in the first days of the multi-day holiday.

The significance of the holiday of bloom and its philosophical meaning

The holiday of admiring cherry blossoms covers the whole country. People walk in parks, have picnics under the trees. The best places are taken from early morning, and often even at night. Guides often do this for their tourists.


Sakura blossoms in Japan are observed not only alone or with family and friends. This often turns into a corporate event - colleagues get out to the parks together and admire the enchanting spectacle. People communicate, sing songs dedicated to Hanami, rejoice in spring and have philosophical conversations.

It is philosophy that is far from the last place in the Japanese festival of flowering. Beautiful flowers, their beauty and wilting symbolize human life and its transience. Every day and even a moment of flowering is identified with a certain stage of life.

The best spots to admire the bloom

You can admire sakura almost everywhere in Japan. However, there are established Hanami centers, and the Sakura Association regularly compiles ratings of the most scenic spots that are most popular with tourists in Japan.

Locations in Tokyo

Shinjuku Gyoen. One of the most popular parks in the capital, it is called the imperial park. Here you can observe flowering for a fairly long period of time, since about one and a half thousand trees grow on the park territory, and they bloom unevenly.

Ueno Park. The place to see bloom in holidays alone is unlikely to succeed. It is always noisy and crowded here. Over a thousand cherry trees grow around the picturesque pond and along the alley that leads to the National Museum. It is noteworthy that flowers bloom in Ueno first of all in Tokyo. Contemplation of flowering trees can be combined with a visit to one of the oldest zoos in Japan - it is located here.

Chidorigafuchi. Kitanomaru Park has Edo Castle, whose moats are decorated with cherry trees. In combination with the castle, they look especially airy and magical. The highlight of this particular place is that it is customary to celebrate Hanami on the water by boating.

Sumida Park. Located next to the famous Senso-ji Temple. The river divides the park into two parts and it is very pleasant to ride a boat along it, especially in the evening, when the lights are on.

The village of Kawazu. One of the most popular cherry blossom viewing spots in the Tokyo area. The trees bloom in the village very early - in February.

Locations in Kyoto

The Path of the Philosopher. The Nanzen-ji complex and the Ginkak-ji temple are connected by a canal, to which a scenic trail leads. About a hundred trees have been planted along it. When cherry blossoms bloom, the alley turns into a beautiful tunnel. To enjoy this beauty and make unusual photos, thousands of tourists come here.

Maruyama Park. It is close to Yasaka Shrine and is also a popular cherry blossom spot. The park is great for relaxing walks and admiring the flowering trees. There are many pleasant cafes on the territory, the tables of which are set right under the spreading crowns. The park also has its own themed attraction - a huge sakura, which is more than 70 years old.

Heian Temple. Cherry trees grow directly behind the temple, a distinctive feature of which is their flowering time - they bloom later than anyone else in Kyoto. Picturesque plants and traditional Japanese architecture of the temple complement each other very organically.

Locations in Osaka

Kema Sakuronomiya Park. This is a real cherry forest - more than five thousand trees grow here, most of them are located along the Okawa River. You can contemplate the shores drowning in cherry blossom both from the ground or the bridge, and from the water - by boating. The park itself is full of picnic spots and pretty lawns.


Osaka Castle. The castle itself is one of the main attractions of the city, and when sakura trees bloom, of which there are a lot (more than 4 thousand), the flow of tourists increases significantly. There are always a lot of people who want to enjoy the wonderful combination of the creations of nature and human hands. A significant role in the popularity of this place during the Hanami period is played by the nearby park, where you can have a picnic under the cherry crowns.

Park of the 70th Anniversary of the World Exhibition. On the site where the World's Fair was held in 1970, a huge public park was later laid out. Now more than 5 thousand cherry trees grow there, which are beautifully illuminated in the evening.

Mint of Japan. In the park, which is located next to the State Mint, there are about a hundred cherry trees. Flowers bloom here a little later than in the whole city, and the Courtyard itself is open to the public only during the Hanami period.

Locations in Yokohama

Sankei-en garden. This garden is magnificent at any time of the year. Classic japanese landscape design with a shady pond in the center, traditional architecture, many plants - here you can feel the peace and reunification with nature. Sakura trees at the time of their flowering give the garden a special flavor.

Mitswike Park. One of the most visited places during the bloom festival in Japan. An enchanting park with a thousand cherry blossom trees, they are perfectly combined with the three ponds located here.

Tsurugaoka Hachimangu shrine in Kamakura

A half-kilometer alley leads to the temple, consisting of beautiful cherry blossoms, traditionally blooming in spring. This flower tunnel is very impressive to everyone who sees it.

North Shores of Kawaguchiko

Perhaps, it is here that you can see exactly the landscape that is associated with Japan - the Japanese cherry blossoms, Mount Fuji and a calm lake. The most picturesque picture can be seen in the morning, when the first rays of the sun are just beginning to illuminate the shores of the lake.

Chureito pagoda

The pagoda appeared on the hills opposite Fujiyama quite recently. Now it consistently hits the top best places for the Hanami celebration.

These are just the most popular spots where millions of visitors to the country gather annually to take part in the Japanese tradition of flower viewing. However, in Japan there are still a huge number of such places, many of which are no less beautiful than the generally recognized centers. And it is in such secluded corners that you can relax and philosophize, thinking about the transience of life, as the Japanese have done for many centuries.

The Japanese are generally recognized lovers and connoisseurs of nature, and the spring festival of hanami is a confirmation of this. Hanami literally means “admiring flowers,” but in fact the semantics of the word are somewhat narrower. At the hanami festival, the Japanese do not enjoy any flowers, but cherry blossoms. Sakura is the unofficial symbol of Japan. Surprisingly, the reserved and laconic Japanese become soft and sentimental during the cherry blossom season.

Sakura blossoms in different regions of Japan start in different ways and cherry blossoms in Okinawa begin to bloom as early as January, but the tradition of admiring flowers on this island has not taken on a large scale. So, starting from the south to the north, the so-called Japanese cherry blossom front is moving. Local media and television regularly inform the population about this "movement". In March - April, sakura begins to bloom in Kyoto, Tokyo and last but not least, in May, gets to Hokkaido... When the sakura trees bloom, the Japanese families go out to squares, parks and gardens, where the sakura grows.

In fact, admiring sakura turns into a picnic for family or friends, and food and drinks are integral attributes of a picnic. Vacationers are located on the green part of the streets, on the banks of rivers, seas, lakes, right in a park or garden. They happily walk around the trees, examining the blossoming sakura, admiring its beauty. And also an integral attribute of the Japanese is a camera, often large, almost professional. The Japanese are very fond of photographing and photograph almost everything they see. And I really want to capture the beauty of the generally recognized symbol of Japan - sakura, because its flowering is fleeting. Sakura blooms from two days to a week.

During the hanami celebrationin large parks and gardens, stages are set up and performances take place. They sing, dance, play various Japanese musical instruments, recite haiku dedicated to cherry blossoms, sweet merchants pitch their stalls here. The walk lasts all day.

Often, in order to sit under the beautiful crown of blooming sakura, you have to take a place in the morning. During the cherry blossom season, you can see how young people seem to be on duty under the tree, waiting for their many friends or relatives. Often such picnics are of a corporate nature.

Despite the fact that the Japanese are probably the most law-abiding people, after such picnics there are problems with garbage collection.

Hanami holiday is celebrated in Of Japan for several centuries, and the beginning of the tradition was laid in the Nara period (710 - 794). Today it is one of the favorite holidays of the Japanese. During the Nara period, Chinese words and customs very quickly entered the life of the Japanese, this is the so-called period of the Sinification of Japan. Hanami also came from China, but at that time they admired the plums, then, over time, they were replaced by cherry trees.

Under the emperor Saga (812), the khans' holiday became a regular event at the imperial court, and at first it, of course, was a holiday of the wealthy class. During the Tokugawa era, many sakura trees were planted, and during the Edo period, the hanami festival became available to everyone. And today a sociological survey shows that 80% of Japanese people love and celebrate khans. In modern Japan, sakura trees are planted, banking institutions, public institutions. And often the beginning of the school and financial year in Japan coincides with the cherry blossoms.

In Japan, there are more than a hundred varieties of wild cherry blossoms, but in addition, as a result of crossing, new varieties of cherry blossoms were bred and today there are more than 600 varieties of cherry trees. Sakura trees differ from each other in the following characteristics: the number of petals, their color, flowering time and crown shape. Varieties of sakura with a richer color were bred by selection. The wild cherry blossom usually has five petals. But you can also find sakura with ten, twenty or even a hundred petals on one flower. And the sakura color ranges from white to reddish brown, in between pale pink and deep pink.

Sakura flowers in Japan symbolize clouds and the fleeting nature of life. Therefore, in the pre-war era and during the war, sakura was often used as a symbol of the fragility of a young warrior's life, which, like a sakura flower, would be plucked in its prime.

The image of sakura can be found on all types of Japanese goods, including kimonos, stationery, favorite flower-shaped sweets, and tableware. The sakura design is also featured on the 100 yen coin.

Spring and the cherry blossom season are one of the most popular periods for foreign tourists to visit Japan, but it is very difficult to predict your trip with flowering in advance due to the fact that at a certain time and depending on the weather, cherry blossoms can bloom as before the generally accepted time, if it was very warm. and later.

Hanami is a national Japanese tradition of admiring flowers that has long become an integral part of Japanese culture. Hanami usually does not last long, a little more than a week, but due to the difference in climate between the northern and southern prefectures, in general the Japanese can enjoy blooming for more than two months. The most famous hanami is cherry blossom viewing, but the first to bloom in Japan is the ume (Japanese plum). And after that, sakura blossoms with its beautiful delicate pink petals.

During this period, all Japanese people spend a lot of time outside, admiring the flowering trees and taking photographs in an attempt to capture their short-lived beauty. Even office workers, along with their leaders, go out of the offices these days to spend time in the fresh air.

People stock up on rugs, snacks, drinks and head to the parks to enjoy the cherry blossoms and spend time with friends and family. Hanami can be admired not only during the day. In the evening, paper lanterns are hung under and between the trees, which illuminate them beautifully, creating a fabulous atmosphere.

The hanami report on the beginning on TV, write in newspapers and magazines, telling in detail in which area the cherry blossom is coming to an end, and in which one is just beginning, and about the number of trees in a particular park.

• The hanami tradition originated at the imperial court. She received special distribution in the Heian era, when the nobility could afford to travel around the country in order to continuously enjoy flowering. And during the Edo period, the tradition of admiring sakura flowers spread everywhere, firmly entering the national culture.
• The most famous cherry blossom viewing spots in the city are Shinjukugyoen Park, Ueno Park, and the park.

Special attention

• In Tokyo, hanami falls in early April.

Video about hanami

Hanami is a Japanese national flower-gazing tradition that originated in the imperial court. The courtiers spent hours under the flowering trees, enjoying socializing, light drinks, parlor games and writing poetry.

In the short and brilliant period of blooming of spring flowers, plums and sakura, which lasts from 7 to 10 days, they saw deep meaning in the Land of the Rising Sun. Falling flower petals were identified with the beauty and transience of life, with courage and purity of thoughts.

Cherry Blossom Admirement - O-Hanami

It's easy to admire the cherry blossoms. Just enjoy flowers in one tree or a group of them. From a distance, the trees look like clouds, and the beauty of individual flowers is revealed at close range.

Sakura in bloom looks especially beautiful when combined with castles, temples and shrines. In some places, trees are lit up in the evening, which creates an amazing sight.

O-Hanami traditionally includes not only a walk in the park, but also a picnic under the flowering trees. The Sakura Blossom Festival has been held in Japan for centuries and is celebrated today in a variety of public and private parks and gardens.

In especially popular parks, a picnic area is set up in advance. A common practice in Japan is to spread out a mat with the name of the group and the time when they plan to occupy it in the early morning, or someone from the group stays there all day and waits until the others come.

Company employees specifically set aside a day for cherry blossom viewing, something like a corporate event. That is, on this day they go to work, but spend it in the park with their boss and colleagues, arrange a picnic with various goodies and alcoholic beverages. They even sing special songs composed on the occasion of Hanami.

Sakura blossom period in Japan in 2015

Sakura blossoms in Japan are predicted to bloom in 2015 from around March 21 in Kyushu and from March 26 in Tokyo and Kyoto. Full disclosure of flowers will be in about a week.

Below is the forecast for cherry blossom time based on data from Japan Weather Association and japan-guide.com. Naturally, the forecast is only approximate, and changes in the weather can significantly affect the period of flower opening. Follow the news, already at the beginning of March, according to the news in each separate area, the timing of cherry blossoms, as well as the number of trees in each of the parks, are announced.

Best Places to See the Sakura Blossom in Japan

Tokyo

Shinjuku Gyoen

10 minutes walk from JR Shinjuku Station.
Entrance ticket: 200 yen. Working hours: from 9:00 to 16:30

Shinjuku Gyoen Park has over a thousand cherry trees of over a dozen varieties, including numerous early and late flowering trees. There are large picnic lawns in a relaxed atmosphere. This is a great place to admire the cherry blossoms, for those who really miss the spring.

Ueno Park

A few steps from Ueno Station. Free admission

It is one of the most crowded, noisy and popular cherry blossom celebrations in Japan. Ueno Park has over 1000 trees along the street leading to the National Museum and around Shinobatsu Pond. Sakura flowers in this park usually open 1-3 days earlier than in other places in Tokyo.

Chidorigafuchi

Kudansita. Free admission

Hundreds of cherry trees line the moats of Edo Castle and Kitanomaru Park, creating one of the most amazing cherry blossom viewing spots in Tokyo. Here you can rent a rowing boat and enjoy an unforgettable boat trip.

Sumida Park

A few steps from Asakusa. Free admission

The park stretches for several hundred meters along the banks of the Sumida River overlooking the Tokyo Sky Tree TV Tower. You can also watch the cherry blossoms here from the water. The walk will be especially romantic in the evening, when the trees are specially illuminated.

Kyoto

The Philosopher's Way

Free admission.

The Filosov Trail is a pleasant path to the canal that connects two amazing historical temple complexes: Ginkaku-ji Temple (Silver Pavilion) and Nanzen-ji Temple. More than 100 cherry trees grow here.

Maruyama Park

Near Yasaka Shrine. Free admission

Maruyama Park near Yasaka Shrine is Kyoto's most popular public park for cherry blossom viewing. Its centerpiece is a large weeping cherry tree. The tables of many cafes are located under the branches of the trees.

Heian Temple

Behind the main building of the temple. Entrance: 600 yen. Opening hours: from 8:30 - to 17:30

Behind the main building of Heian Temple, there are a large number of weeping cherry blossoms, making this one of the best spots in Kyoto. These cherries reach full bloom a few days later than others, which will be interesting for tourists who miss the main flowering season.

Osaka

Kema Sakuranomiya Park

Sakuranomiya Station (JR Loop Line). Free admission.

More than 5,000 cherry trees have been planted in the park along the Okawa River for several kilometers. This seemingly endless row of cherry trees can be viewed from the embankment or from a ship on the river. There are also many picnic lawns under the trees in the park itself.

Osaka castle

Osaka Castle Park. Admission is free (except for Nishinomaru Garden).

More than 4,000 cherry trees have been planted on the approach to Osaka Castle. Especially good place for a picnic is Nishinomaru Park in the western part of the castle citadel with wide lawns, views of the castle bath and illuminated trees in the evening.

Expo 70 Commemorative Park

Banpaku Kinen Koen Station.
Entrance: 250 yen. Opening hours: 9:30 am - 5:00 pm (longer during cherry blossom season).

The site of the 1970 Osaka World's Fair now has a large public park with over 5,000 cherry trees. Sakura trees are very beautifully illuminated in the evenings.

Japan Mint (Osaka Mint Bureau)

10 minutes walk from Temmabashi station.
Admission is free, open to the public for one week only.

More than 100 varieties of cherry blossoms grow in the park at the Osaka Mint. The cherry blossoms here in mid-April, about a week later than the main flowering season. The courtyard is open to the public only during the cherry blossom season.

Yokohama

Sankei-en garden

10-25 min bus ride from Negishi Station or Sakuragicho Station.
Entrance: 500 yen. Opening hours: from 9:00 to 17:00 (entrance until 16:30).

Sankei-en is a classic Japanese landscaped garden with a central pond. Here you can observe not only the flowering of several hundred cherry trees, but also admire the historical architecture of Japan.

Mitsuike Park

Mitsuike Koen Kitamon bus stop (city bus # 104 from Shin-Yokohama or TSURUMI stations). Free admission.

Mitsuike Park is one of the TOP-100 best places to observe cherry blossoms in Japan. The park has three ponds, around which over 1000 cherry trees grow.

Kamakura

Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine

A short walk northeast of Kamakura Station.
Free admission.

More than 500 meters of Danzakura Alley on the approach to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Temple is planted with cherry blossoms, which creates one of the most spectacular "cherry" tunnels in Japan.

Izu Peninsula

Kawazu Village

The village is one of the most beautiful places in the Tokyo area for cherry blossom viewing. Cherries bloom here, as a rule, in late February and early March, which attracts many tourists who miss spring.

Five lakes of Fuji

North Shores of Kawaguchiko

15-25 minutes by retro bus from Kawaguchiko Station.

An amazing landscape awaits you on the northern shores of Lake Kawaguchiko. You will never forget the cherry blossoms, the flat surface of the lake and the view of Mount Fuji. The best view will be provided for you in the early morning, it is at this time that the rays of the sun illuminate the area most beautifully.

Chureito Pagoda

15-20 minutes walk from Shimo-Yoshida Station
Free admission.

This pagoda is relatively recently built on the hills opposite Fujiyama. During the cherry blossom season, the pagoda seems to be buried in a sea of ​​flowers. The best lighting is early morning.

There are countless other places throughout Japan where sakura bloom will leave you with an unforgettable experience. Numerous parks at castles, temples and sanctuaries where the centuries-old Hanami tradition is preserved.

As we said, stay tuned. In Japan, the cherry blossom season is highlighted in the media, so the opening dates are announced in advance. And have time to book a hotel in time, while many tourists have not yet occupied the vacant seats.

“Hanami” in Russian means “admiring flowers”. In Japan, this holiday is traditional and is celebrated every spring. The fact is that the sakura blossom always heralds the arrival of spring, and the sakura itself is one of the symbols of this country.

The Japanese with the whole family go to the nearest park to see how beautifully the trees are blooming. They bring picnic kits and rugs with them to relax in a pleasant atmosphere. In addition, many people take pictures of trees at this wonderful time, because the cherry blossom period is very short. You can go to the park even in the evening, as lighting in the form of paper lanterns is implemented here.

Sakura most often blooms from late March to mid-April. At this time, amazingly beautiful buds bloom, and the air is filled with a wonderful aroma. In Japan, the timing of cherry blossoms is reported in the news, and they name a specific date for each park, compare the current flowering with last year, interview passers-by, and so on.

It should be noted that one of the most famous parks in the Japanese capital - Shinjukugyoen National Park is famous for the fact that 75 species grow here, and the total number of trees exceeded one and a half thousand.

The holiday is opened every year by the imperial family, and in all large cities organize festivals dedicated to this event. By the way, in the city of Koriyama you can find the oldest cherry in the country, whose age is estimated at six hundred years! A huge number of people expect it to bloom every year. There is even a website where this event can be watched online.