サクラ Cherry Blossom Festival and Hanami 花見 In Japan April 21, 2014 I have not been a fan of hanami parties I must admit. I thought they were really overrated, why just sit under a sakura サクラ tree with some food and drinks, it was not at all exciting for me. But 3 years in Japan and hanami is slowly growing on me!! This year I actually attended 5-6 hanami parties. Well I have given into the believe that Cherry blossom period is so short and better to enjoy every moment before the flowers are gone…so much for a mind change!! Hanami 花見 literally means ” floor viewing”; with a view of castle or river or a temple in the background makes it even more interesting. You need to check the cherry blossom forecast before you plan your hanami date. Every area has a different time for the full bloom. Cherry blossom festivals take place all over Japan between March to May. Festival dates are usually determined with reference to cherry blossom forecasts and vary from year to year.The slow-moving cherry blossom front (sakura-zensen) is tracked by the Japan Meteorological Agency and moves from south to north as warmer temperatures trigger trees to begin blooming. Hanami typically begins around mid March and lasts until early May with the first blooms appearing on the islands around Okinawa. The last chance to enjoy blooms is typically in cooler, northern parts of Japan such as Hakkaido. In popular places you need to reserve a picnic spot long before. You can spread your picnic sheet early in the morning and mark it with your groups name and party’s starting time. But generally we see someone from the group ( generally new employees who are not yet good in there job in case of office parties ) waiting there in the cold, sometimes peeling vegetables for a meal of nabhe ( hot-pot) or setting up their barbecue..while the rest of the gang arrives after their work. But hanami can be done with other simple stuff like onigiri ( rice cake ) or bento ( lunch boxes ) or just get some snacks from the convenience store. Well my hanami mostly consisted of tea and sandwiches and some chocolates thrown in. I am learning the tricks of the trade although slowly.. Alcohol, mainly beer or sake or umeshu or sakura ( cherry blossom flavoured drinks are the popular drinks. In Japan it is legal to drink in public ( Japanese people can behave well even after a couple of drinks ). Well this is everything you need to know about hanami in Japan; so let’s look at some of my hanami pictures taken at Kema Sakuranomiya Park and Utsubo Park in Osaka.. P.S. Don’t forget to get trash bags. Be sure to clean your spot. If you don’t be ready to get some angry stares. Vivalahighstreet Vivalahigshtreet Vivalahighstreet Vivalahighstreet Vivalahighstreet Vivalahighstreet Vivalahighstreet Vivalahighstreet Vivalahighstreet Vivalahighstreet Sweater – GAP, 30 $ on Sale, 2014; Skirt – H&M, 26 $, 2011; also worn here Jacket – Zara, 130 $ ( gift from mom ), 2013, also worn here; Shoes – H&M, 50 $, 2014; aslo worn here; Bag – GU, 20 $, 2013; also worn here; Sunglasses – Marc Jacobs, 130 $, 2013; also worn here; Vivalahighstreet Vivalahighstreet Vivalahighstreet Vivalahighstreet Vivalahighstreet Vivalahighstreet Vivalahigshstreet Vivalahighstreet Vivalahighstreet Vivalahighstreet Vivalahighstreet Vivalahighstreet Vivalahighstreet Vivalahighstreet Vivalahighstreet Vivalahighstreet Vivalahighstreet 20 Responses Nidhi Singh April 21, 2014 love your blog. now you seem to be inspiring me to start one…has been on my mind since long. I am living in Tokyo since last year. whenever you r in tokyo next…we can plan to meet 😛 Reply vivalahighstreet April 21, 2014 Definitely start one!! would love to meet u!! Reply Soumya April 21, 2014 Prerna. . Awesome post and pics. 🙂 nidhi. . I sail in the same boat as you. Want to start one since long. I live in chiba. Came here in feb 2013. Great to know you. Meet up would be definitely great. Reply vivalahighstreet April 25, 2014 Would love to meet you Soumya!! Reply caroline April 22, 2014 What a beautiful event! I have to say it makes me miss Vancouver. The city always celebrated with a Cherry Blossom festival, I believe Washington DC does as well. It has become such a wonderful and international event. xo styleontheside.com Reply vivalahighstreet April 25, 2014 You bet!! It is so huge here in Japan!! Reply Sooae Lee (@thehautecookie) April 24, 2014 abs gorg. xO! http://www.thehautecookie.com -Facebook- http://www.facebook.com/TheHauteCookie -Twitter- http://www.twitter.com/thehautecookie -Instagram- http://www.statigr.am/thehautecookie Reply vivalahighstreet April 25, 2014 Thanks a lot!! Reply bighairloudmouth April 25, 2014 Love the pics! Visiting Japan has been my dream and I cant tel you how I enjoy looking at your pics now! Love Nilu Yuleena, from BIG hair LOUD mouth BLOG BIG hair LOUD mouth FACEBOOK page BLOGLOVIN Reply vivalahighstreet April 25, 2014 Thanks:)) Reply Fashion Sky Fall April 25, 2014 Very beautiful <3 Reply vivalahighstreet April 26, 2014 Thank u:)) Reply jalal michael sabbagh.http://gravatar.com/jmsabbagh86@gmail.com April 29, 2014 Immensely beautiful post.Jalal Michael Reply vivalahighstreet April 30, 2014 Thanks!! Reply Mrinmayi May 26, 2014 Girl you’re rocking that outfit! Those cherry blossoms are probably the biggest reason i want to visit Japan 🙂 xx Reply vivalahighstreet May 27, 2014 Thank u:) Reply Fashion Trends 2014 : Underwear as Outerwear and Matching Co-ordinates | Viva La Highstreet! September 30, 2014 […] – Zara, $60, 2013; also worn here; Sunglsses – Marc Jacobs, 130 $, 2013, also worn here; Earrings – Namba City, $9, 2014; Bracelet – Forever 21, $8, 2014, also worn here; […] Reply Nanzen-ji Temple 南禅寺 , Kyoto 京都 in Autumn | Viva La Highstreet! November 26, 2014 […] gift, 2014; Tights – Tutuanna, $ 3, 2014; Shoes – H&M, $ 50, 2014; aslo worn here; Bag – Charles & Keith, $ 60, 2014; After spending some time around Nanzen-ji we […] Reply Things to do in Japan in Spring: Plum Blossom at Osaka Castle 梅大 坂城 | Viva La Highstreet! April 8, 2015 […] – GAP, $30 on Sale, 2014, also worn here; Pants – H&M, $25, 2014, also worn here; Bag – Chanel, gift, 2014, also worn here; […] Reply Nanzen-ji Temple 南禅寺 , Kyoto 京都 in Autumn | Viva La Highstreet! November 20, 2015 […] gift, 2014; Tights – Tutuanna, $ 3, 2014; Shoes – H&M, $ 50, 2014; aslo worn here; Bag – Charles & Keith, $ 60, 2014; After spending some time around Nanzen-ji we went to […] Reply Leave a Reply Cancel reply
Nidhi Singh April 21, 2014 love your blog. now you seem to be inspiring me to start one…has been on my mind since long. I am living in Tokyo since last year. whenever you r in tokyo next…we can plan to meet 😛 Reply
Soumya April 21, 2014 Prerna. . Awesome post and pics. 🙂 nidhi. . I sail in the same boat as you. Want to start one since long. I live in chiba. Came here in feb 2013. Great to know you. Meet up would be definitely great. Reply
caroline April 22, 2014 What a beautiful event! I have to say it makes me miss Vancouver. The city always celebrated with a Cherry Blossom festival, I believe Washington DC does as well. It has become such a wonderful and international event. xo styleontheside.com Reply
Sooae Lee (@thehautecookie) April 24, 2014 abs gorg. xO! http://www.thehautecookie.com -Facebook- http://www.facebook.com/TheHauteCookie -Twitter- http://www.twitter.com/thehautecookie -Instagram- http://www.statigr.am/thehautecookie Reply
bighairloudmouth April 25, 2014 Love the pics! Visiting Japan has been my dream and I cant tel you how I enjoy looking at your pics now! Love Nilu Yuleena, from BIG hair LOUD mouth BLOG BIG hair LOUD mouth FACEBOOK page BLOGLOVIN Reply
jalal michael sabbagh.http://gravatar.com/jmsabbagh86@gmail.com April 29, 2014 Immensely beautiful post.Jalal Michael Reply
Mrinmayi May 26, 2014 Girl you’re rocking that outfit! Those cherry blossoms are probably the biggest reason i want to visit Japan 🙂 xx Reply
Fashion Trends 2014 : Underwear as Outerwear and Matching Co-ordinates | Viva La Highstreet! September 30, 2014 […] – Zara, $60, 2013; also worn here; Sunglsses – Marc Jacobs, 130 $, 2013, also worn here; Earrings – Namba City, $9, 2014; Bracelet – Forever 21, $8, 2014, also worn here; […] Reply
Nanzen-ji Temple 南禅寺 , Kyoto 京都 in Autumn | Viva La Highstreet! November 26, 2014 […] gift, 2014; Tights – Tutuanna, $ 3, 2014; Shoes – H&M, $ 50, 2014; aslo worn here; Bag – Charles & Keith, $ 60, 2014; After spending some time around Nanzen-ji we […] Reply
Things to do in Japan in Spring: Plum Blossom at Osaka Castle 梅大 坂城 | Viva La Highstreet! April 8, 2015 […] – GAP, $30 on Sale, 2014, also worn here; Pants – H&M, $25, 2014, also worn here; Bag – Chanel, gift, 2014, also worn here; […] Reply
Nanzen-ji Temple 南禅寺 , Kyoto 京都 in Autumn | Viva La Highstreet! November 20, 2015 […] gift, 2014; Tights – Tutuanna, $ 3, 2014; Shoes – H&M, $ 50, 2014; aslo worn here; Bag – Charles & Keith, $ 60, 2014; After spending some time around Nanzen-ji we went to […] Reply