Spring is almost here (at the time of writing), which means that sakura season is just around the corner for Japan and the rest of the world. That also means that Japan is going to be welcoming tons of guests (tourists) who are going to experience a Japanese cherry blossom festival for the first time.
But one does not just attend a cherry blossom festival. It’s a whole experience that requires a bit of prep and navigation. Lucky for you, we’re so kind and have put together some tips and tricks to making the most of Japan’s cherry blossom season!
Japanese Words to Know:
- Sakura: Cherry Blossom
- Hanami: Cherry Blossom Festival
- Sakura Yosou: Sakura Forecast
Oh, by the way, if you want to bring the sakura experience to you, check out our Sakura Festival Sale! We have tons of cherry blossom items that we think you’ll love!
Tip #1: Check the Sakura Forecasts
The Cherry Blossom Forecast also updates as they adjust for the weather. Image via the Sakura Weathermap
Yes, there are sakura forecasts done by various outlets with real meteorologists that observe trees in 56 areas, local temperatures, and more that affect the cherry blossoms. These cherry blossom forecasts will tell you both when the sakura bloom and the time period when they’re in full bloom!
If you’re visiting Japan or planning your trip around sakura season, we recommend giving it a look to make sure that the blossoms are even ready. You may even be able to adjust your trip based on it. If it’s not blooming in Tokyo, maybe you can do hanami at Osaka Castle or Himeji Castle in Kobe.
Tip #2: Check the Weather
Rain is always a bad sign during hanami season. Even if you don't plan to go out on a rainy day, the sakura may be slightly bald after a rainy day. Image via Unsplash
It may seem obvious, but sometimes people need a reminder. Checking the weather is almost as important as checking the sakura forecast. Of course, hanami is an outdoor event and most places will have zero covering besides the trees. That means that if it rains, you’re at the mercy of Mother Nature. Plus, rain can knock the blossoms off of the tree, so going before a rainy day may be a good idea.
It’s not just rain though, windy days can also effect hanami, meaning you’ll have to worry about things flying away, like empty plates, cups, tarps and more.
Tip #3: Get to the Venue Early
You don't want to end up sitting on the edge of a sidewalk in Ueno Park like I did.
If you’re just planning on passing through or spending a very quick hour or two among the cherry blossoms, this probably doesn’t really matter for you. However, if you’re spending the day or a good part of the day there, this next tip is important.
Japanese cherry blossom festivals are popular events, whether you’re in the city or in the countryside. Even when I was living in the countryside, the popular hanami spots would fill up quickly, especially the most popular spots in those locations. In order to get a spot, particularly that perfect spot, you have to get there early.
Some experiences may require a reservation, whether it's a rule or it's just so popular. The rowboats in Tokyo are a good example. Image via Wikimedia Commons
People often go early to claim spots for their friends and family. And we’re not talking a 10 a.m. arrival time, we’re talking 6 or 7 a.m. arrival, even when the rendezvous time for friends is 1 p.m.
The good spots go extremely fast, so get there very early to get a good spot and somewhat early for a decent spot. Otherwise, you’re left standing or walking around while you wait for a spot to open up. And when one does open up, run to it.
Tip #4: Know Your Closests
Not so fun fact: One of the reasons that the famous cherry blossom festival near Mt. Fuji was cancelled is a surprising amount of people who didn't know where the closest bathrooms were. Image via Unsplash
Whether it’s before, during or after finding a spot, look up and take note of your closests. First, take note of your closest public bathroom. It’s actually been a big issue of foreign tourists illegally entering and using bathrooms on private property, including people’s homes. DON’T DO THAT.
If you don’t know where the closest restroom is, try asking one of the groups nearby since they probably know. All you need to do is hit ‘em with the: toire (or otearai) wa doko desu ka? (Where’s the bathroom?)
Also, take note of the closest yatai (food stalls), convenience stores, supermarkets and smoking areas (for smokers). Knowing where the food and drinks are is important for keeping stocked up. You can also get any supplies you (or others) might have forgotten as well. Also, these events don’t usually allow smoking outside of dedicated areas, so find those smoking areas.
Tip #5: Bring All the Things
Japanese cherry blossom festivals aren’t really organized events that provide you with anything (besides beautiful sakura). That means that you should prepare and bring a variety of things to make the most of your hanami experience. We broke it down into three categories, starting with…
The Essentials
Much like Japanese homes, tarps are a no-shoe zone. Make sure you take them off before you hop in on the fun. Image via Wikimedia Commons
For cherry blossom viewing, a few items stand out as being pretty essential to making the most of the experience. For example, bring something to sit on. Some events will have places to sit, like large tarps or tables, but most won’t. That’s why bringing your own tarp, chairs, blankets or even jackets you don’t mind getting dirty is important.
Also, you’ll be outside all day, bringing water and sunscreen is a good idea for taking care of yourself. Despite it being spring, it can still be somewhat chilly, especially if you do night sakura viewing, so a jacket is a must for many.
But most importantly, bring trash bags! These events may have areas to throw away your trash, but you’ll still need something to carry all of that trash to the throw away spot. Even worse, if an event doesn’t have a place like that, you’ll be stuck carrying trash in your bag or hands. It’s better to just bring trash bags.
Also, if you’re going to be eating and drinking, wipes and paper towels are also lifesavers.
Food, Drinks and Money
Events like the Maruyama Hanami, provide a unique experience centered around Japanese food stalls! Image via Wikimedia Commons
If you’re hunkering down for the day at one of these sakura viewing festivals, bringing food, drinks and money for food and drinks is a must. Many of these events will have at least a few food stalls, but many of them only accept cash. You can head to your local conbini when you get hungry or thirsty, but your closest one may be quite a ways away.
That’s why many hanami goers often bring plenty of snacks, homemade foods, store-bought and homemade bentos, bottles or cases of drinks and plenty of paper plates and utensils. And if you have to restock or have something extra you really want to eat, you can go get it before or during the event.
Bring Entertainment
Some hanami events, like the Meguro River one, is an easy source of entertainment, with restaurants and bars to pop into as you walk the sakura-lined river. Image via Freepik
As we talked about in our cherry blossom history blog, the traditional form of entertainment during hanami is drinking and both writing and reciting poetry. However, not as many people are into poetry these days, so something to entertain yourself is a must-have.
Many people bring board games, playing cards and other card games as they’re easy to play while sitting and are good for groups of any size. Of course, smartphones also have quite a few options for group games as well.
If you go to a large park, walking around the park can be another good way to enjoy the event. Image via Unsplash
If you’re more active and go to a hanami spot with a good amount of space, you can also bring something active. We’ve seen plenty of soccer balls, volleyballs and whole badminton sets at more spacious cherry blossom viewings.
You can also bring small portable speakers for music. However, make sure the music isn’t too loud if you do. I’ve even seen the classic phone in a cup technique used at hanami.
Tip #6: Leave the Spot Better Than How You Found It
Don't you want others to enjoy the cherry blossoms, too? Image via Wikimedia Commons
Hanami is all about enjoying nature and having a good time under the cherry blossoms. However, it’s important to note that you’re not the only one enjoying it. People will come to the same spot after you, so it’s important to adopt the “Leave the spot better than how you found it.”
Make sure that you clean up any trash that you have (which is why trash bags are so important) and dispose of it properly either at the event or afterwards. And also, make sure not to damage the trees or the area by, for example, shaking the blossoms off of the trees for a photo or carving your name into them.
If your cherry blossom festival has food stalls, be ready to eat plenty of treats, like these hanami dango.
That’s our list… for now. While we’re cherry blossom festival experts, we might have forgotten something, so we may update this list as things go on. But we want to leave you with two more tips for enjoying hanami. First, just be respectful to the people around you, both in the event and in the local community.
And second, have fun! Cherry blossom festivals can be amazingly fun events and a great chance to connect under the sakura trees. Enjoy it while you can (since the blooms only last two to three weeks in any given area)!
And if you’re looking for any sakura-related products, check out MiauMall! We have a great Sakura Collection this time of year!
